SYMPTOMS OF AUTISM
Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) is a group of developmental brain disorders commonly called autism. Asperger Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorders are all grouped under PDD and commonly named as the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Often time autism is idiopathic, meaning there in no known cause of the disorder. Still other diagnosis of autism is genetically linked to Fragile X, environmental exposure such as cytomegalovirus, and chemical exposure during pregnancy. The symptoms of autism can range from mild to very severe with variations amongst all those diagnosed. Symptoms usually appear in early childhood and are present throughout the remainder of a person's life.
Symptoms of autism are apparent usually by a child's second birthday but it can take years to diagnose autism definitively. Symptoms include language and social problems and repetitive behaviors and motions. A child's language skills may never develop or develop at a slower than normal rate. Autism is characterized by a lack of understanding or using facial expressions or gesture. Many behavioral symptoms include aggression and violent tantrums, impulsive behaviors and hyperactivity, attachment to routines and unable to adjust to changes in a routine, and children who are sensitive to touch, sound, or smell, and dislikes being touched. Other serious symptoms may include self-abuse such as banging of their heads and biting themselves.
A child's failure to meet certain developmental milestones according to age may not signify autism, but may warrant further doctor consultation to ensure there are no PDD or Autism Spectrum Disorders present. In some cases mild forms of autism may not be accurately diagnosed at a young age and older children may exhibit different sign of autism. A major symptom of autism is that older children tend to be in his "own world", not needing much social interaction, or smiling when smiled at. Older children beyond the age of 6 with undiagnosed or misdiagnosed autism may exhibit suicidal behaviors or thoughts. Poor eye contact, the inability to play correctly with toys, or children who can tune out their environment and at times appear to be deaf or hearing impaired. Disruptive behavior can lead to a diagnosis other than autism, but the behavior and overreaction to stimuli may seem unwarranted and extreme, thus a sign that the child is hypersensitive to sensory nerves. The relationships of people with autism suffer because of the lack of social skills, such as empathy and the understanding of other's emotions.