We all have seen the beautiful movie “My Name Is Khan”. But do you know the syndrome the character of Shahrukh Khan was suffering from? It was autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Every year on 2nd April, World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated. This day was designated by the United Nations to spread awareness about the condition.
What is Autism?
Autism is not a disease or illness. It just means that a person’s brain works differently from others. It is a group of developmental disabilities in which children may behave, communicate, interact, and learn in ways that are different from most other children.
Symbols for Autism
The puzzle piece was used as a symbol for autism in 1963 as it represents the complexity and mystery of it. It also symbolizes the idea that individuals suffering from this are like these missing puzzle pieces that need to be found.
For promoting awareness about it a colorful ribbon is used. The ribbon is a combination of colorful puzzle pieces.
Some organizations convey love and support for individuals and their families with the use of Blue Heart.
Cause of Autism
There is no known cause of autism. Scientists believe there could be many different causes of ASD that act together to change the ways people develop. It can affect people in the same family. So it may be transferred to the child by the parent.
Symptoms of This
Every autistic individual is different from others. the following signs should be considered to check if the child is at risk for the condition.
Do not respond to their name by 9 months of age
Avoid eye contacts
Do not like to play with other children by the age of 36 months
Not using a single or very few gestures by the age of 12 months
The symptoms of this appears generally in the first 2 years of life.
