Autism Society Ontario
Simcoe County Branch

What is Autism/PDD?
 

Autism, and other conditions in the “Autism Spectrum” (Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett’s Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, atypical Autism and PDD-NOS), affects 1 in 500 people in Ontario.  The only disorder for which there is a medical test is Fragile X Syndrome.   All others are diagnosed through a process of Psychological testing. 

Autism is a severely handicapping disorder; it is a neurological developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life.  Autistic children are perfectly normal in appearance, but spend their time engaged in puzzling and disturbing behaviours, which are markedly different from those of typically developing children.  People with one of these disorders have problems processing messages sent to the brain.  As a result, it is often difficult for them to communicate and interact within their environments.  Autism is found throughout the world, in families of all racial, ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds.

Autism affects boys four times more often than girls, and is now more prevalent than Down syndrome, Multiple sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis, Blindness, Deafness or Childhood cancer.

There is a tremendous variation in the specific symptoms shown in different children with autism, they can exhibit any combination of behaviours in any degree of severity.  Symptoms may also change over time within the same child.

A small percentage of children/adults with autism are characterized as savant.  "Autistic savant" refers to individuals with autism who have extraordinary skills not exhibited by most persons. The estimated prevalence of savant abilities in autism is 10%.

There are a number of conditions, which cause children to display some of the symptoms of autism, one of these are:

PKU "Phenylketonuria"

A genetic disorder of the metabolism which will result in brain damage during  the first years of life unless special dietary measures are taken.  Inadequate production of the enzyme, which converts the amino acid phenylalanine into another amino acid, tyrosine. The extra phenylalanine accumulates in body fluids and converts to several chemicals that damage the brain. Symptoms include mental retardation as well as some of the symptoms of autism. PKU has been eliminated by screening all children immediately after birth so proper dietary measures can be taken.

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Copyright © 2003 Autism Society Ontario - Simcoe County Branch
Last modified: February 02, 2003