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Facts About AutismAutism is a neurological disorder that leads to developmental disabilities, most demonstrably in social interactions and communication. Sufferers of autism have difficulty reading social cues and physical and facial cues that we take for granted, make it difficult for them to interact with other people in work, school, play, and social settings. One researcher described autistic children this way: "They have little or no speech, they rarely display any effective awareness of people, and they maintain a level of activity that has the barest relation to objects or events in the real world." (Fenichel, 1960). Autism is categorized under a family of disorders called Pervasive Developmental Disorders, which also includes Aspberger's Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Rett's Disorder. Autism is also identified as a spectrum disorder, meaning if affects people differently, with some showing more or less symptoms at different times. Somewhere between 1 and 1.4 million people in the US are estimated to be autistic, with just under 1 in every 150 new births being affected. Autism usually strikes children prior to the age of 3, but it is sometimes not recognized until after the age of 5.
Autistic Kids - Diagnosing AutismMost children sufferers of autism have delayed language skills - they start off on a normal progression but then stall or move backwards. What are the signs of autism? How can I tell if my child is autistic? As children get older, there are many symptoms and signs that can point to a diagnosis of autism:
Autism is normally officially diagnosed 2-3 years after symptoms are first noticed. At the infant level, doctors should check that babies are making babbling noises and using hand gestures by 12 months of age, saying single words by 16 months, saying 2-word phrases by age 2, and not losing any language skills previously acquired -- children that fail to meet these standards are at risk for autism and should be further evaluated. No one really knows yet what causes autism, but studies show differences in brain structures between autistic and non-autistic children, leading researchers to believe there is probably a genetic or hereditary link. No evidence has been found to link autism to vaccines, as some had suggested in prior years. And autism is NOT caused by bad parenting or lack of parental attention or affection. Getting help with AutismThere is no cure for autism, and no drugs or treatment one can take to make it go away. The real tools for dealing with autism are education and training, for the parents, family, school, and anyone else involved. There are a number of organization that can help you and your autistic child. The Autism-Society.org (ASA) helps individuals with autism and their families and loved ones affected by it. For getting an education on autism, check out their Autism 101 section -- it covers an introduction to autism, treatment options, treatment assistance, and transition to adulthood. They also host an annual conference (the 38th annual event is July 11-14 in Phoenix), and they offer the latest news and articles about autism. They help you find local ASA support chapters in your area and their AutismSource database is a great reference with doctors recommendations, schools, camps, special training and therapy programs for autism, and more. Another site is CureAutismNow.org. They offer a good primer section on basic information about autism, symptoms, treatments, education, etc., as well as links to online austism resources. A very good site is KylesTreehouse.org, with a real family's story of autism. Apart from the touching personal story, there are also plenty of autism resources and information on support and treatment, including discussion boards.Of course there are many books on the topic of autism as well. Overcoming Autism by Koegel is a great place to start, with advice and strategies for families dealing with autism. You can find additional autism resources at the website for Dr. Koegel's UCSB Koegel Autism Research & Training Center, at www.education.ucsb.edu/autism/.
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