Nuts and bolts

So, what is autism exactly and what causes it?

Autism is known as ASD - Autism Spectrum Disorder. A quote I heard recently 'to know someone with autism is not to know autism'. This is simply because autism has such wide ranging effects on individuals that no two are the same. Hence, the spectrum has been developed. However, even where a child is placed on the spectrum (mild to severe) there are still great differences in how autism effects an individual.

ASD is a brain-based condition where there seems to be neurological abnormalities in certain areas of the brain. The cause of autism is still unknown. It is clear that genetics plays a part in the disorder but it is complex and it is not the only contributing factor. The bottom line is no one really knows (as frustrating as this is to someone like me!) A prevelant and likely theory is that the connectors between brain cells and regions to not form normally. There is some disfunction in the way the brain communicates. This leads to certain information not being processed, understood or processed differently. People with autism will hear things different, read emotions differently (or not at all), play with things differently, speak differently, experience things differently (there are major sensory issue associated with autism.)

Autism is a severe disruption of the normal developmental processes that occur in the first three years of life. It leads to impaired language, play, cognitive, social and adaptive functioning, causing children to fall farther and farther behind their peers as they grow older.

Children with autism do not learn in the same way that children normally learn. They seem to not understand simple verbal and non verbal communication, respond differently to sensory imput, and withdraw in varying degrees from people and the world around them. They show little interest in other children and tend not to learn by observing and imitating others. They become preoccupied with certain activities and objects that interfere with development of play.

excerpt from Autism Partnership Australia

More and more children are being diagnosed with autism. In Australia one in 160 children will be diagnosed. The rate has been steadily increasing since the 1990's. Some of this is due to more children being diagnosed, changes in how children are diagnosed but there are some theories that our environment is contributing to this increase as well.