When Ann met Linda's brother, he seemed really quiet at first. Linda said, "He's autistic." Then they went to the movies, so Ann never got a chance to ask any questions. What is Autism? How do you get it? How do you treat it?

Autism is a developmental disorder. It is not contagious. It is something that children are born with. It mainly affects the brain, communication, and interactions with others. Children with autism usually spend time alone and take longer to develop speech skills. They also have sensory problems, and cannot handle too many sensory experiences at once. In addition, many people with autism also have mental retardation, though their intelligence range varies.

Not everybody with autism acts the same. People’s symptoms may vary. Thus, autism is known as a spectrum disorder. Two people with the same disorder may have very different skills and very different symptoms.

Autism is a fairly common disorder. Up to one in 500 people have autism, and it is four times more common in boys than girls. Doctors think that problems with brain chemicals called neurotransmitters may cause this disorder, and they there may be some genetic link. People with one child with autism are more likely to have another child with autism. Doctors think that it is a mix between these brain chemicals and genetic factors, not a single gene.

Autism is also considered a pervasive developmental disorder. There are other pervasive developmental disorders similar to Autism, including Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder. All people with these disorders have problems with social interactions and communication.

Autism is diagnosed between the ages of about 1 1/2 to four. Autism is usually diagnosed by observation, by watching how the child behaves, interacts, and communicates with others. After a doctor knows how the child is behaving, a team of specialists is developed to help determine whether the child has Autism or a different disorder.

There is no medication specifically for Autism. Some people may take medication to help with symptoms like aggression. Usually, people with Autism are taught skill building activities to help with things they have problems with, such as communication. Those who do best are children who are worked with when they are first diagnosed.

Children with Autism usually attend special education programs that meet each child’s individual needs. This helps children with Autism the best. These programs work on communication and social interaction. They also address activities of daily living, such as crossing the street. Children with Autism might also receive physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and other skill building treatments from specialists.