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WHAT IS AUTISM?
Autism is a complex developmental disability that
typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person's
ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a
certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals
differently and to varying degrees. No single known cause for autism has
been identified.Common Symptoms:
- Significant problems in language
development
- Significant problems with understanding
and engaging in social interactions
- Inconsistent sensory response patterns -
for instance, periods when hearing appears to function normally and periods
of apparent deafness
- Uneven pattern of intellectual development
- Significant, highly-focused restriction of
interests and activities
- Need for sameness; reliance on routines
How common is it? For many years autism
was rare - occurring in just five children per 10,000 live births.
However, since the early 1990's, the rate of autism has increased exponentially
around the world with figures as high as 60 per 10,000. Boys outnumber
girls four to one. In 2007, the Centers for Disease Control reported
that 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with autism.
What is the outlook? Age at intervention
has a direct impact on outcome - typically, the earlier a child is treated, the
better the prognosis will be. In recent years there has been a marked
increase in the percentage of children who can attend school in a typical
classroom and live semi-independently in community settings. Most persons
with autism remain impaired in their ability to communicate and socialize, and
many depend on around the clock care.
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