THE FACTS

Autism is a brain illness that typically affects one to talk and interact with others. This illness prevents children from developing regular social skills even with parents. People with Autism do not necessarily have to be totally shut down with no action at all. While some are completely disabled in every way some can be rather high functioning with intelligence and conversation.

DEVELOPING YEARS

Autism develops in the earliest year of existence, but never after three years of age. This illness is often diagnosed around age two.

STATISTICS

The disorder is less common in females than in males. In fact, for every female with Autism 2-4 males are affected. There are two to five cases of Autism per ten thousand people.

ORIGIN

Autism came from the Greek word autos. The word autos means alone.

Difference in the Behaviors of Infants With and Without Autism
Infants with Autism	Normal Infants
Communication
Avoid eye contact Seem deaf Start developing language, then abruptly stop talking altogether	Study mother's face Easily stimulated by sounds Keep adding to vocabulary and expanding grammatical usage
Social relationships
Act as if unaware of the coming and going of others Physically attack and injure others without provocation Inaccessible, as if in a shell	Cry when mother leaves the room and are anxious with strangers Get upset when hungry or frustrated Recognize familiar faces and smile
Exploration of environment
Remain fixated on a single item or activity Practice strange actions like rocking or hand-flapping Sniff or lick toys Show no sensitivity to burns or bruises, and engage in self-mutilation, such as eye gouging	Move from one engrossing object or activity to another Use body purposefully to reach or acquire objects Explore and play with toys Seek pleasure and avoid pain

Above chart was found at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/autism.cfm

For more information on Autism and other mental disorders click here.

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