Most people do not have a clue that their children could be autistic until well along after the children have started to grow. Statistics show that by averages, the earliest appreciable age when the syndrome is recognizable is when the child reaches the age of three. At this time the withdrawal from friends and people would have become obvious, and the doctor can get a clearer diagnosis.
One thing that I do know about autistic people is that it is extremely difficult to get them to look you directly in the eye. Whether you are trying to tell them something, or they are trying to do the same for you, you might be well advised to go about it another way because the eye-locking thing is not going to work. And it could be quite frustrating too.
Autism can vary in severity in many sufferers. As a matter of fact it is believed that the known cases are actually a far cry from the actual numbers that are locked up in their own world, unable to get out or reach out. Since it is believed that the syndrome could be there and silent for a long while, perhaps there are more kids who suffer it silently as well; perhaps not with the full blown syndrome, but with enough to give you occasional trouble.
People who suffer from autism have social difficulties to begin with, and then they suffer also from difficulty in communicating with others, and finally they exhibit restrictive interests or repetitive behaviors. All this is based on what the American Psychiatric Association postulates in the attempt to define the condition. The definition does come close, but after spending some time with the patient, you will find that there seems to be something more, something that is difficult to placate, and that is what the disorder is all about.
Related posts: