The second component is a delay in language development. This can be measured by a speech and language pathologist, but it's usually obvious to parents by the time the child is 18 months old. Commonly, an autistic child will start off with normal development, progressing to a couple of word phrases, but then loses those language milestones.
The third cluster of symptoms that make up autistic disorder is behavioral rigidity. This can include obsessive interest, or a preoccupation with something very specific or odd. They are often interested in just the parts of things. For example, while most children might be very interested in dinosaurs, a child with autistic disorder might be extremely interested in only the tail or mouth.
What causes autism?
The causes of autistic disorder seem to relate to problems in brain development that occur in either the first or second trimester. In most children, if the history is examined closely enough, there are signs that the disorder is present from birth.
Is autism the result of childhood immunizations?
The loss of language skills in autistic children usually occurs when they receive their first set of immunizations. This has given rise to the theory that it is a reaction to the immunizations, or a reaction to contaminants in immunizations.
This has been hotly debated, and it continues to be a debate, but the vast majority of experts in the field do not believe that this has anything to do with the cause of autistic disorder.
