| You may hear autism referred to as a PDD. This | | | | has appeared to develop quite normally. They have |
| stands for Pervasive Development Disorder, and is a | | | | the usual range of speech and motor skills for their |
| blanket term for the many different autism types. | | | | peer group. Then at some point, usually between |
| When talking about autism most people think of an | | | | ages two and four, they regress into a severe form |
| autistic child in the classic sense, but that is only one | | | | of autistic disability. No one is sure why this happens |
| of the types that are used to diagnose children with | | | | though some believe surgery or illness can bring it on. |
| this condition in today's world. | | | | That is not true for all of these children, however, so |
| Though the film Rainman is probably the most | | | | nothing concrete has been proven. |
| well-known source that most people base their | | | | The higher functioning form of autism is known as |
| understanding on, there is more to this condition than | | | | Asperger's. These children can often be misdiagnosed |
| what was depicted in the movie. Some children are | | | | in the early years. They have better communication |
| very similar to Dustin Hoffman's character, but there | | | | and socialization skills, but they are still somewhat |
| are many more different autism types and levels of | | | | limited. However, many of these children aren't |
| function known today. | | | | diagnosed until they are in school when the |
| The Rainman type of autism, or classic autism, is | | | | difference their peers and themselves become more |
| otherwise known as Kanner's, and was named for | | | | apparent. They often respond well to behavioral |
| the doctor who studied it in the 30s and 40s. This is | | | | treatments, and can have a very 'normal' life if they |
| a lower functioning type of autism characterized by | | | | are put through these programs and therapies at the |
| severe communication and socialization problems. | | | | earliest possible age. |
| These children are hard to reach, and do not interact | | | | There is another type of autism called PDD-NOS. This |
| with most people. They can be clumsy due to poor | | | | is when a child is thought to have autism, but their |
| motor skills, and are prone to repetitive motions and | | | | condition does not seem to be associated with the |
| actions. They might have tantrums when the smallest | | | | other four more definite types. They have autism, |
| changes in their environment or schedule are made. | | | | but they seem to fall out of each category. They |
| Some do not speak, and others speak on a limited | | | | may have symptoms or behaviors that fall within all |
| basis. | | | | of the other different autism types, but do not fit |
| Rett's Syndrome is also one of the lower-functioning | | | | one type exclusively. |
| types of autism. This happens in girls only for some | | | | Most children with any of these five autism types will |
| reason, and is often paired with mental retardation. | | | | be diagnosed before the age of five, and the |
| These girls are greatly impaired when it comes to | | | | prognosis will depend on the function of the child, and |
| movements, and they rarely speak. This autism type | | | | how early they can begin to go through therapies. |
| has been classified as a genetic defect. There seems | | | | There is no cure for autism, and because the reasons |
| to be no explanation as to why it only affects girls. | | | | why some children develop this condition are so |
| All other types are attributed to males 75% of the | | | | unclear, there is no way parents can prevent it from |
| time. | | | | happening. More research is needed to find the origins |
| Childhood Disintegrative Disorder is something that is | | | | of the condition. Once that can be found, perhaps a |
| very shocking for parents, perhaps even more so | | | | cure or more effective treatments can be |
| than children who are identified early with Rett's or | | | | administered, tailored to the different types of |
| Kanner's. This is something that happens after a child | | | | autism. |