WPost :What Is Autism?

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What is the point of this? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/04/AR2006060400651.html What Is Autism? Monday, June 5, 2006; C12 About 4.5 million Americans have developmental disabilities. That means they have severe physical or mental limitations that often require special attention at home and in school. One of the more common of these disabilities is autism (pronounced AWE-tizz-um), a condition in which the brain doesn't work properly. People who have it often have trouble communicating or being with others. Autism usually shows up before age 4. Autistic kids might have problems with their senses. Noises might sound louder. Being tapped on the shoulder might feel like a punch. Or maybe they'll act like they don't feel or hear anything. Controlling movement can be hard for kids

with autism. Walking can take a lot of concentration. No one knows what causes autism, and there is no cure, but a lot of scientists are working on it. Other developmental disabilities include mental retardation, cerebral palsy and vision and hearing loss. About 2 percent of U.S. children have a serious developmental disability, the government says. The condition usually lasts a lifetime. To learn more on this subject, go to http://www.cdc.gov , click on "Disabilities" and then "Kids' Quest." __________________________________________________