By: Ayyan Shaikh
Not a lot of people know about autism, so today I’ll talk about what autism actually is.
Autism refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, speech, nonverbal communication, and repetitive behavior. People with autism have trouble understanding what other people think and feel. This, in turn, makes it harder for them to express themselves. They also might have problems with learning. Their skills might develop unevenly.
Symptoms of autism usually appear before a child turns three. These symptoms include:
A narrow range of interests or intense interest in certain topics
Doing something over and over, like repeating words or phrases, rocking back and forth, or flipping a lever
High sensitivity to sounds, touches, smells, or sights that seem ordinary to other people
Not looking at or listening to other people
Not looking at things when another person points at them
Not wanting to be held or cuddled
Problems understanding or using speech, gestures, facial expressions, or tone of voice
Talking in a sing-song, flat, or robotic voice
Trouble adapting to changes in routine
Some children with autism may also have seizures. These might not start until adolescence.
The reason behind the existence of autism in a person is not very clear. Autism is four times more common in boys than in girls. A child with an older parent might have a higher chance of autism. A pregnant woman exposed to certain drugs and chemicals may also cause the child to be born with autism.
Autism often goes undiagnosed because of the stigma around addressing this problem in society. It is important to recognize the symptoms of autism and contact your doctor for treatment.
(Image from here.)
Reference: https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/understanding-autism-basics
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