1. What are the features of Autism?

Autism is a developmental disorder of early childhood, which may be characterized by a combination of the following features:

• Absence of social smile

• Lack of eye contact

• A preference to be left alone

• Insistence on sameness/ routine

• Self stimulating behaviors

• Absent or inconsistent response to speech

2. My child, who is diagnosed with Autism, does not speak at all. Recently I met another child, also diagnosed with Autism, who speaks a number of words. Can my child also be taught to speak?

Some children with autism are completely nonverbal, where as some others may use some words. Even in children with verbal skills, the words may not be truly communicative in intent. These children may just repeat words / phrases or even sentences that they have heard. A Speech Language Pathologist is one of the team members involved in the management of children with autism. While for some children with autism, functional speech is an attainable goal, for some others, alternative methods of communication may have to be taught.