Abstract
Autism manifests itself before the age of three years. It is one of the five existing pervasive developmental disorders, which are regarded as neuro-developmental disorders. They are diagnosed on a group of three behavioral impairments or dysfunctions: impaired social interaction, impaired communication and restricted and repetitive interest and activities. These three basic characteristics reflect Dr. Leo Kanner's first reports of autism emphasizing autistic loneliness and insistence on sameness. On the surface, individuals who have autism are physically indistinguishable from those without. Sometimes autism occurs with other disorders, and in those cases outward differences may be apparent. Certain stimulation, such as sounds, lights, and touch, will often affect someone with autism differently than someone without and the degree to which the sensory system is affected can vary greatly from one individual to another.
