Definition of the autism syndrome

It is a developmental impairment, which lasts all through the lifetime. This syndrome appears during the first 30 months of life and causes different levels of impairment concerning language and communication, social skills and imagination. These symptoms are often accompanied by abnormal behaviours, such as repetitive and stereotyped interests and activities, swinging movements, and unusual obsessions towards certain objects or events.

The intelligence level and the range of abilities of people with autism are rather variable, although most of them (75%) show an associated certain degree of mental retardation. Nevertheless, in some cases, they could be normal in certain aspects o be even above the average. On the other hand, some of these people could be aggressive or self-aggressive.

There are few people with autism with enough capacities to live with an important degree of independence, and most of them require a great aid during all their life.

The autistic spectrum disorders affect, approximately, 1 of each 1,000 children and it is much more usual in the masculine sex than in the feminine, in a ratio of 4 to 1.