Autism is a severe neural development disorder that begins in children as newborns or up until their two and a half year mark.
This disorder is distinguished by impaired social interaction or communication, as well as repetitive behaviors.
Although the physical appearance of people with autism is normal and ordinary, altered information processing in the brain causes behaviors that are patterned, disturbing, and very different from the actions of normal children.
Most parents and guardians notice the symptoms of autism before the child's third birthday.
As infants and toddlers, indicators include smiling and interacting less than typical children, as well as responding to their own name less often.
Autistic children at this age may also have less eye contact and may attempt to communicate with others physically instead of vocally.
Around one half of children with this disorder develop normally until one and a half to three years of age, and then begin to digress.
Although unproven, some people in the field of medicine and autism believe this can be caused by childhood vaccinations, the exposure to a virus, or the onset of seizures.
During childhood, autism becomes more and more evident by symptoms like dysfunctional and repetitive behaviors (sometimes rocking or head banging), or lacking communication, cognition, and social skills.
These behaviors usually continue throughout adulthood.
More behaviors that are linked to autism include tantrums, becoming upset very easily, insisting on routines, dislike of change, not reacting to pain, self injury, and sometimes seizures around the time of puberty.
The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 1 in every 150 children is diagnosed with autism, and that boys outnumber girls in diagnosis four to one.
Although this disorder is complex and life changing, it is certainly not a death sentence.
After 50 years of research and treatment, the world we live in today is full of opportunity for sufferers of autism.