Autism is a developmental disability that generally appears between 15 and 20 months of age. In most cases, the child is progressing normally, and then begins to regress losing speech, social skills and physical abilities. While there are varying degrees of severity, most children completely withdraw into a world of their own.

A frightening aspect of the disorder is that children cannot assess sensory input properly. Autistic children cannot perceive fear or dangerous situations, nor can they filter and ignore stimulus. This sensory overload would be equivalent to your being intensely aware of the feel and color of this paper, the sensation of each article of clothing you are wearing, every single sound coming from the street and inside the building around you, and the fluorescent lights and every object that reflects the light near you. If a child with autism could read this letter, they would have to endure all of this and more while trying to concentrate and comprehend this material. Normal functioning under this kind of sensory bombardment is nearly impossible.

Autistic children typically have a host of biomedical and neurological problems as well. Many suffer from chronic diarrhea because their intestines are so damaged that they cannot absorb vital nutrients, minerals and vitamins essential for optimal brain function. Liver and kidney functions are impaired causing their bodies to store up high levels of toxins found in the environment such as lead, mercury, arsenic and other heavy metals. Their immune systems are compromised to the extent that they cannot fight off even the simplest of fungal, parasitic and bacterial infections.

Children do not outgrow autism. There is no cure. It is a lifelong disability with a normal life expectancy. It affects boys five times more than it affects girls, although girls are generally more severely affected. In the United States over one half million individuals live with autism, making it more prevalent than Down Syndrome, childhood diabetes, and childhood cancer combined. Autism occurs in families from every class, culture, and ethnic background.

Autism has truly become America's silent epidemic. Ten years ago Autism affected 1 in every 10,000 people. Two years ago Autism affected 1 in 500 people. Current estimates are that Autism affects 1 out of every 250 children nationwide and in some areas of the country (USA), the rate is much higher at 1 out of every 132 children. Early intervention is critical.

(taken from www.unlockingautism.org )

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF A PERSON WITH AUTISM

Speech Issues no speech; non-speech sounds; delayed speech; echolalia (mimicking words without any understanding of meaning); pronoun confusion; frustration with lack of speech common

Interaction Issues lack of peer interaction; lack of eye contact; seemingly unaware of other people; treating people as objects; parallel play rather than interactive; lack of imaginative play

Behavioral Issues not interested in being picked up/cuddled; preoccupied by hand movement; flapping hands (especially when excited or over stimulated); spinning; balancing; tiptoe walking; aggressiveness towards others; lack of interest in "normal" toys (often preferring kitchen tools); obsessive toward patterns; repetition in behavior (performing the same act over and over again, such as rewinding one section of a movie on the VCR to watch many times); lining things up; self injury; needing to live with a routine that does not change

Sensory Issues dislike of certain sounds, textures and/or tastes; dislike of being touched; very passive or very active behavior; nervousness; unaware of various physical stimuli such as pain; covering ears at loud noises; "blanking out" in active environments; often seem to be uncomfortable in extreme temperatures

Splinter Skills drawing; musical; math; calendars; memory; computers; mechanical ability such as complex video/audio equipment

Biological Markers MRI scans sometimes abnormal; serotonin levels may be raised; bowel problems; some children afflicted with seizures; sleep disturbances (not requiring as much as other children of the same age); often unusually attractive children with large eyes

(taken from http://www.autism.about.com )

Speech Issues	no speech; non-speech sounds; delayed speech; echolalia (mimicking words without any understanding of meaning); pronoun confusion; frustration with lack of speech common
Interaction Issues	lack of peer interaction; lack of eye contact; seemingly unaware of other people; treating people as objects; parallel play rather than interactive; lack of imaginative play
Behavioral Issues	not interested in being picked up/cuddled; preoccupied by hand movement; flapping hands (especially when excited or over stimulated); spinning; balancing; tiptoe walking; aggressiveness towards others; lack of interest in "normal" toys (often preferring kitchen tools); obsessive toward patterns; repetition in behavior (performing the same act over and over again, such as rewinding one section of a movie on the VCR to watch many times); lining things up; self injury; needing to live with a routine that does not change
Sensory Issues	dislike of certain sounds, textures and/or tastes; dislike of being touched; very passive or very active behavior; nervousness; unaware of various physical stimuli such as pain; covering ears at loud noises; "blanking out" in active environments; often seem to be uncomfortable in extreme temperatures
Splinter Skills	drawing; musical; math; calendars; memory; computers; mechanical ability such as complex video/audio equipment
Biological Markers	MRI scans sometimes abnormal; serotonin levels may be raised; bowel problems; some children afflicted with seizures; sleep disturbances (not requiring as much as other children of the same age); often unusually attractive children with large eyes