• Markedly deficient regulation of social interaction by using multiple non-verbal behaviours such as eye contact, facial expression, body posture and gestures.
• Lack of peer relationships that are appropriate to the developmental level
• Doesn’t seek to share achievements, interests or pleasure with others
• Lacks social or emotional reciprocity

• Delayed or absent development of spoken language for which the person doesn’t try to compensate with gestures
• In those who can speak, inadequate attempts to begin or sustain a conversation
• Language that is repetitive, stereotyped or idiosyncratic
• Absence of social imitative play or spontaneous, make-believe play that is appropriate to the persons developmental level

Activities, behaviour and interests that are repetitive, restricted and stereotyped:

• Preoccupation with abnormal (in focus or intensity) interests that are restricted and stereotyped (e.g. spinning things)
• Rigidly sticks to routines or rituals that do not appear to have a function
• Has stereotyped, repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand flapping)
• Persistently preoccupied with parts of objects
  

Before the age of three the person shows delayed or abnormal functioning in one or most of these areas:

• Social interaction
• Language used in social communication
• Imaginative or symbolic play
  

Cause:

The exact causes of autism are still not known but research shows that genetic factors are important. It is also clear from this research that autism is associated with a variety of conditions affecting brain development which occur before, during or very soon after birth.

Treatment:

The treatment for autism is often very difficult and prolonged. Parents, teachers, and therapists must work together to encourage social adjustment and speech development in the child. Positive reinforcement techniques (e.g. offering food for appropriate behaviour or language responses) have been successful in promoting skills. This treatment may take place in an institution, specialised school, day-care setting, or in the home. Treatments such as dietary modification and vitamin therapies, music therapy, coloured or prism lenses auditory training, sensory integration, social skills programming, and speech therapy can also be used. Treatment greatly depends on the individual and a variety of treatments can be used simultaneously. Some people with autism can also benefit from medication to treat the symptoms of the disorder (see "Pharmacotherapy" section in Asperger’s Disorder article).

Counselling and psychotherapy can be beneficial to the person. Intense behaviour modification programs such as behaviour Analysis and Applied behaviour Analysis can help the person to manage the symptoms of autistic disorder.

In addition, some family members can feel guilty or inadequate and may need counselling.

Links:

www.autism-society.org/
www.autismuk.com/
www.nas.org.uk/