Autism has Many Faces #spotlightautism

Autism has Many Faces

This week we will begin a series on Autism. Autism has Many Faces.

Each week we will highlight a different family and how autism looks for them.

At the bottom you will also find a linky to share your favourite autism has many faces post.

The intention of this series is to bring awareness and promote acceptance of our special kids!

Autism has Many Faces

Related reading for you; How Autism Affects my Family, Autistic Children and the Strain on Marriage and What is Autism.

Autism, as defined by Wikipedia, 

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, impaired verbal and non-verbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child’s life. These signs often develop gradually, though some children with autism reach their developmental milestones at a normal pace and then regress. The diagnostic criteria require that symptoms become apparent in early childhood, typically before age three.

Autism is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some cases are strongly associated with certain infections during pregnancy. Causes including rubella and use of alcohol or cocaine.^[9] Controversies surround other proposed environmental causes;^[10] for example the vaccine hypotheses, which have since been disproven. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood. In the DSM V, autism is included within the autism spectrum (ASDs), as is Asperger syndrome, which lacks delays in cognitive development and language, and pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (commonly abbreviated as PDD-NOS), which was diagnosed when the full set of criteria for autism or Asperger syndrome were not met.

Early speech or behavioral interventions can help children with autism gain self-care, social, and communication skills. Although there is no known cure, there have been reported cases of children who recovered. Not many children with autism live independently after reaching adulthood, though some become successful. An autistic culture has developed, with some individuals seeking a cure and others believing autism should be accepted as a difference and not treated as a disorder.