Autism

Overview

Autism is a serious developmental brain disorder. This disorder is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication skills, and a limited range of activities and interests. Signs of the disorder appear typically in the first three years of life. There is no cure for autism, but if diagnosed and treated early, the patient can negate some of the effects that are caused by this disorder.

Types

Autism can manifest itself in a couple of different ways. Autistic disorder is the one people visualize when they hear the word "autism."

Other ways autism can manifest itself include:

• Asperger Syndrome - A highly functional form of ASD.
• Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
• Rett Syndrome - A form of autism that is known to only occur in women.
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS, including atypical autism).

Symptoms

There are a set of common symptoms that acts as indicators for autism. In the area of social skills: poor eye contact, resistance to cuddling and holding, preferring to play alone, possessing poor eye contact and other similar symptoms occur. In the area of language, the child cannot start or maintain a conversation and it is a late bloomer when it comes to talking. An ability to converse becomes diminished and the child affected by autism will tend to repeat language verbatim without knowing its meaning and applies a tone or rhythm to speech. Behavioral issues include repetitive movements, sensitive to light and sound, and the disturbance by changes in ritual and ritual development.

Causes/Risk Factors

The exact mechanisms behind the formation of autism are not very well understood. Some of the more understood causes include genetic errors, where the DNA does not replicate properly. Families with history of autism are more likely to find autism in their children. There are a number of environmental factors that can contribute to the development of autism, including the possibility of viruses and air pollutants. There are also a number of other causes that can be a factor in the development of autism, such as immune system issues and delivery problems.

Tests/Diagnosis

With regular checkups, the child's doctor will test for developmental delay. If the doctor detects anything, then he will refer to a specialist who can perform a formal evaluation. Diagnosis is difficult due to the varied nature of the disorder. The diagnosis for autism cannot be done based on a single test, rather a diagnostic procedure of tracking the development of the child's verbal, social and behavioral skills will do. Although signs of autism may develop as early as 18 months, the diagnosis may not be made until the child is at least 2 or 3 years of age.

Treatment

There is no cure for autism, but if the disease is diagnosed early, intensive therapies can help to treat behavioral, social and language abilities. Some medications can help with issues, such as anxiety and other severe behavioral problems. Highly structured educational programs can also contribute to boosting the social, behavioral and lingual abilities of the child.