| Autism is a disorder affecting millions of people all | | | | also have trouble making and keeping eye contact |
| over the world. It is often also referred to as | | | | with other people. |
| Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Pervasive | | | | Another common sign of autism is having |
| Development Disorder. A spectrum disorder | | | | uncontrollable, repetitive behaviors and performing |
| refers to the fact that people living with autism | | | | small rituals or routines that they must complete |
| can display a wide variety of symptoms ranging | | | | before being able to do any normal daily tasks. It |
| from mild to more severe. It is quite possible for | | | | is sometimes difficult to diagnose autism since |
| someone who has autism to be very intelligent | | | | there are no medical tests that can be performed |
| with only slight problems communicating, or to be | | | | to indicated to doctors exactly what is happening |
| mentally retarded and unable to verbally | | | | with the child. |
| communicate at all. | | | | Medical technology has allowed physicians to |
| Most people who have autism are usually | | | | develop some basic ways of discovering whether |
| diagnosed with the disorder when they are very | | | | or not someone with mild symptoms has autism, |
| young and most cases are diagnosed by the time | | | | but there is no way of scientifically proving their |
| the child is four years old. The most common | | | | theory with a lab test. On the other hand, some |
| signs and symptoms are having difficulty with | | | | people are very easily diagnosed because they |
| social skills and communication development. | | | | display severe symptoms. A lot of people living |
| Parents will notice that their child does not | | | | with autism have a very good chance of partially |
| express him or herself very well or that maybe | | | | recovering from this disorder by receiving |
| their child has not begun to speak at all by the | | | | treatments in speech therapy and social |
| time other children have begun to verbalize. They | | | | communication skills. |