What is autism?
Q: What is autism?
A: Autism is a disorder that affects brain development and is part of a group of disorders called autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Q: What are the main areas of difficulty for people with autism?
A: The main areas of difficulty for people with autism are in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, restricted or repetitive behaviors and interests, and motor communication.
Q: How common is autism?
A: About one in every 160 children has an autism spectrum disorder.
Q: Is there a cure for autism?
A: No, there is no known cure for autism. Many autistic people do not want a cure; they want it to be accepted as a difference which is known as neurodiversity.
Q: At what age does someone usually show signs of having ASD?
A: The signs of ASD usually develop in the child's first two to three years of age.
Q: How does someone with ASD act differently than other people?
A: Someone with ASD may find it difficult to talk to other people and look them in the eyes, they may only talk to themselves, rock backwards and forwards, laugh at their own thoughts, not like being touched or any type of change, and find it very difficult to learn new behaviors such as going to school.
