• Communication-Language skills can regress, develop slowly, or not at all. The child does not try to compensate with alternative language forms.
  
  
• Social Responsive-Child has limited responses to social interaction. May prefer to be alone and show little interest in creative or imaginative play. May have difficulty with imitation.
  
  
• Sensory Impairment-Child may demonstrate sensitivity to sound, sight, hearing, touch or smell.
  
  
• Behavior-Child may be overactive or passive, often has difficulty with change in routines, and may show obsessive interest in a single item or activity. May exhibit tantrums for no apparent reason, which can include aggression or self-injurious behavior.
  
  

No single cause for autism is known, however, there is evidence of biological or neurological differences in the brain. Several outdated theories about the cause of autism have been proven false. Autism is NOT a mental illness and it is NOT caused by bad parenting.

Every person with autism is an individual with unique characteristics and personalities. There are great differences among people with autism.

Over one half million people in the U.S. today have autism or some form of pervasive developmental disorder. This disorder is four times more prevalent in boys than girls and knows no racial, ethnic or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle and educational levels do not affect the chance of autism’s occurrence. According to the Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention (1997) it is estimated to occur in 1 in 166 individuals.

Education can make a difference for children with autism! Children with autism need a highly structured, specialized educational program tailored to the individual child’s needs.

For more information about autism and related disorders, contact the Autism Society of America.