Description of Autism

Autism is a profound and poorly understood developmental disorder that severely impairs a person's abilities, particularly in the areas of language and social relations. Autistic children typically are normal in appearance and physically well developed. Their disabilities in communication and comprehension range from profound to mild. Historically, about 75 percent of persons with autism are classified as mentally retarded. Their most distinctive feature, however - which helps distinguish them from those solely mentally retarded - is that they seem isolated from the world around them.

Autism is manifest uniquely and heterogeneously in a given individual as a collection of symptoms which are rarely the same from one individual to another. Two children with the same diagnosis, intellectual ability and family resources are more likely to be recognized more for their differences than their similarities. Variation in the degree of impact on the individual is well documented and subtypes of the disorder have been identified. The professional community continues to work to clarify the confusion and controversy concerning the nature, causes, methods of diagnosis, and treatment of autism. As research has uncovered subtle differences in the onset and development of symptoms, different types of autism have been described. The current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Fourth Edition (DSM IV), published in 1994, identifies five different disorders referred to collectively as the pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs).

There is no single adjective that can be used to describe every person with autism because the disorder is manifest in many different forms. For example, some individuals are antisocial, some are asocial, and others are partially social. Some are aggressive toward themselves and/or aggressive toward others. Approximately half have little or no language. Perhaps 25 percent repeat (echo) words and/or phrases, and another 25 percent may be capable of acquiring nearly normal language skills.

Persons with autism, compared to other disabled persons of commensurate ability, are more difficult to teach. Comparatively, persons with autism have significantly greater problems acquiring and using language and relating socially. They are rarely able to work productively in the mainstream of employment. They sometimes appear detached, aloof, or in a dreamlike world. Many individuals oftern appear only vaguely aware of others in their environment, including family members. Another characteristic that differentiates autism from persons with a primary diagnosis of mental retardation is the much greater likelihood that the autistic person will display strange postures, mannerisms, habits, and compulsions. Ritualistic behavior, hand-flapping, unusual food preferences, absence of establishing eye contact, apparent insensitivity to pain, and self-injurious behaviors are sometimes seen in persons with autism. Appropriate play with other children or toys is uncommon. There is often a great interest in inanimate objects, especially mechanical devices and appliances.

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