
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood. The two other autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are Asperger syndrome, which lacks delays in cognitive development and language, and PDD-NOS, diagnosed when full criteria for the other two disorders are not met. It is named after Dr. Hans Asperger who first noticed the traits in children.
Autism has a strong genetic basis, although the genetics of autism are complex and it is unclear whether ASD is explained more by rare mutations, or by rare combinations of common genetic variants. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child's life. The signs usually develop gradually, but some autistic children first develop more normally and then it reaches worse. Although early behavioral or cognitive intervention can help autistic children gain self-care, social, and communication skills, there is no known cure. Contrary to common beliefs, autistic children do not prefer being alone. Making and maintaining friendships often proves to be difficult for those with autism. For them, the quality of friendships, not the number of friends, predicts how lonely they feel. About a third to a half of individuals with autism do not develop enough natural speech to meet their daily communication needs. Differences in communication may be present from the first year of life, and may include delayed onset of babbling, unusual gestures, diminished responsiveness, and vocal patterns that are not synchronized. Autistic people are less likely to make requests or share experiences, and are more likely to simply repeat others' words (echolalia) .Joint attention seems to be necessary for functional speech, and deficits in joint attention seem to distinguish infants with ASD: for example, they may look at a pointing hand instead of the pointed-at object, and they consistently fail to point at objects in order to comment on or share an experience. Autistic children may have difficulty with imaginative play and with developing symbols into language. In some case people suffering from autism especially Asperger feel very hard to express their feelings. They cannot express or feel the feeling of love, hatred, joy, sorrow etc.
Treating Autism
Treatment for autism is a very intensive, comprehensive undertaking that involves the child's entire family and a team of professionals. Some programs may take place in the child's home with professionals and trained therapists and may include Parent Training for the child under supervision of a professional. Some programs are delivered in a specialized center, classroom or preschool. Autism therapies attempt to lessen the deficits and family distress associated with autism and other autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and to increase the quality of life and functional independence of autistic individuals, especially children. No single treatment is best, and treatment is typically tailored to the child's needs.
NEED FOR AWARENESS:
Today, it is estimated that one in every 110 children is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined. An estimated 1.5 million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide are affected by autism. Government statistics suggest the prevalence rate of autism is increasing 10-17 percent annually. There is not established explanation for this increase, although improved diagnosis and environmental influences are two reasons often considered. Studies suggest boys are more likely than girls to develop autism and receive the diagnosis three to four times more frequently. So, it’s the need of the hour that we all unite & support the persons who are suffering from autism.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Well, friends we can do a lot of things which are small but yet very effective to help autistic people. Like, we should try to create awareness about this disease by writing articles or by making short movies on this subject. Try to be friendly with autistic people, don’t torture or make fun of them. One more thing I would like to tell you that you need behave & think differently while communicating with autistic people. Like you should not answer their questions in yes or no, give them full explanation because they take the literal meaning of what you say. For ex: if you say my telephone is dead, they will start thinking that your telephone is actually dead. We can also help by donating some money to any autistic society. We should get inspired by the recently released movie ‘MY NAME IS KHAN’ featuring SHAHRUKH KHAN has almost succeeded in creating great awareness about autism & Asperger syndrome.

My Name is Khan is indubitably one of the most meaningful and moving films to be rolled out from the Bollywood mills in recent times which shows that autistic people can too lead a successful life.
ARUNABH ACHARYA
EMAILID: arunabhacharya@rediffmail.com