Outline
In this paper, I have discussed Autism that is a distinct developmental brain disorder with both physical and behavioral components. It affects the brain areas controlling language, social interaction and abstract thought. About one in every one thousand people is autistic. The symptoms vary greatly, but usually become apparent by two or three years of age and affect males more often than females. People with autism share a common problem of having difficulty expressing what they mean or sometimes cannot speak. Emotional problems and mental retardation can also be present. Individuals with autism are usually very sensitive to sensory stimuli and are often overwhelmed by ordinary sounds, sights, smells and touch. The most important, and informative, likely cause of autism is genetics. The study of genes that may cause a disorder is the study of that disorder's genotype. There are a few basic ways to look at the genetics of autism. Here I have discussed Genotype and Phenotype
Introduction
The cause of autism is still unclear, although the most widely accepted explanation is a combination of genetic factors and damage affecting the part of the brain that processes and interprets information. Autistic youngsters are often described as being “in a shell” or “living in a world all their own (Golding, M. M. 1998). While autism is considered a life-long condition, good educational training and programs reduce the severity of its symptoms. Occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and medication are sometimes helpful. In the cases where retardation is accompanied by normal or superior skills (as in arithmetic, music, or memory), these skills can be expanded. (Bryson, S. E. 1997)
There are a couple of levels at which one can talk about “causes” of autism. The first level involves some innately atypical processes (such as genetic differences) that grow a brain that is physically different in certain ways.....
