Autism - synopsis

Autism is a severely disabling developmental disorder that occurs in childhood and consists of a range of social, behavioral, and cognitive (mental processing) defects.  The most characte4ristic symptoms of autism are lack of social skills, including verbal communication, difficulty in relating to others or deriving pleasure from personal interaction, obsessive or compulsive behaviors including a resistance to change in environment or routine, aversion to touch, and repetitive movements.  Treatment includes intense behavioral therapy and drugs to relieve symptoms such as seizures, anxiety, depression, and hyperactivity.