| At present, the rate of individuals diagnosed with | | | | behavioral disorders. There are some disciplines |
| autism is 1 out of 160. Autism which is an intricate | | | | associated with Autism disorders which include |
| developmental disability usually becomes visible | | | | Neurology, Developmental Pediatrics, Autism |
| within the first three years since birth. This | | | | Specialist, Psychology, Speech and Language |
| disorder affects brain development in such areas | | | | Therapy. Each diagnosis and intervention expands |
| of communication and social interaction. Most | | | | the probability for the child to grow and progress. |
| cases exhibit delay in the developmental stage at | | | | Autism awareness can be essential for families |
| the age of three which generally affects boys | | | | dealing with the agony of seeing their children |
| other than girls. Family members should be aware | | | | exhibiting the disorder through the symptoms |
| of symptoms such as difficulty with verbal or | | | | they encounter everyday. Each individual with the |
| non-verbal communication, especially when the | | | | Autism disorder shows unique characteristics that |
| child cannot express himself, social interaction and | | | | vary from time to time. Families should be aware |
| play activities or activities integral to everyday | | | | of their patient's behavioral pattern and must learn |
| living. This disorder makes it difficult for them to | | | | to observe the disorder through symptoms like |
| relate to the outside world and let them stick to | | | | limited verbal or non verbal communication, short |
| their own world instead. | | | | attention span and may communicate with |
| April 4, 2009 is World Autism Awareness Day. | | | | gestures only. They may also indicate presence of |
| This day is focused on elevating awareness about | | | | overactive or passive traits, minimal interest in |
| autism in society while encouraging diagnosis of | | | | interacting with peers or strangers, shall |
| early stages and signs. The World Autism | | | | sometimes experience sensory impairment, and |
| Awareness Day aims to gather autism | | | | avoids eye contact. In some cases, families may |
| organization worldwide providing a voice to those | | | | observe that their patients may lack spontaneous |
| who are not diagnosed, seeking for assistance | | | | and imaginative play, lack interest in imitating |
| and are misunderstood. Medical tests for | | | | other's actions nor initiate play, resistance to |
| diagnosing Autism are not defined since | | | | routine changes and show aggressiveness to |
| symptoms and characteristics differ individually | | | | themselves or to others. Autism is therefore, a |
| and individual development with regard to | | | | spectrum disorder which should be closely |
| communication and behavior is commonly the | | | | monitored and observed among family members |
| basis for diagnosis. Autism Awareness helps the | | | | especially on their early childhood years. |
| society to accept individuals and deal with the | | | | |