'Living life behind glass...' that's how Wendy Lawson, a person with autism, described how it is to have autism.
Although autism was first identified in 1943, it is still a relatively unknown disability. It is a lifelong condition that affects the way a person relates and communicates with others. A person with autism, generally has impairment in his or her communicative, social interaction and imaginative abilities.
People with autism may have related learning disabilities but everyone with the condition shares a difficulty in making sense of the world. Autism is also referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) to represent the myriad of characteristics that people with autism have. However, it is important to note that autism is not a mental condition.
All people with autism have difficulty functioning adequately in these 3 areas:
Interaction
Difficulty with social relationships eg. Appearing aloof and indifferent to other people
Communication
Difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication eg. not really understanding the meaning of gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice
Imagination
Difficulty in the development of play and imagination eg. having a limited range of activities, possibly copied and pursued rigidly and repetitively
The exact cause of autism is still not known. Research suggests a genetic link. It also indicates that autism may be associated with a variety of conditions affecting brain development which occur before, during or even soon after birth.
Diagnosis can be made as early as 18 months. If you notice that your child may be exhibiting symptoms associated with autism, contact your nearest polyclinic for referral to a specialist.
Although there is no known cure for autism, early diagnosis, intervention and specialised education can make a big difference to the life of a person with autism.