Autism

The common belief prior to Kaner and Hans's time was autism was a psychological disorder believed to be cause by a neglectful mother and there was little to be done to help these children who seemed unreachable. The word autistic derives from the Greek word meaning self'. .
             Autism is a developmental disorder of the nervous system that affects a person's ability to communicate, form relationships with others, and respond effectively to the environment before the age of 3. One abnormality frequently found in autism, with and without mental retardation, is a reduction of cerebellar tissue, a condition traced to fetal stages rather than to damage occurring during later development (Murray, 151). Some people with autism are high functioning with speech and intelligence intact while others show signs of mental retardation, become mute and have serious language delays. Children do not always show the same signs of autism and there are different severities among this disorder. Autism is estimated to occur in as many as 2 to 6 in 1,000 individuals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2001). Autism is four times more likely to occur in boys than in girls and has no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries. Currently, there is no cure for autism but many of the symptoms can be treated with the help of behavioral therapists, teachers, and parents. .
             Diagnosis of Autism.
             Parents are usually the first ones to notice unusual behavior that their child is portraying. Early signs of autism are the child becomes unresponsive to people and toys, plays with only one toy for a long period of time. Other children start off displaying normal signs of development by babbling and then become silent, withdrawn, self-abusive, and stop speaking all together.
             Once a child is diagnosed with autism there are several options for treatment. Early intervention programs that include educational programs and behavior training programs help emphasize developing language and social skills.