Autism Information
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects a person in a multitude of ways. Approximately one percent of the population suffers from some sort of autism, but it affects four times as many males as females. The disorder is typically in full effect by age three, although parents of autistic children often notice telling signs as early as eighteen months. Autism comes in various forms and degrees, but most people diagnosed with it are unable to live independently in adulthood.

People who suffer from autism often experience things either more so than others, or much less. They can be very sensitive to light and sound, or completely null to them. They also might have very heightened senses, or very dulled ones. Other typical symptoms include lack of social skills and preference for solitude, intense tantrums, and a short attention span. Some children develop normally until age three and then regress into the disorder; this process is not understood well, but it is as permanent as any other autism diagnosis.

There is no cure for autism, though those who suffer from it can learn varying degrees of social and communication skills. A child's outlook is greatly improved if the disorder is diagnosed and treated early; specially catered exercises, classes, and activities can greatly improve the chances of reducing the effects and living independently. Signs of autism include repetitive behavior, such as interest only in one thing or a frequent hand motion; decreased language capabilities and frequent echoing; and underdeveloped social skills, indicated by a preference to sit alone. Many autistic children also have difficulty thinking symbolically; they often do not understand that someone pointing is trying to direct their attention, or street signs represent an action.

Around half of autistic individuals have language skills that do not meet their daily needs, and will probably not develop any further once reaching adulthood. Autistic children are prone to repeating what is said, or reversing pronouns. They also cannot translate symbols into language well, or understand complex elements like figures of speech or inferences. While people with autism usually do not understand high-level elements of speech, they regularly outperform non-autistic peers in basic spelling and vocabulary. People often initially analyze others based on basic speech aptitude, this can cause stress when dealing with an autistic person as it is easy to overestimate his or her high-level language capacity.

Autism is common in today's society, and is prevalent enough to make it worthwhile to the average adult to understand its basics. Though autism is not crippling or a death sentence, it does cause a unique set of circumstances in a person's life that would not otherwise exist. It can create new challenges, but it also causes the mind to operate in a very different frame. The chances are high that you will encounter somebody with autism in your personal or professional life, and it's worth knowing a little about the disorder so you can better understand that person.