LET'S TALK ABOUT AUTISM

What is autism?

Nowadays, autism become fame in developmental disorder. But, many people miss understand about autism. Many parents who children with autism always asking about some question like what is autism? Can autism be cured? Can they live like a normal child? Are they stupid? What are the symptom? etc.

Based on the question that often exist, so it will be my first preface on our discussion to talk about what is autism. Autism is a neurological disorder. It means that you born with it and live with it. It affects the brain develop.

Autism is one of five Pervasive Development Disorder (PDDs) that are categorized as;

1. Autism
2. Asperger's Syndrome
3. Childhood disintegrative disorder
4. Rett disorder
5. Pervasive Developmental Disorder not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)

Can autism be cured?

NO! Autism is not an illness, so, it can't be cured. However, people with autism can live productively. So, that's why they need early intervention. Early intervention is important for them, because it will help them to learn and prosper in life and carry on a normal and productive life. However, for some people with autism, they require lifelong help with daily living activities.

Are Children with Autism Stupid?

NO! Children with autism just like another normal children. Some of them have normal IQ's, some of them moderate mental retardation, but some of them have higher than average - here they seem do not have autism.

What are the Symptoms?

These are ten symptoms of Autism;

1. Failure to respond their name; they are not deaf, but looks like cannot hear when people call their name.
2. Avoidance of eye contact; it shown in baby, but in infant, it shown that it doesn't want to be cuddled or held.
3. unresponsiveness; it shown that the children do not recognize someone around them or do not want to interact with people around them
4. Obsession with specific object or things; they will focused intensively with one object or thing, and when another people try to take it from him/her, she/he will be very angry
5. Focusing in details and blocking out all else; such example, he pays attention to the spinning wheels on a toy but does not pay attention to whole cars.
6. Repetitive action or activities; it shown that the children doing a routine activity or action.
7. Watching the same videos over and over again.
8. Repetitive movement
9. Self injury behavior
10. Delayed speech.