About Autism

Autism is a neurological disorder – individuals with autism typically have difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities.

Autism is a spectrum disorder – individuals with autism can exhibit any combination of these behaviors in any degree of severity.

Some possible traits of autism (individuals may have varying combinations of these and may not have all of them):
· Insistence on sameness; resistance to change
· Difficulty in expressing needs, using gestures or pointing instead of words
· Repeating words or phrases in place of typical, responsive language
· Laughing (and/or crying) for no apparent reason
· Preference to being alone; aloof manner
· Tantrums
· Unresponsive to normal teaching methods
· Sustained odd play
· Spinning objects
· Obsessive attachment to objects
· Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain
· No real fears of danger
· Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity
· Uneven gross/fine motor skills
· Non responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf, although hearing tests in normal range

Children do not “outgrow” autism, but symptoms may lessen as they develop and receive treatment.

To learn more, visit http://www.autism-society.org/