KAIH - Kenya Association of the Intellectually Handicapped

Autism is a severe developmental disorder that begins at birth or within the first two-and-a-half years of life. Most autistic children are perfectly normal in appearance, but spend their time engaged in puzzling and disturbing behaviors which are different from those of typical children. Some of the key characteristics of autistic children are lack of interest in socializing, challenges with verbal communication, and engaging in bizarre or repetitive behaviors. 

To put it simply the brains of people with autism struggle to make sense of the world around them which means that they have trouble interpreting the sounds, smells and sights of their environment. Because they have trouble making sense of things, they struggle to communicate with others.  Some of the behaviors that mark a person with autism include:

• arranging items such as toys in a very specific manner
• rocking in a corner
• flapping their hands and having temper tantrums
• covering their ears when someone is talking to them
• playing with the same toy repeatedly
• becoming frustrated if their daily routine is disturbed

There is currently no cure for autism, but research shows that early intervention treatment services can greatly improve a child’s development. Early intervention services help children from birth to 3 years old (36 months) learn important skills.  Services can include therapy to help the child talk, walk, and interact with others.

Therefore, it is important to get assistance for this disability as soon as possible if you think that your child has autism.

Source:

Autism Research Institute
Kids Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention