Autism is a blanket term for a spectrum of disorders affecting neural and psychomotor development. It is diagnosed during childhood, and symptoms must be present before the patient reaches the age of three for an autism spectrum disorder to be accurately diagnosed. A wide range of symptoms can indicate the presence of autism, including abnormal social development, difficulty communicating, repetitive behaviors, and fixations on a very narrow set of unusual interests. Treatment focuses on reducing the child’s social and cognitive deficits to the greatest possible degree through special education and socialization programs. In some cases, medication which aims to reduce symptoms may also be prescribed.
