| Though autistic disorder is often thought of as a | | | | the ages of two and four for an unknown reason, |
| single condition, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in | | | | though it is suspected that it may be brought about |
| fact refers to five different kinds of autism. When | | | | by illness or types of surgery. This hypothesis has |
| most people think about autism, they're only thinking | | | | yet to be proven. |
| about one type - the kind they saw in the movie | | | | The fourth form of autistic disorder is Asperger's |
| Rainman - and don't realize that this is only a fifth of | | | | Syndrome. It is easy to misdiagnose children with this |
| the disorders to which autism truly refers. | | | | disorder as they generally have better social and |
| The first type of autism is called Classic Autism. It's | | | | communication skills than other autistic children, but |
| also known as Kanner's autism, or Kanner's disorder | | | | they still face limitations. It typically isn't until these |
| after a doctor who researched the condition in the | | | | children begin school that these limitations start to |
| 1930s through the 1940s. Classic autism is one of the | | | | become obvious. Children with Asperger's often do |
| lower functioning forms in the spectrum, and is | | | | very well with behavioral treatments and are able to |
| identified by its high level of social and communication | | | | exist quite well within a normal lifestyle when they |
| issues. Children with the classic autistic disorder rarely | | | | begin these therapies as early as possible. |
| interact with the majority of people. They often | | | | The last form of autistic disorder is also the most |
| suffer from poor motor skills and frequently repeat | | | | vague. It is called PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental |
| actions and motions. They are also generally reluctant | | | | Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified) and is the |
| to make eye contact and may display temper | | | | diagnosis given to children who are believed to have |
| tantrums when they experience a change in their | | | | autism but whose condition does not fit the typical |
| usual routine or environment. Though some individuals | | | | definition of the other four types of autistic disorder. |
| with classic autism are completely verbal, many | | | | These children may have some symptoms that |
| struggle to communicate through speech, and others | | | | match some of the autism forms, but do not have a |
| cannot speak at all. | | | | specific kind of autism that can be diagnosed. |
| The second form of autism is referred to as Rett's | | | | Part of the understanding of autism comes along |
| Syndrome. This type off autistic disorder is another | | | | with the knowledge of where the disorder may have |
| low-functioning one. Rett's is exclusive to females and | | | | come from and what can worsen the symptoms. |
| often occurs in conjunction with mental retardation. | | | | There are many different theories, including the |
| Rett's girls are typically impaired in their movements | | | | impact that allergies can have on an autistic child. |
| and will rarely communicate verbally. Studies have | | | | For some autistic people and relatives of those on |
| concluded that Rett's is passed on genetically, though | | | | the spectrum the autism disorder classifications are |
| no hypothesis has yet to be proven regarding the | | | | two broad and there is a belief that effective |
| reason that it occurs only in girls when all other types | | | | treatments are unlikely to be discovered until the |
| of autism occur in boys 75 percent of the time. | | | | spectrum is broken down further. A common phrase |
| The third kind of autistic disorder is Childhood | | | | within the autism arena goes like this...'when you've |
| Disintegrative Disorder. Children with this form of | | | | met one person with autism, you've met one person |
| autism often develop normally, or are diagnosed with | | | | with autism'. This phrase highlights the diversity of |
| Classic Autism or Rett's Syndrome. However, the | | | | symptoms and abilities of people grouped together |
| diagnosis changes with the speech and motor skill | | | | under the spectrum umbrella and confirms the |
| problems that accelerate. Regression occurs between | | | | complexity of this disorder. |