Autism is a general term for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. With the May 2013 publication of the DSM-5 diagnostic manual, all autism disorders were merged into one umbrella diagnosis of ASD. Previously, they were recognized as distinct subtypes, including autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome. Autism affects thousands of people each year. The first symptoms begin to appear when the child is almost 3 years old. This is true for most children because some children develop normally until 18-24 months after then they lose. Some of the most common symptoms of autism are repeated motion such as rocking or spinning, avoiding eye contact or physical touch and delays in learning to talk.
What causes autism?
Until about a few years ago, there was no clue as to what causes autism however with the advancement of modern medicine, we have begun to find the factors that lead to the onset of autism. However, the clear answer to this is that there are no definite causes of autism. Autism is usually caused because of events on or before birth. They include advanced parental age at the time of conception (both mom and dad), maternal illness during pregnancy and certain difficulties during birth, particularly those involving periods of oxygen deprivation to the baby’s brain
Treating autism
Doctors and autism experts believe that a child should receive treatment as soon as he is diagnosed. Although there is no cure for autism, early intervention can stop the factors from spreading. This type of educational and behavioral treatment tackles autism symptoms — impaired social interaction, communication problems, and repetitive behaviors — and can boost an autistic child’s chances of being able to go to school and participate in normal activities.
