Autism is a brain development disorder that is defined by restricted and repetitive behavior, and by impaired social interaction and communication. Autism is a complicated disease having many signs and symptoms, myths, misconceptions, and different diagnoses and treatments. The environment of an autistic patient plays an important role in the treatment or therapy because it can help or impair the effectiveness of the treatment. The severity of signs and symptoms vary between individuals who suffer from autism, but there are some core signs and symptoms that all autistic people share in the areas of social interactions and relationships, a lack of interests in play and activities and nonverbal and verbal communications. Some of these signs and symptoms include gazing, certain facial expressions and posturing, failure to establish friendship, lack of interest in sharing enjoyment, interests, empathy, delay or lack of learning to talk, repetitiveness, preoccupation with certain things, need for the same routines, rocking, hand flapping, or banging of the head. Signs and symptoms of autism are almost always noticed by parents first during their child's first three years. Parents often become aware that something is wrong with their child when the child does not seem to be interested in playing certain games or being held, when their child's hearing abilities change, and when the child does not begin to talk or suddenly loses his or her ability to talk.

The word autism goes back to 1911 when Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler used this term to describe certain adults that had different characteristics that were said to be suffering from schizophrenia. It was not until 1943 when Dr. Leo Kanner described autism for the first time. He based his discovery from eleven children he observed that had withdrawn from human contact as early as the age one. Unfortunately, until the 1960’s most medical professionals thought that children who had autism also had schizophrenia. Until the 1960s most parents blamed themselves for their children’s disorder. From the 1960s through the 1970s, research into treatments for autism focused on medications such as LSD, electric shock, and behavior change techniques. The latter relied on pain and punishment. Many children were often put into institutions with little or no human interaction except for these brutal treatments. During the 1980s and 1990s, the role of behavior therapy and the use of highly controlled learning environments emerged as the primary treatments for many forms of autism and related conditions. Currently, the cornerstone of autism therapy is behavior therapy. Other treatments are added as needed (WebMD, LLC 2009).

Even though autism has come a long way from the misunderstandings and brutal treatments from the past there are still many myths and misconceptions that are still believed today. Many people think that autism is a psychological disorder, are incapable of showing affection, can no function in society, and that people with autism cannot be helped. This is not true. Autism is not a psychological disorder that was a result of an uncaring mother or psychological trauma. Autism is a physical condition whose symptoms arise from a difference in the way that the brain works. MRI's and brain scans have showed marked differences in at least three different areas of the brain in autistic people. In Kanner's original work it stated that a 'cold mother' was part of the cause of autism. And in the 1950s, Dr. Bruno Bettelheim supported the myth by blaming autism on cold, unemotionally responsive mothers as well. Even thought autism has been proven to be a physical disorder this myth still haunts parents who still believe that they have done something to cause this illness in their children. People with autism can also show affection although their expressions of affection may be unusual, or not fit the norm. They can also hold jobs, maintain their own apartments, have relationships with other people and do everything that people without autism can do. And contrary to popular myths about children with autism, very few are completely socially isolated or "live in a world of their own." The most absurd myth is that people cannot be helped. Even though there is no cure for autism research has shown that there are many treatments that can help autistic people deal with their behaviors and with the world's expectations (Autism Awareness, 2006).

