Autism: A Clinical Approach

Autism is a development disorder in which an individual experiences difficulty in social interaction and communication. Individuals with autism often exhibit restricted and repetitive behaviour. Such signs develop slowly but usually become visible by the age of three. Asperger syndrome, autism and pervasive developmental disorder constitute the larger set of autism spectrum disorder. In autism, information processing in the brain is altered with the reorganization of nerve cells and their synapses. During pregnancy, infections with rubella, exposure to toxins including alcohol, cocaine, air pollution, pesticides and valproic acid, autoimmune diseases and fetal growth restriction can become risks for autism. Children with autism may require support even after reaching adulthood. Speech therapy and behavioral interventions early in life can improve social and communication skills. This book aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects of autism and the recent researches in this medical condition. Different approaches, evaluations, methodologies and advanced studies on autism have been included in this book. It is a complete source of knowledge on the present status of our understanding of autism.