How is Autism different from Mental Retardation?
When a person has M.R. there is a more or less even impairment in skills in all areas of development. Therefore, if an M.R. child of 8 years has a mental age of 5 then all his skills would be roughly around 5 years (i.e. motor, communication, social, self-help, cognition etc.). In Autism, there is an uneven skill development- in fact this is the hallmark of autism. In some areas the child may show age-appropriate skills; in some the skills may be below the developmental level; and then again there are people with Autism who possess exceptional skills i.e. beyond their age level.

Can the child ever live an independent life?
Autism is a spectrum disorder. Currently there is no reliable objective measure of how severe the Autism is in an individual child. Children with Autism have potential for building up their skills and they can be helped if they receive early, well-focused intervention. Depending on the child's individual skill profile and the appropriateness and intensity of intervention he or she receives, children with Autism can lead relatively independent lives.

What are the chances of her going to a regular school?
There are a number of Children with autism who have integrated into regular schools. The chances depend on several factors. The most important is "What is the skill profile, how early diagnosis was received, and thereafter the kind of early intervention provided?" Most children with Autism have different learning styles from regular children and therefore teaching styles also need to be different. In some schools this is not understood and therefore children with Autism face difficulties; after Grades 4 or Grade 5 many have to drop out.

When and will my child ever speak?
A large member of Children with autism (about 30-50%) do not use speech. It is very difficult to say when and whether the child will ever speak. It is confirmed that there is no difficulty in their physical abilities that stops them from speaking. Some children who might have spoken as infants and then lost their speech may or may not get their speech back. Currently, it is unknown why some children develop speech and others do not. Experience with children with autism has shown that if the environment is accepting, and people are aware of the kind of speech they themselves need to use with the child, it can produce positive results.

Can Speech Therapy help?
Speech Therapy can help some children. It is absolutely essential for the speech therapist to understand Autism and also the individual child. Otherwise, the conventional methods of speech therapy help children with Autism very little, because as stated above, the inability to speak is not a physical problem. However, every child with autism can benefit from interventions that emphasize communication.

Why is he hyperactive?
Hyperactivity can have a medical reason. However, most children with Autism are restless because of an impairment of their imaginative and social skills. They cannot play with their toys and other children meaningfully and find it very difficult to occupy themselves. Often they eat a lot to keep themselves occupied. Hyperactivity can be reduced as the children are taught new skills and ways to keep themselves occupied.

What are chances of Autism in the next child born to us? Can we have a normal child?
About 10% of the cases of Autism can be accounted for genetically. If there is one child with Autism in the family, risks of having another child with autism is much higher than in the general population. So far, there is no reliable test to detect Autism in the foetus.

Why does he keep playing with his fingers/ rocking himself back and forth/ spinning around etc?
Children with Autism respond to sensations abnormally. They often have a condition known as sensory dysfunction this means either over or under stimulation in any one or more of the sensory modalities (hearing, sight, taste, touch, smell, balance). One theory is that these unusual mannerisms like flapping and rocking etc. are natural responses or methods of coping with sensory difficulties. These behaviours may help them to relax.

Can they get married and have regular children?
The essence of marriage is companionship. It is a union between two consenting adults and it involves adjustment and carrying on day to day responsibilities of life. It also involves an ability to the plan the future etc. Before deciding to marry an autistic person, the following things need to be considered:

• The level of functioning of the person.

• That the partner understands the needs of, and that he or she knows everything about, the autistic spouse (if one of them is not autistic).

• Financial status (employment, family support etc.)
  However, since marriage is an issue of social commitment and companionship, by the very nature of the condition many able people with autism and their families choose not to marry.

Are people with Autism also mentally retarded?
It is very difficult for people with autism to take an IQ test because they may have certain skills but are not able to use them or exhibit them in a test. About 50% of people with autism are also mentally retarded, just the way that people with cerebral palsy or down's syndrome can have mental retardation. Autism can occur in association with other difficulties like Cerebral Palsy, Dyslexia, Downs Syndrome, Visual Impairment, and Seizure Disorder.

If a child has autism and mental retardation or any other condition which needs more attention, autism or mental retardation (or any other condition)?
If a person with autism also has Mental Retardation (or any other condition), his training will need to primarily address his Autism. This is because autism is a condition that affects all aspects of a persons behavior and development. Our goal is to help the person become integrated into society and so it is important to focus on the development of social, communicative and adaptive skills. However, for a child with Cerebral Palsy for instance in addition to the above occupational therapy may also have to be provided. Similarly, for a child who also has Seizure Disorder or any other medical condition, appropriate treatment will be required.