By Robert Boyd -

What is Autism? It is a disorder of the brain wherein social interaction and behavior, communication and thinking abilities don’t develop normally. It impacts the way sensory input is processed, causing those who are affected to over react or under-react to a range of sensations like smells, sounds, sights, and the like. These impairments results in a variety of peculiar behaviors. Normally, symptoms manifest themselves before the age of three, and varies from one child to another. To further answer the question of what is autism consider the following examples.

Just imagine reaching out to your beautiful child with love and receiving no response. This normally happens when a kid has the disorder. Instead of interacting with people, these children prefer to be alone. They may not be comfortable being hugged, don’t maintain eye contact, and manifest minimal awareness of others’ feelings. In severe cases some seem unable to make any distinction between his or her family members and total strangers. They seem to live in their own world, unaware of the people or events surrounding them. The term “autism,” from the Greek word au·tos´ meaning “self,” refers to this self-absorbing quality.

Another distinguishing factor most people with the disorder have is their preoccupation with a certain activity or object, pursuing it for a couple of hours at a time in an odd, repetitive manner. For instance, instead of playing with toy cars like real ones, they may line the cars in straight rows or may spin their wheels over and over. Inability to tolerate a change in their everyday routines, insisting of doing tasks in a similar manner every time.

Kids may also respond in odd ways to situations and events they come across. They may have baffling responses, since majority of them cannot express or describe what they are experiencing. Instead of answering a question with a simple yes, they may repeat the question. A number of them may use certain expressions that are out of place and can only be understood by people or family members that are familiar with their expressions. Some experience difficulty in using various gestures and will probably throw a tantrum or scream to signal their need. This information should answer the question “what is autism”.

If you think that there is “something not right” with your child you must find out as soon as possible if autism is the issue. Treatments are less effective with each passing day as we grow older, so find out now with the complete autism resource for determining symptoms and goes into depth about ALL treatment options for autism, natural AND medical. Includes a mountain of information concisely written to cover all the important topics such as symptoms, all treatments, training and teaching information for parents, teachers, and caregivers. Treatments and training becomes less effective as the child ages, so do your family a favor and check out the ultimate autism guide at Autism Symptoms. You can also make extra money to help pay for treatment and training by telling people about this helpful resource. You earn $26.30 for each book sold, so start making money by clicking Autism Symptoms Affiliates

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By Chun Wong -

Autism is constantly in the news – what with Jenny McCarthy talking about it with Larry King and Oprah, President Obama giving priority to autism research and funding, news reports of an autism epidemic etc. – but what exactly is autism? Is every autistic person a savant or like Dustin Hoffman in “Rainman”?

The Many Faces of Autism

There is a saying about autism having many faces and this is indeed true. All autistic people, whether children or adults, are individuals with their own personality traits, symptoms, challenges and needs. However, if you or your child are diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum, then you will have one of five types of autism spectrum disorder:-

Asperger Syndrome

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

PDD-NOS or Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Not Otherwise Specified)

Rett Syndrome

Autism – Also referred to as SLD Autism or Kanner’s Syndrome

Sufferers of each of these five autism spectrum disorders share a “triad of impairments”, or three common characteristics, though with varying degrees. All three of these common impairments are to do with socialization and social skills.

The Triad of Impairments

1) Difficulty with Interaction

All autistic people have some difficulty interacting with those around them. This impairment covers problems making friends and “fitting in”, difficulty mixing with their peers, problems understanding social rules and the rules of conversation, and not picking up on other people’s feelings or showing their own in an inappropriate manner.

2) Difficulty with Social Imagination

This second impairment is to do with empathy and understanding consequences. An autistic person many have problems understanding the feelings and actions of other, coping with change, planning for the future, coping with new situations and experiences, understanding risks and dangers, and playing imaginatively.

3) Difficulty Communicating

All autistic people have some degree of difficulty either with communicating or with understanding communication. Some sufferers will have problems with speech, some will not understand the different ways people communicate – gestures, body language and facial expressions, others will take things that people say quite literally and not understand jokes or sarcasm, and some just will not understand how conversation works and will interrupt or change the subject.

Other Common Characteristics

Although there are only three characteristics which are common to all of the autism spectrum disorders, some of them do share other characteristics and difficulties:-

Sensory sensitivity – Many parents report that their autistic children are either hypersensitive or hyposensitive. Hypersensitivity is when a child is over-sensitive to touch, tastes, noises and smells. Hyposensitivity     is the complete opposite and may mean that a child has problems with fine motor skills, like doing up buttons, and may not be able to feel pain.

Obsessions – It is common for many autistic children to become “fixated” on a certain hobby or interest.

Learning disabilities – Some autistic children have learning problems and may need special support at school. Some autistic people also have problems like dyspraxia, dyslexia or ADHD.

A need for fixed rules and routine – As I have said, it is common for autistic people to have problems coping with change and new experiences. An autistic child may cope better if they have a predictable daily routine.

Problems with daily chores and     actions – Things that the rest of us take for granted, like brushing our teeth, washing and making our beds, may be difficult for an autistic child or adult to remember and do.

Can Autism be Cured?

This question is highly controversial and has been debated many times. There are three main schools of thought:-

Some people believe that autism is an incurable     disability which, although it can be treated and managed, cannot be     cured.

People like Jenny McCarthy believe that an     autistic person can “recover” from autism, just like a person     recovers from a car accident. Jenny’s autistic son was treated with     biomedical interventions and is now no longer on the autism     spectrum. Many people would say that he is “cured”.

Other people are pushing for autism to be     accepted, rather than treated. These people believe that they or     their children are not “broken” and do not need “fixing” or “curing”, they want to be accepted as they are.

What do I think?

I believe that the triggers and causes of autism can be combated with biomedical treatments and that autism is treatable and curable.

DAN! Physician Chun Wong is blogging the whole truth and nothing but the truth on Autism, HBOT and all the Biomedical approaches on his weekly blog.

If you’re ready to start improving the health of your autistic child, to make sound judgements, and to have more knowledge, get all the breakthrough news now at http://www.NewAutismCure.com

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