The disease is recognized in early childhood as a growing unresponsiveness to the outside world. We are still far from knowing what causes autism. The Autism Society of America believes that autism is related to biological or neurological variations in the brain and that the disease is the result of a brain malfunction. No gene has been linked to autism, although the disease implies that it could have a genetic origin. There are other developmental disorders that are similar to autism.
Autism affects the way a person relates to the outside world.
Many autistic people have a kind of tunnel vision or a tendency to focus so intently on one specific thing. They are unresponsive to what goes around them, regardless of how noticeable it is to most people. Although they know who others are, it is difficult for autistics to relate to anybody around them, respond normally to outside stimuli, or focus on any one thing while being surrounded by various stimuli. They generally avoid social or physical contact with others. They are uncomfortable making eye contact.