| Let's start at the beginning with discussing what is | | | | with most of the symptoms being the same. |
| Autism? | | | | Where Autism is clearly diagnosed by about age |
| Autism is a disorder of the brain and one in every | | | | three, Asperger's onset is usually much later. |
| two and a half thousand children are born with it. | | | | Children with Asperger's will prefer isolation, exhibit |
| Children who are Autistic will show signs of being | | | | eccentricities, will have strange inflections in their |
| withdrawn from their environment and will have | | | | way of speaking, can be uncoordinated and |
| problems communicating. Often it is confused with | | | | clumsy and single minded in their interests. |
| Asperger's Syndrome and, although similar in | | | | High functioning autism is where a person has |
| many ways, they are two different diagnoses. | | | | been diagnosed with the disorder but is still able to |
| Signs of Autism can be displayed in a child as | | | | continue with a relatively unaffected life. |
| young as twelve months and it is usually | | | | Asperger's disorder is considered milder than this |
| prominent by the age of three. Autism is also | | | | type of Autism, so they can usually maintain a |
| called spectrum disorder or autistic spectrum | | | | fairly uninterrupted existence. Someone with |
| disorder, and statistics show more males than | | | | Asperger's may not be viewed any differently in |
| females have been diagnosed with the neurological | | | | society, but with Autism, they will be noticeably |
| abnormality. Often, a child can seem very normal | | | | unique in their movements and speech and can |
| until up to three years of age, then suddenly they | | | | have more trouble learning. This means they can |
| begin to change as their speech and social | | | | experience more difficulty fitting in and possibly |
| development is impaired. They will exhibit strange | | | | even discrimination. |
| behavior and movements, have trouble | | | | There is no cure for Autism or Asperger's and no |
| communicating, some even become deaf and | | | | way to return their normal functions and abilities. |
| mute and will not like being held. Some will move | | | | However, much progress is always being made in |
| compulsively and prefer to occupy themselves | | | | ways to manage the disorders. Speech therapy, |
| rather than play with toys or people. Every case | | | | special diets, music therapy, sensory integration, |
| is individual, so each child has a different | | | | art therapy, behavior modification and auditory |
| combination of symptoms. | | | | training are all ways to assist in handling Autism so |
| With communication being so difficult for those | | | | they can lead a life as close to normal as is |
| with spectrum disorder, it is common for their IQ | | | | possible. Since it is specific to the individual, |
| to be below average. About a quarter of these | | | | treatments are tailored to each case. Some may |
| cases excel in certain areas like math, art or | | | | need drug therapy for hyperactivity disorders or |
| music and their IQs are well above average. It is | | | | anger control. |
| much harder to diagnose Autism in adults from | | | | Having a child with Autism can be very stressful |
| any physical symptoms, but they have problems | | | | and taxing on the family, so strategies for coping |
| with understanding other's feelings, forming | | | | will be needed for all who are involved. Autistic |
| friendships, recognizing fear and behaving | | | | children need extra attention and endless supplies |
| appropriately in social situations. Often, they will be | | | | of love and understanding. They never truly |
| self-destructive in their habits and are unable to | | | | mature like most of us, but they will have a |
| understand the consequences of their actions. | | | | better chance of being independent if they |
| Asperger's Syndrome is a mild form of Autism, | | | | receive the required training and support therapies. |