by Ashley Olson

Created on: June 24, 2009   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

Autism is a mysterious disorder on the rise, with no cure in sight. The disorder affects face perception, as well as everyday interactions with others. Many speculations on the cause of Autism have been made, although none have been proven to date. Once thought to be mentally retarded, Autistic individuals now receive beneficial treatments improving their overall quality of life. A glimpse into this mysterious disorder cannot cover all of the complexities of Autism, but it may give a better understanding of the daily challenges Autistic individuals face.

Autism is a severe neurobiological disorder which is often diagnosed by the age of three. Autism affects a person's ability to communicate, form relationships, and respond appropriately to the environment (Robertson, 2003). Autistic individuals face difficulties with social, emotional, and behavioral skills, and in most cases have a low I.Q. In some rare cases, children develop normally for some period, only to regress in various areas causing them to be either misdiagnosed, or diagnosed at a later age.

Autism is often referred to as Autism Spectrum disorder because of the wide range of severity in cases on the spectrum. There are five disorders on the spectrum to date, and they are all characterized in similar ways, but vary in their severity. Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD), is the rarest form of Autism, and is found most commonly in boys. CDD is characterized by an individual developing normally[1], and after some time suddenly loosing vocabulary skills, as well as bowel, and bladder control, sometimes accompanied by seizures, and a very low I.Q. Rhett Syndrome, found almost exclusively in girls, is characterized by the regression of both mental and social skills. Classic Autism, the most common form of the disorder, is characterized by abnormal social interactions and communication skills (Ricks, 2007). Individuals with Classic Autism do not interact well with others because they do not understand the interaction taking place. Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS) is diagnosed when an individual sows some symptoms associated with Autism, but not all of them. These individuals were once thought to be mentally retarded. Asperger's Syndrome is thought to be the mildest form of Autism on the spectrum. An individual with Asperger's Syndrome develops normal verbal skills, but shows impairments with social interactions.

The first sign of Autism that many parents report in their infants is the

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