Medical researchers previously defined autism as a condition that manifested itself at birth, while some researchers theorized it was the fault of parents, mothers especially, who did not give their infants enough love and attention, said Cathy Steckhan of Orland Park. According to current scientific research, the primary symptoms of autism are its early onset, usually between the ages of 18 and 24 months, with severe impairment of language, cognition and learning skills. These symptoms result in abnormal social behavior ranging from refusing to make eye contact to repeating certain actions. The character, a genius with numbers, cannot handle the daily tasks of living or relating and often resorts to repetitive or ritualized behaviors when faced with new situations. That's one type of autism, Steckhan said.
Secondary symptoms can include seizures, hyperactivity and self-injurious behavior.
Deafness and blindness are also common in autistic children. There is no medical treatment for autism, although there is help for specific symptoms. Drugs may be prescribed to control seizures, but early intervention programs for autism focus on behavior and stress speech, physical and occupational therapies. There are a lot of misconceptions, and parents have to fight for everything. At first, Bolte concentrated on educating herself about the syndrome and figuring out what therapies worked for her son.