Autism is a developmental disorder that typically begins in the first three
years of life, although a variant of autism called childhood-onset pervasive
developmental disorder may occur in children up to the age of 12. Children with
autism are unable to develop normal social relationships, often withdrawing into
a world of their own. Other symptoms include ritualistic and compulsive
behavior, such as rocking or humming, and an inability or unwillingness to
speak. Autistic children may also suffer from other neurological disorders such
as seizures, hyperactivity, mental retardation, or obsessive-compulsive
disorder.
Perhaps the most famous example of autism is the character Raymond Babbit, played by Dustin Hoffman in the film Rain Man. The portrayal of this character is reasonably accurate, although Raymond is "high functioning" for a person with autism, falling on the upper end of the intelligence and behavior scale. Like other autistic individuals, Raymond insists on various rituals such as eating certain foods and watching specific TV programs right on schedule, and becomes highly agitated if this routine is disrupted. He also likes to memorize such things as phone books. In addition, he can perform a few intellectual feats such as calculating difficult arithmetic in his head; most people with autism do not have this ability, but many are surprisingly highly skilled in some specific intellectual areas.
The cause of autism is not known, though it is believed to be at least partially genetic. Its onset may be related to a viral infection, an enzyme deficiency (phenylketonuria), or the fragile X syndrome (a chromosomal disorder).
Conventional treatments for autism typically target individual symptoms associated with the disorder. Treatments include anticonvulsants for epilepsy, clonidine or imipramine for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and certain SSRIs or tricyclic antidepressants for compulsive behaviors. Numerous experimental treatments have been tried, including secretin, as well as various behavioral training programs.
Perhaps the most famous example of autism is the character Raymond Babbit, played by Dustin Hoffman in the film Rain Man. The portrayal of this character is reasonably accurate, although Raymond is "high functioning" for a person with autism, falling on the upper end of the intelligence and behavior scale. Like other autistic individuals, Raymond insists on various rituals such as eating certain foods and watching specific TV programs right on schedule, and becomes highly agitated if this routine is disrupted. He also likes to memorize such things as phone books. In addition, he can perform a few intellectual feats such as calculating difficult arithmetic in his head; most people with autism do not have this ability, but many are surprisingly highly skilled in some specific intellectual areas.
The cause of autism is not known, though it is believed to be at least partially genetic. Its onset may be related to a viral infection, an enzyme deficiency (phenylketonuria), or the fragile X syndrome (a chromosomal disorder).
Conventional treatments for autism typically target individual symptoms associated with the disorder. Treatments include anticonvulsants for epilepsy, clonidine or imipramine for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and certain SSRIs or tricyclic antidepressants for compulsive behaviors. Numerous experimental treatments have been tried, including secretin, as well as various behavioral training programs.