What I Already Know About Autism

Autism is four times more common in boys than girls. Autism is a complex developmental disability that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It is not a disease that can be caught, but it can be hereditary. Presently, there is no known single cause for autism. However, it is not caused by environmentally by a child's upbringing. Autism does not have a cure. Children may appear to be normal but then regress. Most have speech problems and some even lose their speech. More children get diagnosed with autism than AIDS, diabetes, and cancer combined. Children with autism can get very aggressive and abusive. Autism usually begins before the age of three. People with autism have a normal life span. Some signs that children may have autism are they don't babble or point by age 1, no single words by 16 months or two-word phrases by age 2, no response to name, loss of language or social skills, poor eye contact, excessive lining up of toys or objects, and no smiling or social responses.