Autism is a developmental disorder that affects communication and social interaction. Symptoms typically appear before age 3 and vary significantly between individuals. While there is no known single cause, genetic factors and environmental influences both likely play a role. Boys are more likely to be affected than girls. Early diagnosis and treatment that targets social, communication, and behavioral challenges can make a positive difference, though autism has no cure. Therapies aim to help children better interact with others and learn important life skills.

1. BY: IRIS LAGMAY

2. What is Autism?
Autism is a serious developmental problem
called autism spectrum disorders (ASD) that can
appear in early childhood that may happen
before the age 3. Symptoms on Autism vary,
many of the disorders affect a child ability to
communicate and interact with others. Children
diagnosed with autism are starting rise. It
hasn’t been clear of this could be due to better
detecting results or reporting of autism,
increase in the number of cases, or both. This is
no cure for Autism but early treatment can
make a difference in a child’s life with this
disorder.

3. Symptoms of Autism
Children with autism
have problems in 3 areas
of development social
interaction, language and
behavior. Symptoms vary
so if two children with the
Social Interaction:Fails to respond
same diagnosis may act
to his or her name, Poor eye contact,
differently and have
resists cuddling and holding, and seem to
different skills. Other prefer playing alone.
children may develop
Language: Starts talking later than
normally for months or
age 2, has developmental delays in 30
years, then suddenly
months, can’t start conversation or keep
become withdrawn, they
are aggressive or lose one going, May repeat words or
language skills they've phrases, speaks with an abnormal tone
already learned. Each or rhythm (singsong voice, robot like
child with autism is likely speech
to have a unique pattern Behavior: Moves constantly,
of behavior. develops specific Routines or Rituals,
performs repetitive movements
(rocking, spinning or hand-flapping),
Fascinated by parts of an object,
Sensitive to light, sound, and touch
Young children have hard time sharing
experience with others. When reading ex: they are unlikely to point at
pictures in a book. Most Children with autism are slow to gain new skills
or knowledge and some have normal high intelligence.

4. What are the causes?
Autism has no single, known cause. Complexity of
the disease, the range of autistic disorders and
the fact that no two children with autism are alike,
there could be many causes.
GENECTIC PROBLEMS: Genetic problems.
Number of genes appears to be involved in
autism. Some may make a child more
influenced to the disorder; others affect
brain development or the way brain cells
communicate. Each problem in genes may
account for a small number of cases, but
taken together, the influence of genes may
be substantial. Some genetic problems seem
to be inherited others happen suddenly.
ENVIORMENTAL FACTORS: Environmental
factors: Many health problems are due to
both genetic and environmental factor.
Researchers are currently exploring whether
viral infections and air pollutants plays a
role. There’s No link between vaccines and
autism. One of the greatest controversies in
autism is centered on whether a link exists
between autism and certain childhood
vaccines, particularly the measles-mumps-
rubella (MMR) vaccine. No reliable study has

5. What is the Risk Factors?
Autism affects children of all races and nationalities but
there are factors increases a child’s risks are: Your Child
sex: Boys are 3 – 4 times likely to develop than girls
Family
History: Family that has one
or more child with Autism risk
of having another child with
the same disorder, Other
disorders: Children with Certain
medical Conditions are at risk
conditions include fragile X
syndrome, tuberous sclerosis which
benign tumors develop in the brain,
Tourette syndrome which cause
seizures
Last Parents Ages: Father being 40 or
older may increase a child risk. Also
between a children being born to older
mothers with autism.

6. Test/Diagnosis
Your child to be diagnosed with autism, he/ she must
meet the symptom
criteria spelled out in the
Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM). This
manual is published by
the American Psychiatric
Association and is used by mental health providers to
diagnose mental conditions and by insurance
companies to reimburse for
treatment. To be diagnosed
with autism, your child must
have six or more of the
following symptoms and two
or more of those symptoms
must fall under the social
skills category.

7. Treatment &
Drugs
There is no cure for Autism the
range of home-based and
school-based treatments and
interventions for autism can be
overwhelming, but your doctor
can help identify resources in your area that may
work for your child.
Behavior and communication therapies: developed
to address the range of social, language and
behavioral difficulties. Some programs focus on
reducing problem behaviors and teaching new
skills. Other programs focus on teaching children
how to act in social situations or how to
communicate better with other people. Children
don't always outgrow autism; they may learn to
function well with the disorder.
Educational therapies: Children with autism often
respond well to highly
structured education

8. programs. Successful programs often include a
team of specialists and a variety of activities to
improve social skills, communication and
behavior. Medications: No medication can improve
the core signs of autism, but certain medications
can help control symptoms. Antidepressants may
be prescribed for anxiety. Antipsychotic drugs are
sometimes used to treat severe behavioral
problems.