What Is Autism?

From Usefulwiki

Autism was first identified in 1943 and, until fairly recently, was still a relatively unknown disability. However autistic spectrum disorders are thought to occur in about 1:110 children.

People with autism are not physically disabled in the same way that a person with, say, cerebral palsy may be; they do not require wheelchairs and they 'look' just like anybody without the disability. Due to this invisible nature it can be much harder to create awareness and understanding of the condition. Because an autistic child looks 'normal' others assume they are naughty or the parents are not controlling the child. Strangers frequently comment on this 'failing', often in front of parents who are trying their hardest to cope with a disability that they may not fully understand.

What is autism?

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them. Children and adults with autism struggle with everyday social interaction. Their ability to develop friendships may be limited as well as their capacity to understand other people's emotional expression.

People with autism may have accompanying learning disabilities but everyone with the condition shares a difficulty in making sense of the world.

There is also a condition called Asperger syndrome, which is a form of autism used to describe people who are usually at the higher functioning end of the autistic spectrum.

What are the characteristics of autism?

People with autism generally experience three main areas of difficulty; these are known as the triad of impairments

Autistic people have spoken out about the use of the words difficulty and impairment in relation to autism - more to follow when the politics of autism section gets underway

• Social interaction (difficulty with social relationships, for example appearing aloof and indifferent to other people)
• Social communication (difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication, for example not fully understanding the meaning of common gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice)
• Social imagination (difficulty in the development of interpersonal play and imagination, for example having a limited range of imaginative activities, possibly copied and pursued rigidly and repetitively).

In addition to this triad, repetitive behaviour patterns and resistance to change in routine are often characteristic.

What causes autism?

There has been much speculation on the possible causes of autism. The exact cause or causes of autism is/are still not known but research shows that genetic factors are important. It is also evident from research that autism may be associated with a variety of conditions affecting brain development which occur before, during, or very soon after birth.