Autism

Autism is a developmental disorder that some people are born with. Autism affects the brain and makes communicating and interacting with other people difficult. People who have autism display a variety of behaviors including delayed language development, prefering to spend time alone, and show less interest in making friends. Another characteristic of autism is what some people describe as sensory overload. For example, sounds seem louder, lights brighter, or smells stronger. Although many people with autism also have mental retardation, some are of average or high intelligence. Learn more about the condition of autism with information on causes, symptoms, history, and treatments.