Autism is a developmental disorder characterised by problems with communication and interpersonal relationships. They may be withdrawn and develop fascinations with unusual things. These traits are often noticed as early as infancy. An autistic child may be unresponsive to his or her name and seem indifferent to parental interaction. They may become fixated with certain objects for unusual lengths of time. Often these traits worsen as the child gets older.
Autism Symptoms
Autism is usually identified before the child is 3 years old. Symptoms may include, but not be limited to, the following things:
- Avoids eye contact
- Dislikes being touched
- Delayed speech development
- Lack of empathy
- Inability to decipher body language
- Unusual sensitivity to bright lights, sounds, or being touched
Causes of Autism
Scientists do not yet fully understand what causes autism. However, it seems likely that both genes and environment play a role. Studies have shown that people with autism have abnormalities in various parts of the brain. One such abnormality is an over abundance of serotonin and other neurotransmitters. This suggests a disruption in normal foetal brain development has taken place. Scientists have identified a number of genes that may give rise to such an occurrence.
Environmental factors are hotly debated. There is still controversy surrounding the theory that the mercury in some childhood vaccines may trigger autism. Another theory suggests exposure to environmental toxins may play a role. Cases of autism seem to be on the rise and often occur in clusters, strongly suggesting an environmental factor. Whatever the case, parental negligence has long been discredited as a possible cause.
Autism Treatment
Autism cannot be cured, but with early intervention an autistic child may grow up to have an almost normal life. Treatment involves therapy aimed at improving the key abnormalities associated with the condition; impaired social interaction, impaired verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and obsessive tendencies. Therapy normally involves intensive skills based training sessions.
In some cases medication will also be necessary. Anxiety and depression are often associated with the condition after adolescence, and antidepressant medication may be prescribed. Obsessive compulsion can also be controlled with these medicines. Anti-psychotic medication may be need for those with severe behavioural problems.
Living With Autism
People with autism will never completely be at ease in “normal” society as their condition makes many common scenarios unpleasant to them. Hypersensitivity to sounds, light, smells and textures can result in a feeling of “sensory overload” and for this reason autistics may prefer to avoid large social gatherings or situations with multiple stimuli. As they lack the ability to read others visual cues in terms of body language they may often find themselves confused by others behaviour, and they themselves are often misunderstood and perceived to be rude or inconsiderate. However, many autistics possess high intelligence and can learn to assimilate into society, when their diligence is combined with understanding from their peers.
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