Autism Overview

Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

“The ability to access educational, pedagogical and support services have a beneficial effect, as even children with severe autism have the ability to learn some adaptive skills.”
Dr. Rocío Sanchez-Carpintero Abad
Dir. Neuropediatrics Unit

Autism is part of the so-called pervasive developmental disorders. In these disorders, there is not only developmental delay but atypical development, with extensive impaired functions. Most children with pervasive developmental disorders also suffer from mental retardation (IQ below 70). Within children with autism, there is a broad spectrum of severity, with some more severe and some milder symptoms.

Symptoms

Deficits in social interaction are plausibly the most distinctive and particular of children with autism. From an early age, children do not react to the gestures and glances of people nearby; they do not try to contact other people; they prefer to play alone.

Serious difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication often do not have intelligible language or repeat the words they hear (echolalia), alter the sequence of words, or use them for particular purposes.

Repetitive and stereotyped performances: they are only interested in one subject excessively and inflexibly (car wheels, red…