| Autism is a little understood brain disorder that affects | | | | range. Still others have low intelligence in most areas |
| approximately 4 out of every 10,000 people. But every | | | | but almost supernatural abilities in others, such as |
| mom with a little one that shows sign of autism feels | | | | mathematics or music. Most develop a strong |
| very alone at times. There are well over 100,000 | | | | resistance to any changes in familiar environments or |
| autistic individuals in the United States. | | | | routines. |
| Autism is usually diagnosed in early childhood (before | | | | The cause of autism is unknown. Studies comparing |
| the age of three) and is characterized by a marked | | | | twins suggest that there may be a hereditary |
| unresponsiveness to other people and to the | | | | component to this disorder. Some experts believe that |
| surrounding environment. Physically, autistic individuals | | | | it is a result of some neurological imbalance or |
| do not appear different from others, but they exhibit | | | | malfunction that renders the autistic individual painfully |
| marked differences in behavior from a very early age. | | | | oversensitive to external stimuli. It is known that autism |
| While most babies love to be held and cuddled, autistic | | | | is not caused by parental neglect or actions, as was |
| infants appear indifferent to love and affection. As | | | | once believed. |
| they grow older, they fail to form attachments to | | | | Certain triggers have been implicated as possible |
| others in the way most children do, and instead seem | | | | precipitators of the disorder. These could include |
| to withdraw into themselves. It is important to note that | | | | problems in pregnancy and birth, viral infections, |
| autism is not a mental illness. | | | | exposure to certain environmental chemicals or |
| Many autistic children also exhibit unpredictable and | | | | pollutants, or even allergies to certain foods (i.e. gluten |
| unusual behaviors that can range from constant | | | | or dairy products). |
| rocking, to pounding their feet while sitting, to sitting for | | | | There are also suggestions that autism may be |
| long periods of time in total silence. Some experience | | | | caused by a reaction to childhood vaccines, especially |
| bursts of hyperactivity that include biting and pounding | | | | those containing high amounts of mercury. More |
| on their bodies. | | | | research is needed in this area. |
| Autistic children have learning disabilities, and are often | | | | There are also natural treatments for autism, including |
| mentally disabled. Speech development is usually | | | | herbal and homeopathic remedies which can help |
| delayed, and in many cases is absent or limited to | | | | maintain harmony, health, and systemic balance in the |
| nonsensical rhyming or babbling. | | | | brain and nervous system, without side effects or |
| Some autistic children seem to have lower than normal | | | | sedation. |
| intelligence, while others seem to fall into the normal | | | | |