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Autism Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. It is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain. To put it in another way, Autism is a severe disorder of communication and behaviour that affects 20 out of 10,000 individuals. A life-long developmental disability, it prevents individuals from properly understanding what they see, hear and otherwise sense. At a rough estimate there would be about 17 lakh autistic people in India alone. Children with Autism have uneven skill development. A six-year-old with Autism may be a wizard at the computer but be unable to recall and say what he had for breakfast on a particular morning. There are some important points that need to be noted about Autism:
She further goes on to say the following:"Intervention between the ages of 2 and 3 plays a crucial role in the development of a child. Research reveals that there is considerable amount of improvement if early intervention occurs. In Mumbai, not enough is being done in terms of what should be done, though awareness among pediatricians is spreading slowly and more and more children are being diagnosed as result." There are no medical tests for diagnosing Autism. An accurate diagnosis has to be based on the observation of the individual's communicational, behavioural and developmental patterns and levels. However, since many of the behavioural traits exhibited by Autistic people are also shared by other disorders, several medical tests may need to be carried out in order to either rule or establish other possible causes for their occurrence. Since the characteristics of the disorder are so varied, a child should ideally be evaluated by a multi-disciplinary team of specialists such as a neurologist, psychologist, developmental pediatrician, speech/language therapist, learning consultant etc. Parental inputs and developmental history are, naturally, very important components that contribute towards the making of an accurate diagnosis. A centre that caters to the needs of Autistic children exists in Mumbai at Priyanj Ashiana (Tel. No. 884 1193) Sanket Building, Evershine Nagar, Malad (W). Here, the children receive structured intervention on a one-to-one basis. A monthly parent enrichment programme is also conducted. Another organization that is doing a great deal for the cause of Autistic people is the Forum for Autistic Awareness, which co-ordinates with local parent support groups all over Mumbai. Action for Autism, headquartered
in New Delhi, is a parent-directed, non-profit organization that has been
set up to promote the education and welfare of persons with Autism across
India. It is dedicated to creating awareness about Autism in the community,
and among medical professionals working towards the education and rehabilitation
of children and adults with Autism and their families. AFA is registered
under the Societies' Registration Act. The address is C-335, Defence Colony,
New Delhi-110024 (Tel No. 011-4690132).
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