Although some parents today will describe their children as such, many describe a very different set of symptoms which, while still including impaired language and social skills and lack of eye contact, also include severe sensory dysregulation, eating disorders, sleep disorders, and in many cases, chronic gastrointestinal symptoms.
Autism is a broad-spectrum disorder.
Most researchers, clinicians, and parents believe that it is probably more than one disease. The symptoms can range from severe to mild. While the minority may be able to live independantly, most will require lifetime care. One of the hallmarks of autism is the impairment of communication skills. It is estimated that half or more of those afflicted with autism will never speak.