Autism is not a disease, but a developmental disorder of brain function. People with classical autism show three types of symptoms, weakened social interaction, problems with verbal, body language, facial expressions and imagination, and unusual or very much limited activities and interests. Signs of autism usually appear during the first three years of childhood and continue throughout life. Although there is no cure, appropriate management may help with healthy development and reduce undesirable behaviors.
People with autism have a normal life expectancy. Autism affects about two to 10 of every 10,000 people, depending on the diagnostic requirements used. Most estimates that include people with similar disorders are two to three times greater. …show more content…
The term "Asperger syndrome" is sometimes used to describe people with autistic behavior, but well-developed language skills. Children who appear healthy in their first several years, then lose skills and begin showing autistic behavior, may be diagnosed with childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD). Girls with Rett's syndrome, a sex-linked genetic disorder seen as not enough brain growth, seizures, and other neurological problems, also may show autistic behavior. PDD - NOS, Asperger syndrome, CDD, and Rett's syndrome are sometimes referred to as autism spectrum …show more content…
However, reports from parents of children with autism indicate that some children's language skills regress early in life, usually before age three. This regression often seems linked to epilepsy or seizure-like brain activity. Adolescence also worsens behavior problems in some children with autism, which may become depressed or increasingly unmanageable. There is no cure for autism at present. Therapies, or interventions, are designed to remedy specific symptoms in each individual. The best-studied therapies include educational/behavioral and medical interventions. Although these interventions do not cure autism, they often bring about substantial improvement. Educational and behavioral strategies emphasize highly structured and often intensive skill oriented training that is tailored to each child. Therapists work with children to help them develop social and language skills. Because children learn most effectively and rapidly when very young, this type of therapy should begin as early as possible. Recent evidence suggests that early intervention has a good chance of positively influencing brain development. With medication intervention, doctors may prescribe a variety of drugs to reduce self-injuring behavior or other troublesome symptoms of autism, as well as associated conditions such as epilepsy and attention disorders. Most of these drugs affect levels of serotonin or other signaling chemicals in the
People with autism have a normal life expectancy. Autism affects about two to 10 of every 10,000 people, depending on the diagnostic requirements used. Most estimates that include people with similar disorders are two to three times greater. …show more content…
The term "Asperger syndrome" is sometimes used to describe people with autistic behavior, but well-developed language skills. Children who appear healthy in their first several years, then lose skills and begin showing autistic behavior, may be diagnosed with childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD). Girls with Rett's syndrome, a sex-linked genetic disorder seen as not enough brain growth, seizures, and other neurological problems, also may show autistic behavior. PDD - NOS, Asperger syndrome, CDD, and Rett's syndrome are sometimes referred to as autism spectrum …show more content…
However, reports from parents of children with autism indicate that some children's language skills regress early in life, usually before age three. This regression often seems linked to epilepsy or seizure-like brain activity. Adolescence also worsens behavior problems in some children with autism, which may become depressed or increasingly unmanageable. There is no cure for autism at present. Therapies, or interventions, are designed to remedy specific symptoms in each individual. The best-studied therapies include educational/behavioral and medical interventions. Although these interventions do not cure autism, they often bring about substantial improvement. Educational and behavioral strategies emphasize highly structured and often intensive skill oriented training that is tailored to each child. Therapists work with children to help them develop social and language skills. Because children learn most effectively and rapidly when very young, this type of therapy should begin as early as possible. Recent evidence suggests that early intervention has a good chance of positively influencing brain development. With medication intervention, doctors may prescribe a variety of drugs to reduce self-injuring behavior or other troublesome symptoms of autism, as well as associated conditions such as epilepsy and attention disorders. Most of these drugs affect levels of serotonin or other signaling chemicals in the