'Autistic Spectrum Disorder' refers to the whole range of 'autistic style' symptoms with their varying degrees and differing ranges of symptoms and is used to describe those mildly affected to the most profound disability. Autism, Asperger Syndrome, etc. are subgroups of an Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

    Imagining Autistic Spectrum Disorders
    Who suffers from Autistic Spectrum Disorder?
    Main Characteristics
    Sensory Difficulties
    Physical neurological - biochemical differences
    Allergies and sensitivities
    Savant (exceptional) Skills
    Causes
    Treatments

Imagining Autistic Spectrum Disorders
The Autistic person's environment has a whole set of different parameters and different rules. Autistic's have a different way of thinking. For a non-Autistic person to imagine an Autistic environment they must imagine an environment that they have never experienced. The world is an inconstant chaotic place from an Autistic's perspective. However, I believe that many people can relate to an Autistic environment because most people seem to have a little bit of these problems (to a much lesser degree) within themselves. Naturally, I would advise that you read my book!!!!

Who suffers from Autistic Spectrum Disorder?
Autistic Spectrum Disorder is found in all races and in all social classes.
Many statistics indicate that autism occurs in 0.045% (4.5 people out of every 10 000) of live births. However there are those who believe that if you include all people who suffer from 'Autistic Spectrum Disorder', the true figure could be as high as 1% of the population (1 person in every 100 people).
It occurs about 3.5 times more often in males than females. This proportion is also found in other developmental disorders such as Dyslexia.

Main Characteristics
Autistic Spectrum Disorders have a range of 3 central symptoms, which classify someone as suffering from what is more generally referred to as Autism. The 3 symptoms are basically impairments in imagination, social communication and social interaction, plus a strong tendency towards repetitive behaviour, although you may observe unusual behaviour.

1. Impairment in social relationships/skills/interaction:

   	lack of understanding others feelings & emotions
   	very poor at interpreting other peoples facial expressions and body language
   	The sufferer may appear aloof, stilted, rude, aggressive, forthright, shy, thoughtless, immature &/or act inappropriately in social interaction situations and consequently fail to form 'real' lasting friendships.

2. Impaired Imagination: is an inability to imagine things, which have not already been experienced, for example:-

   	New or different situations can be unimaginable. For instance, if someone I normally spend time with goes on holiday, to me it is as if they have entered a empty void - it is as if the person is dead (Is this why Autistic people prefer routines and repetitive behaviour?)
   	Changes in routine are frightening/disorientating without the ability to imagine an alternative order of events. Perhaps this explains some or all repetitive behaviour?
   	Do not realise other peoples mental states are different from their own. An autistic person may not appreciate that other people have their own thoughts, perspectives, plans etc.

3. Communication problems difficulty with expressing/projecting themselves and difficulty understanding others on all levels of communication which for example may manifest itself as:-

   	A literal understanding of language. 'Pictorial language' can be nonsensical. For example, its raining cats and dogs, we're going down the road to the shops etc.(cats and dogs do not fall out of the sky and the shops are not underneath the road!)
   	"Don't do that". An autistic person may not know what 'that' is referring to.
   	Autistic people have the same emotions as everybody else - but may not express them in a way that is easily understood, partly because they may fail to realise that language is one way of doing this.
   	They may talk to somebody without taking any notice of that person.

Sensory Difficulties
Most, if not all people suffering from Autistic Spectrum disorder have some impairment in at least one of their senses. Anyone reading my book will find out just how debilitating impairments can be some senses can be. Some senses can be hypersensitive (too sensitive) and others maybe hyposensitive (under sensitive) which make it very hard to withstand normal stimulation and therefore normal situations. For instance I find the noise of traffic very irritating because it is too loud and my program Sight2000 simulates the disruption to my vision. Any sense can be affected; vision, auditory, olfactory (smell), taste, tactile, vestibular (affects balance) and proprioception (relating to the position and movement of the body). Consequently many of us struggle with making sense of this incoming muddle of sensory information.

Physical neurological - biochemical differences
Physical differences can be split into two distinct categories, firstly abnormality in the biochemistry and in the neural structure of the brain. The exact ways in which these differences affect the behaviour of an individual is very hard to determine because this area of science is still very much in its infancy. However it seems that some areas of the brain are highly developed (more than in a non-autistic person) and other areas are underdeveloped - even physically smaller. The brain also appears to be 'connected up' differently.

Allergies and Sensitivities
There are many anecdotal references to dramatic changes in a child's behaviour and health after removing certain foods from their diets. I would also suggest that certain household chemicals found in such things as paints, glues, nail vanish, hair spray, washing powder can also set off strange reactions in an susceptible person and I definitely come into this category. Coming into contact with these sorts of chemicals can make me suddenly feel as if I have had toxins pumped into by blood stream.

Savant Skills
There is a proportion, some figures suggest 10%, of sufferers of Autistic Spectrum Disorders having exceptional skills in some area such as arithmetic, music, art, puzzles, spacial construction and memory. For example, in my case, I have a huge capacity to remember, I can manipulate complex mathematical equations effortlessly in my head, look a objects from all angles in my minds eye. 

Interestingly there has been some recent research which suggests that 'normal' people may also have the potential for such skills but are not able to use them because 'normal' people are unable to access their subconscious so easily.

Causes
Little is known for certain about the exact causes of Autistic Spectrum Disorders and much research is needed but, in many cases there often seems to be genetical factors. There is also some suggestion (but little hard scientific evidence) that in some cases it could be caused by certain vaccinations or even viruses (somehow effecting the unborn child) during labour or viral infections in the young baby. Also there is speculation (but again no hard scientific evidence) that toxins and pollution could in some cases be to blame.

Autistic Spectrum Disorders are not the result of emotional deprivation or bad upbringing. Although the unusual behaviour does lead some people to think that it is psychological, it should always be remembered that the behaviour of an autistic person is relative to their perceived environment just as the behaviour of a 'normal' person is relative to their perceived environment.

Treatments
Unfortunately there is no treatment/therapy or drug which can scientifically be proven to help all people suffering from Autistic Spectrum Disorders. I think this must be one of the most disheartening truths of Autistic Spectrum Disorders. It is my personal belief that different conventional and non-conventional treatments/therapies do help many sufferers but the difficulty is finding the one(s) which is best for you and/or your child. However it is not my place to make any suggestions or point towards any one specific treatment. As a sufferer of Asperger's Syndrome who has never been given any help I have a rather distant perspective but for what it is worth if I were a parent of a child suffering from an Autistic Spectrum Disorder I would be inclined to try several different treatments each of which concentrated on a different aspect of my child's condition. For instance, I might use a therapy to improve social understanding, try changing/regulating my child's diet and perhaps some sensory integration techniques.