autism

WHAT IS AUTISM? Autism appears to be a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the processing of information in the brain. It is a complex condition that affects an individual on neurological, psychological and physical levels, and is classed as a Pervasive Developmental Disorder. The term Autism Spectrum refers to 5 identified disorders. These share common core issues, but the degree to which a person is affected varies along a continuum ranging from “profound impairment” to “moderate” and “light impairment”. • Kanner (or classic) Autism • Asperger’s Syndrome/Disorder • PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified) • Rett’s Syndrome • Childhood Disintegrative Disorder PREVALENCE Autism occurs in every race group and in every country on earth. The prevalence of Autism is increasing - Autism South Africa has indicated that 1 child in every 150 has one of the identified Autism Spectrum Disorders.