/ 2 April 2009

World Autism Awareness Day

Research indicates that Autism, a complex brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication, is on the rise.

Research indicates that Autism, a complex brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication, is on the rise and it is estimated that each year 5000 children are born with affliction in South Africa.

Autism is a lifelong, extremely complex and often devastating disability, which appears to stem from a multi-factorial origin and although it is a widespread condition, few people understand it and this often results in children affected by the illness being diagnosed late and not receiving the proper intervention.

World Autism Awareness Day aims to raise consciousness about the prevalence of Autism, which affects approximately 1 in 158 children under the age of six worldwide. It is found to occur in 4 times as many boys than girls and is the most frequently occurring of all childhood neurological disorders.

There are various ways in which disorder presents itself, but in broad terms there are three main forms of autism.

Kanner/Classic Autism, where in addition to the autism, there is also intellectual impairment.

People affected by Asperger Syndrome often display good or above average intellectual ability iin addition to the prevalent and debilitating autistic traits.

Roughly six percent of the total population affected by autism have a form referred to as Savant Autism, where there is one almost superhuman ability, but the rest of their functioning is adversely affected by autism.

Regardless of the form of autism, all people on this spectrum, are affected in different degrees, by the Triad of Impairments that causes a disturbance in quality of development in the following areas:

Language and Communication
Forty percent of people with Kanner/Classic autism never speak nor understand verbal communication. Even those across the full spectrum who do have speech, often still have severe problems understanding the normal process of reciprocal communication;

Social Interaction
People with autism, due to the altered chemistry and functioning within the brain, literally cannot fully understand other people’s emotions, reactions and the complexity of social relationships. This often results in people with autism reacting inappropriately by our “normal” standards, thus being shunned by society, which sadly can then result in these people becoming confused and isolated from those around them;

Imagination and Creative Play
A person with autism usually becomes trapped by rigid thought patterns and behaviours, a limited range of imaginative activities, as well as a poor understanding of day-to-day concepts, jargon and the abstract.

No cure has yet been found for Autism but there are several forms of treatment available and with the correct medical and educational intervention many people make considerable progress and are able to reach their full potential.

For more information contact Autism South Africa on 011-4849909 or email to [email protected]. Alternatively you can visit their website at www.autismsouthafrica.org