In some of the cases, autism appear related to blind seretonism, chemicals that play an important role in the transmission of nerve impulse. Other studies suggest that there is a genetic factor. That somewhere along the family lines may have been an autistic. Another possibility is the damage to the foetus in the uterus or at birth, for example, the bleeding of uterine during difficult labour. Studies have shown that specific physical illnesses such as encephalitis, a very high fever, or even a non-specific infection, have been shown to produce cases of autism.
Many autistic children improve and a few recover, some even become gifted adults.
Psychotherapy has not been found to be a valuable treatment, but some children have been helped by a structured, directive educational approach in which the child's appropriate responses are rewarded. According to Achiya, about 10 percent of the autistic children have special skills at much higher level than the rest of their abilities. Some are talented in music, art, numerical calculations or jigsaw puzzles. Some have the abilities to remember dates and things that interest them. This is misnomer.