About Autism
Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex Neurodevelopmental disorders known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The other ASD's are PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified) and Asperger's Syndrome.
Today, it is estimated that 1 in every 110 children (1 out of 70 boys) is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined.
Unable to learn naturally from the environment as most children do, the child with autism shows little interest in the world or people around him/her. While all children with autism develop some normal and even advanced skills, they exhibit a wide range of behavioral deficiencies and excesses.
Some behavioral symptoms of autism include:
> Disturbances in the rate of appearance of social, language/communication and motor skills
> Atypical responses to sensations, such as sight, hearing, touch, balance, smell, taste, reaction to pain and the way a
child holds his or her body
> Absent or delayed speech and language, although specific thinking capabilities may be present
> Atypical way of relating to people, objects or events
Autism occurs in children from all racial, geographical and socioeconomic backgrounds. Disproportionately affecting males, it is four times more prevalent in boys than girls.
Though there is no cure yet for autism, there is hope through prompt and science-based intervention rooted in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
Today, it is estimated that 1 in every 110 children (1 out of 70 boys) is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined.
Unable to learn naturally from the environment as most children do, the child with autism shows little interest in the world or people around him/her. While all children with autism develop some normal and even advanced skills, they exhibit a wide range of behavioral deficiencies and excesses.
Some behavioral symptoms of autism include:
> Disturbances in the rate of appearance of social, language/communication and motor skills
> Atypical responses to sensations, such as sight, hearing, touch, balance, smell, taste, reaction to pain and the way a
child holds his or her body
> Absent or delayed speech and language, although specific thinking capabilities may be present
> Atypical way of relating to people, objects or events
Autism occurs in children from all racial, geographical and socioeconomic backgrounds. Disproportionately affecting males, it is four times more prevalent in boys than girls.
Though there is no cure yet for autism, there is hope through prompt and science-based intervention rooted in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
