Autism in children and adolescents
This page provides you with information about autism in children and adolescents.
Børne- og Ungdomspsykiatrisk Afdeling (The Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) is responsible for the help provided to children and adolescents with autism in Central Denmark Region.
What is autism?
Autism is a type of developmental disorder. It is seen in children, adolescents and adults. If you have autism, you sense and experience the world differently from most other people. For example, this means that you have greater difficulty understanding and participating in social contexts.
Autism is characterised by difficulties in three primary areas:
- mutual social interaction
- language
- particular behaviour and interests characterised by routines or repetitions and special areas of interest and/or movement patterns.
What causes autism?
Autism spectrum disorders are caused by an abnormal development in the brain. The reasons remain uncertain. They are probably associated with hereditary factors. These factors are of importance to whether an individual develops autism spectrum disorder, possibly in combination with effects during pregnancy and birth.
Examination for autism
Concomitant disorders
Treatment of autism
Advice for relatives
“We kept treating her like a normal child, but we shouldn’t have done so. She couldn’t understand what we wanted her to do. Only when we had the diagnosis made did we understand that she is a different child and needs to be treated differently.”
Direct Link: www.en.autism1.ps.rm.dk