About Autism 

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
The Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and autism are two generic terms that are part of a group of complex Neurodevelopment Disorders. This disorder (ASD) is characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal and repeated behaviors. The manifestations of this disorder (ASD) tend to vary depending on their levels, the child's developmental level and age, hence the term "spectrum".

Characteristics of Autism?
 Lack of social or emotional reciprocity;
 Delay or total absence of language development (not accompanied by attempts to compensate through gestures or mime)
 When there is language, there is a marked inability to initiate or maintain a conversation with others
 Deficit in the use of nonverbal behaviors such as eye contact, facial expressions, body postures and gestures
 Deficit in the development of relationships with their peers, appropriate to their level of development
 Little spontaneous tendency to share with other pleasures, interests or objects
 Deficit in symbolic play and imitation
 Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (shake or rotate the hands or other complex movements)
 Inflexibility to changes in routine, insist on repetition and react negatively before minor changes
 Highly fixed and restricted interests in an exaggerated way, both in the intensity want and in its objective (eg can align again and again an exact number of objects, always the same way)
 Hyper- or Hyperactivity to external stimuli, such as adverse reactions to specific sounds or textures, fascination with lights or movements. Can touch or smell in an exaggerated way certain objects and have an apparent indifference to pain or temperature.

Etiology of autism?
Research is ongoing but the cause of autism is still a mystery.

What doesn't cause autism?
Bad parenting
There was a bleak period in history from the 1950s to 1970s when autism was believed to be a psychological disorder, and blamed on cold, uncaring parents, usually the mothers. Fortunately, the myth of the ‘refrigerator mother’ has been debunked by science, and autism is now recognized as a disorder of brain development with genetic links. Nothing you said or did as a parent caused your child to develop autism, so please don’t listen to anyone who suggests otherwise.
Vaccines
Scores of scientific studies have effectively ruled out vaccines as a cause of autism. Concerns originally arose around two issues of Mercury and the MMR Vaccine (Measles, mumps Rubella)
In 2014, a meta-analysis, combining the result of 10 studies and over 1.2 million children, found no link between vaccines and autism. The World Health Organization, the European Medicines Agency, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other leading international health groups have also concluded there’s no link. Unfortunately, the belief persists among anti-vaccination campaigners, who are very vocal on the Internet. If you remain concerned about vaccines, arrange a time to talk your pediatricians or GP. Remember, Vaccines Save Lives!

What are the warning signs of Autism?
The symptoms described above are present very early in children and are limiting to their normal development. Usually the symptoms are detected at around 2-3 years old, but can be recognized between 8-12 months, if the developmental delay is severe. The delay in language development around 2 years of age is usually one of the greatest warning signs to the parents. However, there may be earliest signs, prior to the development of language, for example:
 Lack of eye contact
 Lack of response to name
 Lack of recognition of the mother and father voices
 Decrease or absence of gestures, such as pointing, saying goodbye or show (12 months)
 Delay in the acquisition of babbling (9 months)
 No response to expressions of parents
 No expressions of joy or pleasure (from 6 months)
 Absence of the first words (16 months)
 Lack of joint attention
 Lack of need to be close to others Isolation
 Lack of communicative intent.

Is Autism common?
Boys are more likely to develop ASD in relation to girls. The prevalence is 1 in every 42 boys develop ASD. In fact, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of this disorder. It is not clear if this increase in the number of cases of ASD is due to an increase of the diagnostic criteria are too broad or if the ASD will actually grow in frequency and gain contours of an epidemic worldwide.