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What is Autism?
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of a child's life. The neurological disorder affects the normal development and functioning of the brain, most often in the areas of social and communication skills.
Autism may involve a lack of or delay in skill development, or in some cases, a loss of skills gained after an early period of typical development. Autism is known as a spectrum disorder, meaning that a wide variety of symptoms and characteristics can occur in many degrees of severity.
Children with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present. Individuals with autism may engage in repeated stereotypic behavior such as hand flapping or rocking, unusual attachments to objects, and appear to be resistant to changes in routine.
The disorder makes it extremely difficult for children with autism to communicate with others and relate to the outside world and children with autism too often remain isolated in their own world while families struggle to find the support they need.
Autism is estimated to occur in as many as 1 in 150 individuals. Over one half million people in the United States today have autism or some form of Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), making autism one of the most common developmental disabilities. The disorder knows no racial, ethnic or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle and educational levels do not affect its occurrence. There is no known cause, although it is believed the disorder is genetically based and may have an environmental component or trigger.
Nationally, the incidence of autism has increased dramatically (more than 300%) over the last 10 years, for unknown reasons.
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