There are not any definitive answers for what causes a person to become autistic but some causes are believed to be genetic, environmental, vaccine related, and defects in the brains of autistic people. Some researchers think that some people are genetically prone to have children with autism. They believe that if autism runs in the family that the children born into the family having autism is higher or if you have a child with autism that any other children you may have in the future are at a higher risk of having autism. Other researchers believe that environmental factor like food allergens or toxins and mercury based vaccines cause autism in children. Mercury is a harmful neurotoxin that is believed to affect the developing brains of young children. There is some evidence that allergies to certain foods like gluten (a wheat product) and cassein (a dairy product) could contribute to autistic symptoms. The most believed cause of autism is the belief that the brain and neurotransmitters play an important role in autism. Other researchers have found differences between the autistic brain and the typical brain. Autistic individuals seem to have larger brains and seem to process information differently. Neurotransmitters are important for memory, learning, and behavior among other things. There are many types of chemicals that act as neurotransmitters in the human body and the way that foods may affect these chemicals is important to understanding the possible role of diet in developmental disorders. Neurotransmitters travel across a synapse to bind to a postsynaptic receptor protein; each neurotransmitter binds only to specific receptors on the postsynaptic membrane. There are a number of types of receptors for different neurotransmitters. This binding eventually brings about a change in the electrical state of the postsynaptic cell either exciting or inhibiting it. The action can be decreased or neutralized in a number of ways including: glial cells, which remove neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft; reuptake, where the chemical is taken back to the axon that released it; blocking, whereby the flow by substances that attach to specific receptors is blocked; and by prolonged exposure to the neurotransmitter. Abnormalities in neurotransmitter systems have frequently been recorded in autism. Neurotransmitters thought to be important in autism are GABA, glutamate, dopamine, and serotonin. These neurotransmitters are one of the means by which signals are relayed between neurons in the brain. The imbalance may be due to alterations in the function of neurotransmitter receptors, that part of neurons which receive the signal from the neurotransmitter. The role of GABA, a neurotransmitter found in the central nervous system that has been implicated in autism, 5HT and glutamate transporters and receptors will also be analyzed to determine if they play a role in the circuitry of these brain region. Brain serotonin level is suspected to play an important role in developing brain and impairments of serotonin metabolism have been implicated in autism. Maternal serotonin levels have been suggested as being of central importance for development of the fetal brain. More research on these neurotransmitters is being done to learn the exact roles that they play in autism and the symptoms of autism ( Lahey, M, Shari Rosen, S. (2008).

Autism is a complicated disorder and often times it is misdiagnosed or diagnosed after the child has reached three or four years old. One reason for this is that there is not always easy to see a pattern before it has fully emerged. There is no clear-cut line between very mild autism and healthy children who are just somewhat odd socially. Also, doctors who are not specialists in developmental disorders are often reluctant to label a child as autistic because the diagnosis is so upsetting to parents. Many parents are referred from one doctor to another, until finally one of them proclaims the diagnosis. There is no blood test, brain scan, or other high-tech test for autism. The diagnosis relies on the judgment of an experienced doctor, using a combination of interviews, questionnaires, and observations. A comprehensive evaluation requires a multidisciplinary team including a psychologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, speech therapist, and other professionals who diagnose children with ASDs. The team members will conduct a thorough neurological assessment and in-depth cognitive and language testing. Because hearing problems can cause behaviors that could be mistaken for autism, children with delayed speech development should also have their hearing tested. After a thorough evaluation, the team usually meets with parents to explain the results of the evaluation and present the diagnosis ((Network Therapy, 2004). There is no cure for autism even though some clinics are proclaiming to have found the cure. These clinics are preying on the vulnerable parents of autistic children. The only proven effective treatments for autism are educational and behavioral therapies, and certain medications. Depending on the signs and symptoms a child has depends on the therapies they will receive. Some of these therapies include speech, musical, occupational, hearing, vision, and physical therapies. Others involve changes in medication and diet. The same specialists who helped diagnose the condition usually work together to come up with the best combination of therapies to use in addition to the educational program. Doctors often prescribe an antidepressant medication to handle symptoms of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anti-psychotic medications are used to treat severe behavioral problems. Seizures can be treated with one or more of the anticonvulsant drugs. Stimulant drugs, such as those used for children with attention deficit disorder (ADD), are sometimes used effectively to help decrease impulsivity and hyperactivity. The best results from these therapies work best when the child starts treatment as soon as they are diagnosed because studies show that the best chance for recovery happen at an early age (Network Therapy, 2004). In conclusion autism is a complicated disease with many symptoms, misconceptions, hard diagnoses, possible causes and many different treatments. Parents need to remember they are the best judges when it comes to their children’s health. Parents know when something is not exactly right with their child. Parents need to be more persistent with their doctors about the possibility that their child may have autism. The sooner a child receives treatment the better outcome the child has of living life to their fullest potential.

References
WebMD, LLC (2009). History of Autism. Retrieved on June 10, 2009 from: http://www.webmd.com
Autism Awareness, (2006). Myths and Misconception about Autism. Retrieved on June 10, 2009 from: http://www.autismawareness.info
Lahey, M, Shari Rosen, S. (2009). Neurotransmitters and learning, Memory, and Developmental Disorders. Retrieved on June 11, 2009 from: http://www.childrensdisabilities.info
Network Therapy, (2004). Autism. Retrieved on June 12, 2009 from: http://www.networktherapy.com