Autism is a very complex disability that affects developmental skills – mainly in the areas of communication and social interaction – and is most often diagnosed before the age of three. Autism sometimes called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) because there are no specific set of behaviors that diagnose this disability. No two cases are exactly alike, although they all generally resemble. Cases range from mild (like Asperger’s syndrome) to severe and are becoming more prevalent in today’s society than ever before.

Symptoms of autism that are most commonly seen include problems in communication, social interaction, and obsessive routines or extremely repetitive behaviors. A person with autism struggles with holding conversations with others, or since symptoms are often seen by the age of 18 months, they may not ever even learn to talk. They also have problems with their nonverbal skills, such as making eye contact, smiling, and politeness. They are often unable to understand emotions, and often repeat actions over and over or obsessively follow routines. Autistic behavior is often described by outsiders as just generally “awkward”.

There is no cure for this disability; individuals live with this disorder for their entire lives. The many treatment options for these children can help lessen the symptoms of autism, maximize learning and hopefully help them lead as normal lives as possible. Treatment options include behavior therapy and other therapies such as speech-language, and physical therapy. There are some medications that can lessen the difficulties associated with autism, but cannot treat the disorder itself. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s), anti-anxiety, anti-psychotics, and stimulants are a few that a doctor might prescribe for the symptoms.

Although you might hear a lot of people say that vaccinations cause autism, there is currently no reliable study that has shown a link between the two. However, numerous genes seem to be involved, some of which may make a child more susceptible, and others may be responsible for the severity of the symptoms. Some seem to be hereditary, others happen unexpectedly. Since many other health problems are the fault of both genetic and environmental factors, studies are currently being done on such factors like viral infections and pollutants and their link with autism.

A few factors that make a child more like to be autistic are things like their sex. Males are 3 to 4 times more likely to develop autism than girls. Also, families who have a history of autism, or another child with it, are at a higher risk for birthing another child with the disorder. Paternal age may also be a factor. Having a father that was 40 or older at the time of conception seems to put a child at a higher risk.

There is no way to prevent autism. It can be treated, though, with symptoms often minimized, and improvement in social and behavior skills. But since no two cases are alike, no two treatments are alike – it may take several different treatment options before finding the best combination that is going to work for that child. But it is very possible for many individuals to live normal lives – even with autism.