Because Autistic Disorder is a Spectrum disorder it means that there are a broad range of symptoms and that no one sufferer will have identical symptoms to another. It also means that the severity of the disorder and its symptoms will differ between individuals.



Autistic Disorder is a complex developmental disability that makes its appearance somewhere within the first three years of life, typically earlier rather than later. The cause is thought to be an abnormality of the brain structure and function and there is evidence that there is a genetic element.

It is comforting for parents to know that there is absolutely no correlation between bad parenting and the disease though environment can prove important in the treatment of the condition.

The two main areas of impact are social interaction and communication skills. Socially sufferers of Autistic Disorder may not know how to interact with others, they may not even be interested. They typically make little or no eye contact and are unresponsive to non-verbal cues. They may be withdrawn and wish to be alone with little understanding for the feelings of others.

Controversy rages around the supposition that children with Autistic Disorder do not wish to be cuddled and held.  There is growing support for the view that though it may appear to be so this may be because the child does not know how to communicate these desires.

Speech and language may be slow to develop and 40% of children with Autistic Disorder do not speak at all. If they do speak they may do so in inappropriate ways. Echolalia, the repeating of phrases instead of conversation is just one communication oddity characteristic of the condition.