| Autism is considered to be a variety of mental | | | | seldom motivated to assume the worst about |
| retardation, or an occasion as a severe form of | | | | their children's atypical behaviour and symptoms |
| obsessive-compulsive illness. The first term of | | | | until they become impossible to ignore. Most |
| autism appeared around 1912 when psychiatrist | | | | parents do not bring their children in for formal |
| Eugene Bleurel used the word to refer to patients | | | | diagnosis until they are between 18 months and |
| who were self-absorbed and out of touch with | | | | three years of age. As time goes by parents and |
| the rest of the world. The term autism is derived | | | | physicians learn what to look for and more |
| from the Greek word autos, meaning self. | | | | children are diagnosed at earlier ages. |
| The term shows the communicative isolation that | | | | Methods and techniques for identifying pervasive |
| is the foremost feature of the illness. In fact the | | | | developmental disorders early continue to be |
| term referred to schizophrenic individuals who | | | | refined. The preferred method for identifying |
| displayed catatonic behaviours and not to autistic | | | | autism and related pervasive developmental |
| patients as it is known today. The autistic | | | | disorders the behavioral observation has been |
| syndrome may be described as mental | | | | preferred. Children's lack of eye contact and social |
| retardation or mental illness. A mild form of | | | | reciprocity are recognized as the major causes of |
| autism identified as Asperger's syndrome, an | | | | autism. A characteristic of autism and related |
| autism spectrum disorder and it was discovered | | | | disorders is the presence of the stereotyped |
| by Dr. Hans Asperger. | | | | repetitive movements. When they are concerned |
| A more general description of autism described | | | | about a PDD like autism it can be difficult for |
| by Dr. Leo Kanner was provided. Both doctors | | | | parents to know what specific signs to look for. A |
| recognized the intense isolation experienced by | | | | list of warning signs and milestones all revolving |
| their child patients was the central function of the | | | | around the crucial team of communication deficits. |
| condition. Mental retardation and | | | | Such circumstances should be concerned about his |
| obsessive-compulsive disorder is unquestioned | | | | child if: the child does not: babble or coo by twelve |
| today but researchers refined Drs. Kanner and | | | | months, use gestures to communicate and the |
| Asperger's work. Autism is thought as a family of | | | | child does not wave, grasp objects or point to |
| related diseases which today are known as | | | | objects by twelve months, say single words by |
| Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs). | | | | the age of sixteen months and does not say |
| Three other conditions round out the pervasive | | | | two-word phrases on his or her own by 24 |
| developmental disorder family Rett's Disorder, | | | | months, the child has a loss of any language or |
| Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Asperger's | | | | social skills at any age. Only a psychiatrist or |
| Disorder. Another diagnosis, Pervasive | | | | psychologist observes the child's behaviour and |
| Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified | | | | interviews the parents or guardians he may |
| (NOS) is used to indicate PDDs of unknown origin. | | | | administer one or more formal tests designed to |
| All these developmental disorders are | | | | measure PDD-like behaviour and compare it to |
| characterized by communication and social | | | | normal children behaviour so that the degree of |
| impairments. Different causes for the underlying | | | | the child's impairments can be determined. |
| impairments are different one from another; they | | | | The doctor will review the test results and |
| differ by profiles and intensities of impairment | | | | observation notes and make a diagnosis based on |
| typical of each condition. | | | | observable criteria. |
| Autism spectrum disorders are synonymous with | | | | It is important for a parent to observe a child's |
| pervasive developmental disorders. A person can | | | | behaviour and verify its mental health. This |
| have a pervasive developmental disorder and not | | | | method will show if any case of autism appears |
| carry the diagnosis of autism in particular. Because | | | | and it is true also that a specialist should be |
| of their insidious nature of autism spectrum of | | | | consult. |
| disorders are difficult to recognize. Parents are | | | | |