Autism: Penetrating Their Silence

Often it is not surprising to hear kids tease each other for occasionally phasing out or appearing so distracted as to temporarily lose contact with others. In some cases, people who seem spaced out are simply just preoccupied, but among some young friends, it becomes fun and amusing to tease a preoccupied, detached friend as autistic.

What people may not realize is that it is thoroughly sickening to even consider making fun of the concept of autism. For many parents, it is alarming to be told that their child is autistic. Along with such a diagnosis comes the realization that one hardly knows what autism is and what to do about it.

Autism is Greek in origin and literally means "self." Eugene Bleuler was the first to use this term in psychiatry in 1912. At that time it was mistaken to be related to schizophrenia. It was Leo Kanner in 1943 who firmly established autism as a separate disorder. Today, along with Rett Syndrome, Asperger's Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Pervasive Development Disorder not Otherwise Specified, it is considered a Pervasive Developmental Syndrome (PDD).

In individuals where autism occurs alone as a disorder, their outward appearance may look the same as any other person. Autism therefore is diagnosed primarily from observable behavior. An individual with autism has impairments in verbal and non-verbal communication, social relations, imagination and interests. These manifest themselves in specific behavior. It is obvious therefore, that with such functions impaired, it is difficult for an autistic person to relate well with aspects of society. The earlier autism is detected therefore, the better. What then should be noted in a child's behavior patterns that may point to autism?

Although there have been general specific behaviors which are apparent in autistic children, caution must be observed when making conclusions. Not all typical autistic behaviors are present in all autistic individuals and not all observable behaviors are the same in degree for all cases.

In children, some specific behavior indicators include peculiar movement patterns, having his "own world," walking on tiptoe, performing repetitive actions, delayed development of speech, does not answer even when called by name, doesn't point and doesn't understand when someone else is pointing, being too active at times, has less eye contact, shows early independence, obsessively sorts and arranges or stacks things, not interested in people or playmates, and unmindful of apparent danger.

Although one cannot conclude immediately that children who exhibit similar behaviors are automatically autistic, it becomes crucial to take action when these behaviors become marked.

Because of the impairment in their social abilities, autistic children may have a difficult time understanding or being understood. Clear diagnosis of the condition therefore may aid in the child and significant adults in communicating in effective ways in school and at home.

Indeed, for parents, autism in a child may be both alarming and frustrating. There is however, no apparent justification for overly despairing over the condition. Proper understanding of autism may help parents and other adults help children function in the best way they can in society. It has been a proven reality that there have been in fact many autistic individuals who work and function well in their chosen fields.