| It is estimated that out of one thousand children, three | | | | to grow up independently which the rest may need |
| to six have autism. The definition of autism is brain | | | | supportive living and working environment. |
| disorder associated with developmental problems | | | | Some autistic children may lead normal or near normal |
| mainly in social interaction and communication. The | | | | lives when they grow up. They may become more |
| disorder happens on boys more often than girls. The | | | | engaged with others and able to mingle more naturally |
| symptoms usually show before the age of three. | | | | as they mature and show less marked disturbances in |
| Autism awareness and diagnosis has improved greatly | | | | behaviors. Others however, may deteriorate and have |
| over the past few decades. However, autism cannot | | | | worsening behavior problems. The major problem with |
| be cured and persists throughout life. The recent | | | | autistic children is the slow speed in acquiring new |
| increase in autism cases in United States are not | | | | knowledge and skills. Only small numbers are able to |
| actually the increased of patients but the increase of | | | | master exceptional skills like math or art. |
| reports and diagnosis of such cases, as compared to | | | | The causes of autism are not identifiable. Researchers |
| the past. | | | | believe it to be caused by gene defects and |
| Early diagnosis and intensive treatment can make a lot | | | | abnormalities in several regions of the brain. Extensive |
| of differences. Symptoms include failing to answer to | | | | researches have shown that there is no link to |
| her or his name, has poor eye contact, resist cuddling | | | | vaccines. So far, there is no medical test to diagnose |
| and holding, prefers to play alone and retreats into his | | | | autism. Formal evaluation includes observation and |
| own world. For babies, if they do not babble or coo, | | | | developmental tests such as speech, language and |
| point and wave by 12th month, and does not say a | | | | physiological. |
| word at 16th month, autism is highly suspected. | | | | Early detection is beneficial to the child, as treatment |
| The seriousness and consequences of the disorder is | | | | before the age of 3 is best chance of significant |
| on case by case basis. Some autistic children are able | | | | improvement. |