According to Autism Canada there is 1 child in every 165 who is
diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autism is a severe
disruption of the normal development process and is often
diagnosed within the first few years of life. Autism is viewed as
a spectrum or a continuum of disorders, with varying degrees of
severity and levels of functioning. The term Autism Spectrum
Disorders (ASD) is frequently used interchangeably with autism.
Diagnoses such as Asperger’s Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative
Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Autistic Disorder and
Pervasive Developmental Disorders (Not Otherwise Specified) are
all included within the umbrella of ASD.
Symptoms
While the symptoms of autism vary from child to child, the core
areas affected include:
- Deficits in language and communication
- Impairments in socialization and social interactions
- Undeveloped cognitive and adaptive functioning
-
Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior and
interests
These essential skill deficits cause children to fall
progressively further behind their typical peers as they grow
older. The cause is unknown, but evidence points to physiological
and neurological abnormalities. Children with autism generally do
not learn in the same way that children normally learn, because,
in part, they lack the fundamental skills which enable them to
acquire and process basic information. These difficulties result
in significant delays in their development of language, play and
social skills, including their failure to notice and learn through
imitation of their peers.