Thursday, September 11, 2008

What is Autism?

Autism is a brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication and causes restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a child is three years old. This set of signs distinguishes autism from milder autism spectrum disorders (ASD) such as Asperger syndrome.
Autism has a strong genetic basis, although the genetics of autism are complex and it is unclear whether ASD is explained more by multigene interactions or by rare mutations. In rare cases, autism is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects. Other proposed causes, such as childhood vaccines, are controversial; the vaccine hypotheses lack convincing scientific evidence. Most recent reviews estimate a prevalence of one to two cases per 1,000 people for autism, and about six per 1,000 for ASD, with ASD averaging a 4.3:1 male-to-female ratio. The number of people known to have autism has increased dramatically since the 1980s, at least partly as a result of changes in diagnostic practice; the question of whether actual prevalence has increased is unresolved.
Autism affects many parts of the brain; how this occurs is poorly understood. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child's life. Early behavioral or cognitive intervention can help children gain self-care, social, and communication skills. There is no known cure. Few children with autism live independently after reaching adulthood, but some become successful, and an autistic culture has developed, with some seeking a cure and others believing that autism is a condition rather than a disorder.
source : WIKIPEDIA
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One of my students is an autism sufferer. In class, he sits quietly in the front row. Alone. With no one besides him. Usually, he never look at people in the eye when talking. Not even when talking to me. He stammers whenever he talks, but there are strong points in his speeches. He usually raised his hand whenever I ask questions. When he starts talking, other students start laughing. Some even mocked him. Kurang ajar betul! Maybe they don't know, or understand what an autism sufferer go through. Even though he's lacking, he managed to adapt his life very well. He even had a diploma before entering UMS. Impressive huh? Totally changed my understanding about autism!

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2 comments :

debu-papa said...

baru ku paham ape itu autism.. ingatkan sindrom "Aww"

CikSengal said...

hikhik.. ada2 je ko ni taww..