What is autism? This and other questions about autism have plagued
many parents’ minds.Autism is not a disease; it is merely a disturbed state of mind that infects kids, usually.
A kid plagued with autism behaves in quite different manner than those who are normal.
WHAT IS AUTISM?
“Autism is a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior.”
This means that in this disorder, kids refuse to interact with society in a normal manner, and confine their communication with others. They react in a different way than usually kids do. Their actions are repetitive e.g. a kid suffering from autism will keep on arranging his toys in a specific manner, and will react harshly if his arrangement is disturbed.
When do the sigs of autism begin to show?
The signs and symptoms of autism begin to show before a child reaches 3
years of age.
Causes:
Autism possesses strong genetic basis. Its causes also include mutation, agents that cause birth defects.
Ratio:
Frequency of this disorder is 6 per every 1000 people. Also, males are more prone to this disorder than females, with about four times as many males as females. Since 1980s, diagnostic procedures have changed a great deal and perhaps this is why number of people known to be plagued with autism has been increased since then.
Alarming signs:
If parents notice following signs in their kids, they should immediately consult a doctor in order to know what ails the kids and to ascertain if it is autism or not:
- No blathering by the age of 12 months
- No gesticulating like moving their hands in a waving motion, pointing towards a certain thing, etc by 12 months
- Not have uttered a single word by the age of 16 months
- Not have uttered dual-word expressions by the age of 24 months (else than in the cases of echolalia)
- Loss of a language or a social skill at any moment of their ages
If your kid suffers through autism; give him support, love, care and attention as much as you can; this will help him become a successful and constructive member of society.
