Don't know if this is right place to ask - but what is Autism?

[tiggerpony]

What the title says, and how do you know if your baby/ child has it? Is it a behaviour issue which can be corrected with disapline, or is it a mental issue? How can you help babies/ children with Autism?

Thanks

 

[aliss]

What the title says, and how do you know if your baby/ child has it? Is it a behaviour issue which can be corrected with disapline, or is it a mental issue? How can you help babies/ children with Autism?

Thanks

Autism needs to be diagnosed by a variety of mental health professionals. You cannot "correct it" with discipline (unfortunately this used to be a typical belief) but there are behavioural therapies that can help children with autism.

It is a developmental disorder that affects speech and social development - it can range from mild to severe, so there's no one description for it. It is a very difficult thing for a family to go through, and there's still a lot of misunderstandings around it.

Autism is not diagnosed until toddlerhood (3, I believe)

 

[bump#1]

^^ WSS

Children with Autism tend to see the world in a completely different way and struggle to understand what is going on around them. It affects alot of things but their social skills tend to be the most effected. While professionals tend not to diagnose until toddler years there is some belief and research into recognising 'symptoms' as early as 6 months.
Things like not smiling/laughing, not liking human contact, lack of eye contact, no interaction skills tend to be the first things picked up on.

 

[lilyanne]

This is a site that might help answer some of your questions. Medical professionals are using the term autism spectrum disorders now. There were several disorders that they found fell under the same umbrella.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html
As aliss said, there is a definite range in terms of severity.