Symptoms can be dangerous....

Autism: What Is It?
Autism is a multifaceted complex disorder of brain that causes a difficulty for a child's normal development, particularly in his or her skills to communicate and socialize with other people.

Autism is a dangerous disorder, which does not cause any noticeable physical disability, such as cerebral palsy may; people with autism do not require wheelchairs and they "look" just like anybody without the disability.

Because an autistic child looks "normal" other people assume they are just different and quiet or the parents are not controlling the child well enough. Due to this invisible nature of autism not many parents are aware of autism and even fewer fully understand this condition.

The first signs of autism disorder typically appear by age 3 and continue through life, if untreated. If a child has any of autism spectrum disorders, he or she may develop normally for the first few months - or years - of life, then become less responsive to other people.

The majority of children with autism have mental retardation, which means they're slow to acquire new knowledge or skills. However, some children learn quickly yet have trouble communicating, applying what they know in everyday life, and adjusting in social situations. An extremely small number of children with autism have exceptional skills in a narrow strictly specific area, such as art or math.

Although the exact prevalence of autism isn't estimated yet, doctors believe that one in 1,000 children has autism, including three to four times as many boys as girls. There has been noted a steep increase in the number of autism cases in the United States and all over the world, but the increase may be the result of better diagnosis and changes in diagnostic criteria.

Researchers are looking for clues to the cause of autism, hoping to better understand the nature of the disorder which will lead to better treatments. The future looks bright, but there are many families face the challenge of living with autism today.

The cause of autism disorder isn't clear, and there's no prescribed medical cure to autism. But autism is a treatable condition.

Many behavioral and communication therapy programs have been developed to address the range of social, language and behavioral difficulties associated with autism. There are prescribed medications that may improve specific behaviors, such as hyperactivity. However, there are no medications that directly improve the vital signs of autism. Doctors avoid prescribing child medications unless the behavior is potentially dangerous or it interferes with child's ability to participate in behavioral and communication therapy programs.

Some parents choose to supplement educational and medical treatment with complementary therapies of autism, such as art therapy, music therapy, special diets, vitamin and mineral supplements, and sensory integration.

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates and relates to the world. People with autism can often have accompanying learning disabilities but everyone with the condition shares a difficulty in making sense of the world.

Time is of essence when treating autism. A child showing any autistic tendencies should be referred for possible diagnosis to a licensed clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or neurologist specializing in autism and related disorders. If diagnosed early, treatment can begin immediately maximizing the probability of success.