What is Autism?

Autism is what is known as an umbrella, or spectrum disorder. It covers a wide variety of symptoms and challenges. It is a neurological (brain) developmental disorder. Basically, it means that the individual’s brain is hardwired differently. I have often compared it to the old-fashioned telephone switchboards, where all the information comes in, but if the plugs aren’t in the right spot it’s not going to get where it needs to go.

Autism cannot be cured. However, therapies, treatments and nutritional diets can help with the way our mind processes and improve behavior.

Every child with autism is different. If anything, autistic individuals shatter the concept of ‘typical’ anything and break the mold of life. They view the world through a lens few can even fathom. In addition to seeing the world differently, autistic individuals can struggle with communication as they struggle with relating to others.

Symptoms often fall within the following categories (to be discussed in future posts)

• Social Situations
• Communication
• Repetitive Behaviors
• Sensory Processing
• Physical and Medical

There is so much that we don’t know about Autism. What we do know is that it’s far more prevelant than we ever knew. Whether it’s actually happening more, or we are simply recognizing and diagnosing it more is unknown.

Either way, with 1 in 110 children being diagnosed chances are that you know someone with Autism. How has Autism affected you?