Autism
Autism is the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders known as the autism spectrum disorders. Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests. Other Autism spectrum disorders include Aspergers syndrome, Rhett syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS). Experts estimate that three to six children out of every 1,000 will have autism. Males are four times more likely to have autism than females.
There are three distinctive behaviors that characterize autism. Children with autism have difficulties with social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests. These behaviors can range in impact from mild to disabling for the child.
The most outstanding feature of autism is noted in impaired social interaction. Parents are usually the first to notice symptoms of autism in their child. As early as infancy, a baby with autism may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time. A child with autism may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement.
Children with autism may fail to respond to their name and often avoid eye contact with other people. They have difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling because they can’t understand social cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions, and don’t watch other people’s faces for clues about appropriate behavior. They lack empathy.
Some children with autism engage in challenging behaviors including repetitive movements such as rocking and twirling, or in self-abusive behavior such as biting or head-banging. They may also lack typical communication skills. Children with autism don’t always know how to play interactively with other children. Some speak in a sing-song voice about a narrow range of favorite topics, with little regard for the interests of the person to whom they are speaking.
Some children have a reduced sensitivity to pain, but are abnormally sensitive to sound, touch, or other sensory stimulation. These unusual reactions may contribute to behavioral symptoms such as a resistance to being cuddled or hugged.
Autism varies widely in its severity and symptoms and may go unrecognized, especially in mildly affected children or when it is masked by more debilitating handicaps. Doctors rely on a core group of behaviors to alert them to the possibility of a diagnosis:
These behaviors are:
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Impaired ability to make friends with peers
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Impaired ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others
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Absence or impairment of imaginative and social play
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Stereotyped, repetitive, or unusual use of language
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Restricted patterns of interest that are abnormal in intensity or focus
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Preoccupation with certain objects or subjects
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Inflexible adherence to specific routines or rituals
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