Most autistic kids are really good at something. They may not be the best at it (although some of them are) but they could be so impressive at times that they would bring tears to your eyes just watching them. You would doubtless think that if only you could take advantage of that, if only you could use that little window of genius to pull them out of that dark world? But alas it is not to be. History and records show that few of them if, at all any, ever get to heal from the syndrome.
Autism, classic autism, or autistic disorder, they all mean the same thing except that doctors often tend to use them to delineate different instances or contexts. It is one of five others that make up pervasive developmental disorders, called PDDs. Along with two other possible diagnoses they constitute the autism spectrum, which is a wide range. A lot of kids fall somewhere within this spectrum, and unless you get them attended to by a doctor, you might never know.
Kids who have delayed speech may be suffering from some kind of autism. This is not always the case, but it is a matter worthy of note. When they do learn to speak, they may not be able to converse in any sensible way unless you are speaking with them on a matter that they have a special interest in. This kind of autism is called Asperger?s syndrome.
Echolalia, a symptom of autism that they display when they speak as though they are reading out of a textbook, or as though they are repeating back something that they heard or read word-for-word. It is common enough for such kids and you need not hold it against them. As a friend of the family, or as the parent, you need to understand that what is needed from you is your support.
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