Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication ability, patterns of interests, and patterns of behavior. Although the specific etiology of autism is unknown, genetic factors appear to be important. By definition, autism must manifest delays in "social interaction, language as used in social communication, or symbolic or imaginative play," with "onset prior to age 3 years." (DSM-IV) There have been large increases in the reported incidence of autism, for reasons that are heavily debated in the scientific community. There are cases of autistic children who have improved their social and other skills to the point where they can fully participate in mainstream education and social events, but there are lingering concerns that an absolute cure from autism is impossible with current technology since it involves aspects of neurological brain structure determined very early in development. However, some autistic children and adults who are able to communicate at a functional level are opposed to attempts to cure their condition.
Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
79: Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae with volcanic ash.
410: The Visigoths under Alaric I sacked Rome.
1572: St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre: a massacre of Huguenots began. An estimated 70,000 people were killed in France in the following weeks.
1821: The Treaty of Córdoba was signed, ratifiying the Plan de Iguala and concluding the Mexican War of Independence from Spain.
1992: Hurricane Andrew, the costliest natural disaster to ever strike the United States, made landfall in South Florida as a Category Five storm.
_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:
I could not be a traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject. -- William Wallace (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_Wallace)
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