Autism

A serious, chronic developmental disorder, autism involves impairment of language development, social functioning and play. Some autistic children are moderately to severely retarded but some are not. Children with autism have difficulty giving and receiving affection and responding appropriately to social cues. They tend to establish rigid routines in their daily activities and become upset whenever anything unexpected happens.

The term pervasive developmental disorder, or PDD, is currently used to include autism and other related disorders. About five childen in 10,000 are autistic, and approximately 14 to 20 per 10,000 have some form of PDD.

Some children with PDD have mild or severe learning disabilities. Most require special education, but with time and care, they can learn many skills. Children with all the features of autism inevitably require special attention. Appropriate early intervention can enable some children with autism to function in mainstream classrooms; a few may even go on to higher education.

WHEN SHOULD I SUSPECT THAT MY CHILD HAS AUTISM?
Many children with PDD appear normal until about the age of 18 months to two years, although in retrospect parents often recall that even as an infant, the child was aloof and unresponsive. Sometimes a severe illness or other traumatic event triggers regression or disappearance of language in a child with autism.

As the baby grows into a toddler, parents begin to notice odd behavior. The child may hate any change in routine. If she expects orange juice, apple juice may cause a tantrum. Facial expressions may seem inappropriate to the situation. Children with autism may seem oblivious to people's voices, or may echo what others say but appear unable to formulate meaningful sentences.

As a preschooler, the autistic child often withdraws into an inner world, becoming absorbed in repetitive behaviors such as spinning a top, rocking, lining things up or repeating memorized phrases. She may be obsessed with numbers or letters without any interest in their meaning. Autistic children usually display one or more stereotypical physical movements such as hand flapping, toe walking, or head banging.

WHAT CAUSES AUTISM?
Autism was first identified in 1943, and until only a few decades ago the condition was blamed on parents—specifically a cold, unresponsive mother. Now, however, most experts believe the PDD is an organic disorder of the central nervous system. The condition affects four times more males than females. There is certainly some genetic component, but some cases may also be related to abnormalities in brain chemistry or prenatal exposure to rubella. Since there is no physiological test to diagnose PDD, developmental psychologists rely on behavioral testing. For this reason, diagnosis is sometimes inexact. Doctors rarely diagnose PDD confidently before the child is three years old.

The chances that a mentally retarded child will display autistic behavior increase with the severity of retardation and the extent of diffuse brain damage.

WHAT CAN I DO IF MY CHILD SHOWS AUTISTIC BEHAVIOR?
If your child clearly exhibits a number of the behaviors associated with autism, it is important to consult your pediatrician and obtain an evaluation to determine whether the child's development is normal. Most large children's hospitals have developmental teams that can perform such an evaluation and advise you on possible therapies. Some public school districts provide free testing.

If a disability is diagnosed, early intervention can stimulate your child's development and help relieve family stress. Speech, play and behavioral therapy may help, and new treatments continue to be explored.

Excerpt from THE DISNEY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BABY & CHILD CARE, © 1995 DSH Communications, Inc. This material is based on current medical research and, to the best of the editors' knowledge and understanding, is accurate and valid. However the reader should not use information contained in this material to alter a medically prescribed regimen or as a form of self-treatment, without seeking the advice of a licensed physician.