So what is Autism ??

Autism is among the most tragic of neurological disorders, typically affecting children between the ages of 18 to 30 months, effectively erasing emergent personalities and cloaking what is left in an array of bizarre and impenetrable behaviours.A child with Autism is trapped in a mental world of his/her own, which we can only imagine. Disability from the disorder can vary between extremes, ranging from those requiring constant supervision and assistance. – Even permanent institutionalisation- to those who are able to attend mainstream school, gain employment and lead relatively independent lives.

What Are The Characteristics of Autism ?

Autism is a developmental disability that specifically affects those areas of the brain that control social ability and communication skills. Children and Adults with Autism typically have difficulty in verbal and non – verbal communication. They may have difficulty relating to the outside world and can present unusual reactions to the people around them, which can include aggressive behaviour that may cause injury to themselves or others. The disorder also causes sensitivity to the senses of sight, touch, hearing, smell and taste. In many cases a child appears normal and reasonably healthy for the first 18 to 24 months but then there is a regression of speech development, often to the point of muteness. Severe problems with behaviour, communication and social relationships are caused by the inability to understand what other children would normally sense through sight touch and hearing. Obsessions are very apparent, these can range from, wearing the same clothes everyday to more severe obsess ional behaviour e.g.laying in floor in supermarket /road if the same procedure is not carried out at each outing.

You mave have heard of the expression " Autistic Spectrum Disorders " ( ASD ) Some other conditions with very similar symptoms to autism are said to be " on the autistic spectrum. These include Aspegers Syndrome and Dyspraxia.