Autism is a disorder of the brain in which social behavior,
communication skills and thinking ability fail to develop normally.
It affects the way sensory input is processed, causing people with
autism to over-react to some sensations (sights, sounds, smells etc.)
and under-react to others. The impairments of autism produce an
assortment of unusual behavioural traits. Symptoms, which usually
appear before the age of three, can vary greatly from person
to person.
Instead of interacting with people, most with autism prefer to be
alone. They may dislike being cuddled, avoid eye contact and use
people as they would tools, showing little awareness of other's
feelings. They appear to live in a world of their own, oblivious to
the people and events around them. The term autism, from the
Greek word autos, meaning self, refers to the self absorbing quality.
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