Autism: Minds in Puzzles

Some are unpredictable and fascinating; some endlessly fascinated; some are dysfunctional yet talented; unusual behaviors are just the norm for them but a lot of us do not understand this fact. The earlier part of the latter sentence would have been a little confusing for you but that is just my point. Those who "suffer" from autism are really puzzling as scientists believe their minds work in puzzles.

Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); yes, its a spectrum disorder, which means that the autistic society comprises of people who suffer from minor symptoms to those who suffer major effects. ASD still puzzle scientists and experts. They cannot find the source of the occurrence and a cure to this disorder. Plus, there is no effective treatment as the the spectrum is extremely wide. Scientists have tried to link ASD to special genes and traits but they are still not certain how everything relates.

Here's a write up my comm. serv. group has come up with.

Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Today, 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It can occur any person from any community or society and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate, relate to others and also the ability to learn like an ordinary person.

Autism spectrum disorders can usually be reliably diagnosed by age 3, although new research is pushing back the age of diagnosis to as early as 6 months. Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child or their child's failure to reach appropriate developmental milestones. Some parents describe a child that seemed different from birth, while others describe a child who was developing normally and then lost skills.These lost of skills or difference described by parents are usually learning a social disorder.

Although parents may have concerns about labeling a toddler as "autistic," the earlier the diagnosis is made, the earlier interventions can begin. Currently, there are no effective means to prevent autism, no fully effective treatments, and no cure. Research indicates, however, that early intervention in an appropriate educational setting for at least two years during the pre-school years can result in significant improvements for many young children with autism spectrum disorders

-adapted from ProjectM.A.D.(Project: Making A Difference)-

Many famous inventors and artists are autistic. For example, Jane Austen, Thomas Edison, Vincent van Gogh and Albert Einstein were speculated to have been in what is now called the Autism Spectrum. Though these are only speculative, there were many accounts and proof to support such speculations. That's most of the things I know and learnt about Autism, as research all around the world continues, and more information is squeezed out and if you want to know more about Autism, visit www.autism.com/autism/ or just Google "what is Autism". It just takes a few minutes of your time to help understand what has become a big part of our society.

And if you are living in the Klang Valley and would like to offer help leave a me a message...=)