Autism, also known as Autistic Disorder Disease (ADD) or Autistic Specter Disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects almost all areas of a child’s social and psychological development. Autism can prevent in many ways a child from interacting with others as others do. Autism occurs about two times per 1000 newborn children and boys are three times as likely to be autistic as girls. Autism also usually appears in early childhood, prior to the age of starting school.

The signs and symptoms of Autism usually become observable in early childhood. Autism includes a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms, though each autistic child will exhibit a unique mixture of these behaviors. Many autistic children have difficulty communicating with others through the use of language (be it verbal or sign language), often engage in repetitive behaviors such as rocking their bodies or banging their head against a wall, are interested in only a select few activities and enjoy rigid environments and routines. Some autistic children also display hypersensitivity in their senses of touch, taste, smell and hearing.

Most developmental programs for children with Autism include behavioral components that include clear instructions to the autistic child, prompting the child to perform specific behaviors, praising and rewarding the wanted behaviors, increasing the complexity of the routines and clear distinctions regarding the appropriate exhibition of this. Many times speech therapy and special education plans will also be necessary. Medication is only administered to treat associated symptoms of Autism such as self-injurious behaviors.

Though autistic children are often unable to communicate or interact effectively with others, there is much that relatives and friends can do to support the child in developing individual opportunities.. Providing love, support and patience, offering verbal encouragement and interacting at an age appropriate level (for example, no baby talk with six year olds) are all important. Serving a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise are all things that you can do to support children with Autism as well. Most of all, friends and relatives can love an autistic child no differently than any other child – and make sure that all of the children know it.

There are a number of controversial therapies or interventions available for people with ASD, but few, if any, are supported by scientific studies.  Parents should be careful before adopting any unproven treatments.  Although dietary interventions have been helpful in some children, parents should take caution that their child’s nutritional status is carefully followed.

In this section you will find pages about specific topics on Autism and links to relevant other websites.