 Also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder  The word Autism comes from the Greek word “autos” meaning “self.” The term describes conditions in which a person is removed from social interaction.  Eugen Bleuler, a psychiatrist first use the term in 1911 in Switzerland.  It was discovered when a group of scientists studied behaviors of a group of kids and saw that some where more socially withdrawn.

Autism is more present in males because it is passed down from the Y sex chromosome. Women carry two X chromosome, while men carry 1 X from their mother and one Y from the father. If a mutation occurs on the Y chromosome, only the male would be affected. If a mutation occurs on the X chromosome, it does not affect the women because they carry a backup chromosome. Their daughter could be affected if the mother passed down the same X chromosome that was mutated. The Y chromosome is important to brain development but has a very high frequency of multiple mutations.

Autism primarily effects children at a young age, but as they grow older, they never outgrow Autism, it just becomes easier to deal with. The symptoms vary from person to person but autism generally effects brain development and social skills. Some children could only have mild impairments but some others have more obstacles to overcome. The most common problems among kids with autism is verbally and nonverbally communicating, relating to others and the world around them, and thinking and behaving flexibly.

Autism affects brain development. The patients who suffer with autism have troubles with communication and understanding the world around them.

Diagnosing Autism can be difficult because there is no medical test, like a blood test, to prove the patient positive. Children are born with Autism but usually goes unnoticed until around two years of age. Doctors look for their development to make a diagnosis. Children who have less motor skills for their age group could be a sign of Autism.

The disorder will vary from person to person and therefore the prognosis will very for every person. So the doctor can’t tell what the prognosis will be for every person. The disorder can impact some people with speech and communication skills, so they could take speech therapy. The disorder impacts family members by putting stress on the parents which causes them to break up under stress of living with someone with autism, which puts a massive financial burden on them.

Most medications you can take for autism are very effective when used in conjunction and behavioral therapies. There is no standard medicine for the treatment but you can take a medicine called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Some therapies that people with autism can do is they can do behavioral therapy, animal-assisted therapy. And they can do speech therapy.

is doing research on autism. There aren’t many treatments beside therapy but they’re working on it and hope to get closer to a cure.

A PhD student named Hannah Louise Belcher is studying missed diagnosis in females for Autism. She was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at 23. She could find little research though. Until she had the idea to ask females to explain their struggles with Autism. She interviewed a little girl that told her what she loved to do most, organizing parties. She realized that people with Autism were just like everyone else.

 "Women Diagnosed with Autism Late Tell Their Stories." Autism Speaks. Web. 05 Apr  "A History of Autism." WebMD. WebMD. Web. 05 Apr  "Autism Prognosis." My Child Without Limits RSS. Web. 05 Apr  "Home | Autism Society." Autism Society Home Comments. Web. 05 Apr  "Treatments & Therapies." Autism Speaks. Web. 05 Apr