| is considered to be a variety of mental retardation, or | | | | motivated to assume the worst about their children's |
| an occasion as a severe form of | | | | atypical behaviour and symptoms until they become |
| obsessive-compulsive illness. The first term of autism | | | | impossible to ignore. Most parents do not bring their |
| appeared around 1912 when psychiatrist Eugene | | | | children in for formal diagnosis until they are between |
| Bleurel used the word to refer to patients who were | | | | 18 months and three years of age. As time goes by |
| self-absorbed and out of touch with the rest of the | | | | parents and physicians learn what to look for and |
| world. The term autism is derived from the Greek | | | | more children are diagnosed at earlier ages. |
| word autos, meaning self. | | | | Methods and techniques for identifying pervasive |
| The term shows the communicative isolation that is | | | | developmental disorders early continue to be refined. |
| the foremost feature of the illness. In fact the term | | | | The preferred method for identifying autism and |
| referred to schizophrenic individuals who displayed | | | | related pervasive developmental disorders the |
| catatonic behaviours and not to autistic patients as it is | | | | behavioral observation has been preferred. Children's |
| known today. The autistic syndrome may be | | | | lack of eye contact and social reciprocity are |
| described as mental retardation or mental illness. A mild | | | | recognized as the major causes of autism. A |
| form of autism identified as Asperger's syndrome, an | | | | characteristic of autism and related disorders is the |
| autism spectrum disorder and it was discovered by Dr. | | | | presence of the stereotyped repetitive movements. |
| Hans Asperger. | | | | When they are concerned about a PDD like autism it |
| A more general description of autism described by Dr. | | | | can be difficult for parents to know what specific signs |
| Leo Kanner was provided. Both doctors recognized | | | | to look for. A list of warning signs and milestones all |
| the intense isolation experienced by their child patients | | | | revolving around the crucial team of communication |
| was the central function of the condition. Mental | | | | deficits. |
| retardation and obsessive-compulsive disorder is | | | | Such circumstances should be concerned about his |
| unquestioned today but researchers refined Drs. | | | | child if: the child does not: babble or coo by twelve |
| Kanner and Asperger's work. Autism is thought as a | | | | months, use gestures to communicate and the child |
| family of related diseases which today are known as | | | | does not wave, grasp objects or point to objects by |
| Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs). | | | | twelve months, say single words by the age of |
| Three other conditions round out the pervasive | | | | sixteen months and does not say two-word phrases |
| developmental disorder family Rett's Disorder, | | | | on his or her own by 24 months, the child has a loss of |
| Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Asperger's | | | | any language or social skills at any age. Only a |
| Disorder. Another diagnosis, Pervasive Developmental | | | | psychiatrist or psychologist observes the child's |
| Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) is used to | | | | behaviour and interviews the parents or guardians he |
| indicate PDDs of unknown origin. All these | | | | may administer one or more formal tests designed to |
| developmental disorders are characterized by | | | | measure PDD-like behaviour and compare it to normal |
| communication and social impairments. Different | | | | children behaviour so that the degree of the child's |
| causes for the underlying impairments are different | | | | impairments can be determined. |
| one from another; they differ by profiles and intensities | | | | The doctor will review the test results and observation |
| of impairment typical of each condition. | | | | notes and make a diagnosis based on observable |
| Autism spectrum disorders are synonymous with | | | | criteria. |
| pervasive developmental disorders. A person can | | | | It is important for a parent to observe a child's |
| have a pervasive developmental disorder and not | | | | behaviour and verify its mental health. This method will |
| carry the diagnosis of autism in particular. Because of | | | | show if any case of autism appears and it is true also |
| their insidious nature of autism spectrum of disorders | | | | that a specialist should be consult. |
| are difficult to recognize. Parents are seldom | | | | |