| Autism has affected more than 1.5 children in the | | | | creative mind play and social interaction. A child's |
| USA. It is a lifelong condition for which there is no | | | | ability in these three areas is impaired. The |
| cure. | | | | severity varies from individual to individual. |
| What is Autism? | | | | One of the prime symptoms of autism is impaired |
| Autism is a disorder caused in children during the | | | | social interaction. A child suffering from autism fails |
| first three years of their life. Autism is essentially | | | | to respond to his name. The child avoids looking |
| a brain disorder. It affects the normal functioning | | | | at other people and their activities. A child would |
| of the brain. Autism is characterized by a disability | | | | remain passive to various tones of voice. He |
| in a child's verbal and non-verbal communication. A | | | | would remain blank about facial expressions and |
| child with autism suffers from mental retardation, | | | | would not react to emotions of people. He is |
| stereotyped activities and impaired learning. The | | | | completely oblivious of what others feel for him, |
| child also suffers from restrained social | | | | and what impact he is leaving on people. |
| interactions and pursuits of individualistic interests | | | | A child suffering from autism tends to engage |
| and hobbies. | | | | himself in repetitive activities like biting, rocking, |
| What causes Autism? | | | | hair twirling and even head banging. Autistic |
| Despite the fact that autism is such a life impairing | | | | children refer to themselves by their names |
| disorder, researchers have not detected its | | | | instead of 'I' or 'me'. They also tend to speak |
| common cause. Several studies indicate that it is | | | | quite late compared to other children. |
| caused due to abnormalities in the brain's | | | | An autistic child shows unusual responses towards |
| structure and working. This fact has been | | | | touch, sound or any other sensory stimulation. He |
| supported by various brain scan comparisons. The | | | | might show decreased reaction and sensitivity |
| comparisons showed that an autistic child's brain | | | | towards injury or pain. He might react against |
| shape and structure differs from that of a normal | | | | being cuddled and other activities. |
| child. | | | | A child suffering from autism shows impaired |
| Genes are also considered as a cause of autism. | | | | learning. He finds it difficult to adjust himself to a |
| Genetics play an important role in a person's | | | | daily give and take routine. He would avoid making |
| lifestyle and behavior. A child can suffer from | | | | eye contact with almost everyone. He spends his |
| autism if he has a family history of autism or | | | | time in solitude and offers resistance to being |
| other disabilities. 1 out of every 500 children is | | | | kissed and hugged. He doesn't even react in the |
| believed to develop autism on a genetic basis. | | | | absence of parents. He tends to takes longer |
| Even if one child in the family suffers from | | | | time in interpreting and understanding things. |
| autism, the chances of autism increase in the | | | | As they grow, autistic children can become |
| other children up to 20 percent. | | | | aggressive and show a tendency to harm others. |
| Prenatal infection with viruses such as | | | | They become increasingly frustrated and may |
| cytomegalovirus (CMV) and rubella can also result | | | | even harm themselves. Children might also |
| in the development of autism in a child. If the | | | | develop a condition known as echolalia. In this |
| pregnant mother has not built up immunity against | | | | condition they only learn things by parroting what |
| this virus, it can cause autism in the new-born | | | | they hear. |
| child. | | | | A child suffering from autism also suffers from a |
| Autism can also develop in individuals suffering | | | | lack of creativity. He might simply gaze at a new |
| from medical conditions like Fragile X syndrome, | | | | object or toy, or hold it. He would not play or |
| tuberous sclerosis and undiagnosed | | | | experiment with it, like normal children. |
| phenylketonuria (PKU). Developmental brain | | | | Treatment |
| abnormalities like macrocephaly, cerebral | | | | There is no specific medication that can be given |
| dysgenesis and microcephaly can also cause | | | | in the treatment of autism. Treatment differs |
| autism. Neurological disorders like bacterial | | | | according to the severity of the impairment in a |
| meningitis and lead encephalopathy which are | | | | child. If you feel your child displays signs of autism |
| acquired after the birth can also lead to autism. | | | | a specialist should be consulted immediately for |
| Features of a child suffering from autism | | | | diagnosis and also to suggest what treatment can |
| Autism is known to affect three prime areas of a | | | | be given. |
| child's life- verbal and non-verbal communication, | | | | |