Autism
disability; autism; Asperger; symdrome; spectrum; disorder; development; language; talk; behaviour; communication; understanding; feelings;
Contents
You may have a friend or family member with autism, there maybe someone at your school with autism, you may have heard the name somewhere, or you might just have seen the movie 'Rain Man'. There is a lot of information on the net about autism, and in topics on other parts of this site (for example, have a look at the topic Autism in the Teen Health section).
People with autism find it extremely difficult to understand and relate to other people. They have very restricted interests and activities.
Autism is one of a range of disorders called Autism Spectrum Disorders, which includes other language disorders and Asperger syndrome. (See Asperger syndrome and Autism spectrum disorders, in the Parenting and Child Health section of this site).
What is autism?
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects about 1 in every 1000 people. It affects more boys than girls (about 4 boys for every 1 girl).
People with autism develop their learning and thinking skills differently from a very early age, probably beginning before birth. Autism is not something you catch or can pass on.
As babies, children with autism are often unresponsive to their parents.
- They do not seem to like being held and cuddled.
- If they are crying, they do not settle down when their parents try to help them become calm.
As they get older.
- They do not start to talk when other children do.
- It may seem as if they are deaf, because they do not respond when their name is called.
People with autism do not understand other people, and often show little interest in other people. Some people with 'high functioning' autism (milder autism), may attempt to interact with other people, but they will do this clumsily, and they will usually be thought of as 'strange'.
People who have autism have trouble:
- making eye contact
- recognizing facial expression
- recognizing the body language of other people
- understanding the meaning of what others say
- talking in an interactive way (for example, they may echo back what they have just heard rather than understanding and answering).
People with autism usually have repetitive behaviours (such as flicking switches, rocking or banging their head) and obsessive interests (such as focusing on the wheels of toy cars). They often have trouble accepting change, such as changes to routines.
Causes of autism
It has become clear that autism is caused by several things which need to happen together.
- There are genetic factors, but it appears that several genes are involved.
- There seem to be trigger factors, such as problems during pregnancy or early childhood.
These lead to differences in how certain areas of the brain work.
People with autism also have a greater chance of having other disorders of the brain, such as epilepsy or an intellectual disability.
What can be done?
Autism is usually discovered early in a child's life (within the first 2 to 4 years) due to the unusual way the child is behaving and developing.
Autism cannot be cured, and there is no treatment which can make the problem go away. Most children with autism can be helped to learn skills which give them some ability to interact with others, and sometimes some independence.
They may benefit from a combination of different things, like:
- being taught basic living skills
- speech therapy
- physical therapy
- music therapy
- medication to reduce anxiety.
If you know someone with autism
If you have a family member with autism, it can be very frustrating at times.
- You may feel like they get all the attention, and are hard to get along with because they may throw tantrums often. It may seem as though you have to make up for the areas that they struggle in.
- Seeking support from other people in your situation can be a great help. Have a look at the topic Disabilities – brothers and sisters on the Parenting and Child Health section of this site.
Check out this web site from Siblings Australia: http://www.siblingsaustralia.org.au/
You can get in contact with other young people who have a brother or sister with special needs.
Resources
South Australia
General
References
Autism Association of South Australia. 'What is Autism?':
http://www.autismsa.org.au/html/disorders/autism.html
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Youth Healthline on 1300 13 17 19 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).