What is Autism?

Autism is considered a neuro developmental disorder that manifests itself in marked problems with social relatedness, communication, interest, and behavior. The etiology and physiological basis for autism are unknown, and the psychiatric criteria for the diagnosis of condition are based on behavioral attributes rather than clinical tests.

Some important points to be remembered for Autistic spectrum disorder: If your child has been diagnosed of having autistic tendencies and features or even you may suspect autism then this will be a very difficult time.

* During this situation remember that it is not your fault and it has nothing whatsoever to do with how a child is brought up. Parents of children with the condition are just like everyone else and each one's behavior, including your child's will be unique but there are some underlying common problems which bond the whole group of autistic people together.

* Although there is no known cause or cure for the condition there is an enormous amount can be done to bring out the best in your child to enable them to live as happy as possible. Early diagnosis is very important if they are able to achieve their full potential, only when their disability is understood and they can be helped to maximize skills and minimize problems.

* Children with the condition have widely differing educational needs so many different options are required to meet them and their needs. They are educated in a variety of establishments including ordinary mainstream schools, special schools for autistic children, schools for children with moderate or severe learning difficulties, and schools for speech, language and communications disorders where some of these may be residential. And hence it is important that your child's skills and needs are assessed as a means of deciding on the most appropriate form of education they require.

* Parents have an important role to play in the educational assessment. You should always ensure that the special needs of your child are recognized and these needs meet too. Remember that your child is a part of your family and never compare him/her with his brothers or sisters who are not autistic. Give him that importance how others are given.

* At last parents are the one who take the role of educator sometimes with general public or sometimes with professionals such as doctors, teachers, psychologist, etc. Sometimes you turn out to be the best expert after all it’s your child.

More aticle below about Autism:

Adult
An appropriate treatment procedure is one which is based in detail on the individual symptoms and requirements to the adult. Generally speaking, the procedure should involve a series of simple steps, active engagements of the adult interests by means of highly structured activities, and by providing regular control on the adult’s behavior....more

  Asperger Syndrome
Asperger syndrome is a disease similar to autism that occurs in children. It is called a cousin of autism. It was originally described by Hans Asperger in Vienna in 1944....more

Autism Spectrum Disorder
In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is classified as a pervasive developmental disorders, as opposed to specific developmental disorders like dyspraxia or dyslexia.....more

Babies
According to The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, a child or baby with autism might have the following symptoms:
* They do not play but "pretend" to play games (pretend to "feed" a doll)
* Not point at objects to show interest.
* They do not look at objects when another person points at them
* Have trouble relating to others.
* Usually they avoid eye contact and want to be alone....more

Causes
Research findings indicate strong genetic components that are mostly like, environmental, immunologic, and metabolic factors also influence the development of the disorder. Some causes are as follows:....more

Early Symptoms
The advanced research tells us that it may be possible to see early signs of autism by reading the language of movement. The study followed the head growth patterns of babies and found a significant difference between those who would later be diagnosed with autism and their healthy peers....more

Education
Many effective strategies have been developed to teach children and teenagers who have been diagnosed with autism but however not everyone involved in education or even special education is knowledgeable about all these methods....more

Famous
Only a person's close friends or relatives or doctors, are likely to be able to judge whether that person can be diagnosed with autism. But it is illuminating to learn of people with similar characteristics to ourselves, especially when those people are successful or well-known....more

History
In 1908, Eugen Bleuler coined the word "autism" in schizophrenic patients who screened themselves off and were self-centered. * In 1943, the American child psychiatrist Leo Kanner described 11 children with the following common traits: impairments in social relations, anguish for changes, good memory, belated echolalia,  over compassion to certain stimuli (especially sound), food problems, limitations in spontaneous activity, good intellectual potential, often coming from talented families.....more

Research
Researchers at the new center will seek to develop ways to identify different subcategories of autism. These researches are essential as allow clinicians to tailor interventions and make predictions about a child's future functioning....more

Society
These centers also study the percentage of prevalence of autism amongst the children in the country. Their recent research is tending to give much higher prevalence rates....more

Symptoms
The symptoms may become severer as the child enters adolescence and may go out of control if not checked on time. But there are also chances that the severity of the disease reduces as the autistic person enters adulthood....more

Treatment
Applied behavior analysis: it is a treatment method of autism which is one of the most widely accepted systems for the disease. It is based upon a rewards system and is the most extensively researched procedures of treatment....more