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What is Autism

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Autism is a neurobiological disorder which severely impairs a child's communication and social interactions. Unable to learn from the natural environment as most children do, the child with autism shows little interest in the world or people around him. While all children with autism develop some normal and even advanced skills, they exhibit a wide range of behavioral deficiencies and excesses. Some behavioral symptoms of autism include:

• Speech and language are absent or delayed, while specific thinking capabilities may be present.

• Abnormal ways of relating to people, objects, and events.

• Abnormal responses to sensations, such as sight, hearing, touch, balance, smell, taste, reaction to pain, and the way a child holds his or her body.

• Ritualistic or perseverative behavior such as arranging objects into neat rows, gazing at spinning objects for extended periods of time, waving fingers in front of the eyes repeatedly, and insisting on particular routines.

Left untreated, autism inhibits a child's developmental growth to such a degree that most will require lifelong support. Under its broadest definition, autism affects one in 500 Oregon children. While many etiologies are known to cause some types of autism, to date, there are no known preventions nor cures.

There is Hope...
For parents, autism is devastating. Imagine never hearing your child call your name, share a discovery, or look into your eyes. The panic and fear a parent experiences as his or her child rejects the people and world around him is heartbreaking. For children, autism severely limits the potential for an independent future.

Though there is no cure for autism, there is hope --- through INTENSIVE EARLY BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION.