Author/Medical Professional /
Autism is one of a group of serious developmental problems called autism spectrum disorders (ASD) that appear in early childhood — usually before age 3. Though symptoms and severity vary, all autism disorders affect a child's ability to communicate and interact with others.
The number of children diagnosed with autism appears to be
rising. It's not clear whether this is due to better detection and reporting of
autism, a real increase in the number of cases, or both.
While there is no cure for autism, intensive, early
treatment can make a big difference in the lives of many children with the
disorder.
Social skills
Fails to respond to his or her name
Has poor eye contact
Appears not to hear you at times
Resists cuddling and holding
Appears unaware of others' feelings
Seems to prefer playing alone — retreats into his or her
"own world"
Children with autism generally have problems in three
crucial areas of development — social interaction, language and behavior. But
because autism symptoms vary greatly, two children with the same diagnosis may
act quite differently and have strikingly different skills. In most cases,
though, severe autism is marked by a complete inability to communicate or
interact with other people.
Some children show signs of autism in early infancy. Other
children may develop normally for the first few months or years of life but
then suddenly become withdrawn, become aggressive or lose language skills
they've already acquired. Though each child with autism is likely to have a
unique pattern of behavior, these are some common autism symptoms:
Some researchers have suggested environmental factors may
play a larger role in triggering autism than was previously thought.
Written by: Ellen J. Barrier
07/7/2011 12:15 P.M
