What is autism?
The stereotypical view of autism is the one that described Dustin Hoffman in the film Rainman - an individual who cannot function well in society, with unusual mental abilities, recurring behavior and special speeches. Today it is considered a developmental disorder that starts either at birth or in very early childhood, and if it is not treated, it can seriously disrupt the child's ability to develop normal social interactions. It was assumed that it occurred only once every 10,000 births. It is not clear whether a recent increase in diagnoses is caused by a better diagnostic criteria or a real increase in how often this happens. Its causes are the subject of considerable controversy, although the genetic inclination, perhaps induced by the environment, is a leading candidate. In families you can see autism or autistic qualities.
It is assumed to be conditionalological and sensory disorder; Autism does not perceive and relate to the rest of the world in the same way as the unauthorizedka. Temple Grandin, autistic that gained a doctorate in animal behavior as an adult, wrote about his life with autism in thinking in the pictures . They claim that autistic knowledge is much more tied to visual stimuli than in non -autistic.
Autism in children can be diagnosed very early, for 12 to 18 months. Marks include the following:
- Language development problems : The infant can be babble and start to gain one -word concepts, then at some point will stop learning new words and lose that it already requires. Some autistic children will never start to develop tongue.
- Social retreat : rather than enjoying and looking for social interactions, a toddler with autism will be Azzvolte and prefer their own society. A child who actively, even obsessed, avoids eye contact can be in the early stages of the condition.
- SMYSL problems : It seems that autism disrupts how the child processes sensory information. Tactile feelings can be stunning or addictive. Visual stimuli, such as rotating fan blades, may prove irresistible.
- Recurrent behavior : Children with this condition often perform ritual or recurring movements. Manual waving, organizing toys rather than with them and repeatedly opening and closing cabinets for a long time can be characteristic features of autism.
Autism is considered to be a spectrum disorder - ie problems caused by that they can move from mild to serious. The sooner the disorder is diagnosed and treated, often cognitive and behavioral intervention, it can be fully functional autism. Many people diagnosticed can be successfully "mainstream" into the educational system. Many municipalities now have special services in the educational system to treat autistic children; Parents should consult withA pediatrician regarding information on diagnosis and treatment if they think their child can have this condition.