Autism comes from 'autos', the Greek word for 'self'. A person with autism is often referred to as someone who lives in a world of his own.

In medical terms, autism is a brain-based development disorder. It affects a person's ability to communicate, be with other people, and engage in developmentally appropriate behaviours.

Autism is a life-long developmental disorder, and as yet there is no cure. Children do not "outgrow" autism. However symptoms may lessen or change as the child develops and receives educational interventions.

Although there are many theories, no one knows the definitive answer to this question. Research shows that autism can be caused by a variety of conditions that affect brain development. These conditions may occur before, during or after birth.

While the cause or combination of causes of autism is not fully understood, some research suggests a biological problem. It affects those parts of the brain that process language and information from the senses. Other research findings suggest that there may be an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain. Genetics may sometimes be a factor in certain families.

In reality what we know is that autism may develop from a combination of several "causes". There is no suggestion that psychological or emotional factors in the environment of the child can cause autism.

In 1943, Leo Kanner was the first person to describe and name a pattern of behaviour he observed in a small number of young children. He termed this condition as "early infantile autism". A year later, Hans Asperger wrote about different patterns of behaviour in more able older children and adolescents. This form of autism became known as Asperger's Syndrome.

The autism spectrum covers the two groups described by Kanner and Asperger. Many people have a mixture of features and do not fit neatly into either category.

The diagnoses of autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and Pervasive Development Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) are considered under the umbrella term Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

In Singapore, it is difficult to provide a statistical figure on the actual number of persons affected by autism. Based on recent research in other countries, we expect a prevalence rate of 30,000 individuals with autism in our population of five million. Of this number about 5,472 are children under the age of 19. An estimated 216 new cases of children with autism are diagnosed annually.

Usually diagnosed within the first three years of life, autism is four times more common in boys than girls. However, certain types of autism may not be diagnosed until a child enters primary school. The main problems may be difficulty in social interaction and anxiety.

A person diagnosed with autism must have a 'triad' of clinical characteristics in:

• Social impairment (social interaction)
• Communication impairment (social communication)
• Impairment in flexibility of thinking (flexibility and imagination)

In addition to the triad of behaviours that characterise autism, other reasons commonly associated with the disorder relate to:

• Cognitive learning style
• Sensory profile
• Medical conditions
• Special interests
• Likes and dislikes

These are known as Features of Autism. It is important to remember that the range of intellectual ability and skills in people with ASD is considerable. No two persons with autism are the same, adding to the complexity of diagnosis.

For a sample chart on how autism is displayed in different people, please refer to Autism Is....

• FAQs about autism
• Impact of autism on learning
• Working with professionals
• ARC services
• Useful tips for parents

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