What is Autism?

Writer Jacob Varela

Editor Katelyn Chang

Today, in the United States, autism affects approximately 1 in 54 children and 1 in 45 adults. That’s more than 6 million Americans that have the condition. Worldwide, that number rises to nearly 25 million people. All this begs the question: what exactly is autism?

Diagnosis and Symptoms

A young child with autism

Well, autism is a lifelong cognitive developmental disorder. It is usually diagnosed in toddlers and young children through the first appearance of symptoms at that age. Some of the most common symptoms of autism include stunted social development, difficulties in communication, repetitive behavior, sensory abnormalities, or unusual abilities. The severity of autism also ranges from high-functioning autism, where the individual can communicate and develop somewhat normally, to low-functioning autism, where the individual cannot develop natural speech or have basic social understanding, and all levels of functionality in between. This range, known as autism spectrum disorder, includes a multitude of various classifications of different types of autism based on severity and symptoms, such as Asperger syndrome and Rett syndrome.

Causes and Prognosis

Causes of autism include complex genetic abnormalities, such as chromosome deletion or duplication, and environmental factors, such as the use of drugs or inhalation of heavy metals during pregnancy. No cure has been found for autism, though many individuals with high-functioning autism and individuals with lower-functioning autism and proper management may see the degree of their symptoms decrease to negligible levels.

History

Hans Asperger, a leading
researcher of autism

The first documentation of autism took place in the 18th century in Western Europe, though very little was known about it at the time. Autism was first defined and thoroughly researched by Hans Asperger, an Austrian pediatrician and the namesake of Asperger syndrome, at the Vienna University Hospital in 1938. In 1980, autism was distinguished from childhood schizophrenia and it took its modern definition and diagnosis.

Management

Many parents of children with autism take to management to aid social and cognitive development in their autistic children. Management of autism may include psychosocial intervention, speech and language therapy, social skills therapy, special education, ADHD or anxiety medication, and alternative medicine. With these forms of management, many individuals with high-functioning autism are able to live independently after their adolescent years.

Social Issues

In spite of this management, many children with autism face social and educational hurdles, such as bullying and the inability to learn, due to their social and developmental issues. Much like other neurodivergent people, autistic people often suffer from discrimination and rejection from mainstream society because of their differences. Now, groups such as OC Autism work to raise awareness for the struggles of individuals with autism, improving their quality of life while increasing their acceptance into society at large. Groups like JOY’US also work to improve the lives and conditions of children with autism and their experiences in school and their communities at large.