Autism

What is autism?

Autism is a complex developmental disability.

When do autism symptoms first appear?

Autism symptoms typically appears during the first three years of life. The characteristic behaviors of autism spectrum disorders may or may not be apparent in infancy (18 to 24 months), but usually become obvious during early childhood (24 months to 6 years).

What causes autism?

Autism is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. The causes of autism impact development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills.

Symptoms of autism

Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in:

• verbal and non-verbal communication,
• social interactions, and
• leisure or play activities.

Detecting autism and diagnostic tools of detecting autism

While there is no one behavioral or communications test that can detect autism, several screening instruments have been developed that are now used in diagnosing autism.

There are no medical tests for diagnosing autism. An accurate diagnosis must be based on observation of the child's communication, behavior, and developmental levels. However, because many of the behaviors associated with autism are shared by other disorders, various medical tests may be ordered to rule out or identify other possible causes of the symptoms being exhibited in possible autistic children.

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