Autism: false and false hope Autism is a childhood illness in which the child finds himself in his own private world. A description of an autistic child by his mother is as follows: We begin with a picture --- a little golden child on hands and knees, spinning in circles around a spot on the floor in mysterious, self-centered pleasure . She doesn't look up, although she smiles and laughs; she does not draw our attention to the mysterious object of her pleasure. She doesn't see us at all. She and the spot are all there is, and although she is eighteen months old, an age for touching, tasting, pointing, prodding, exploring, she does none of that. (Groden 2) This is the most important trait in an autistic child: he does not interact or socialize with others. Other characteristics in autistic children are language delay and ritualistic or compulsive behaviors. It was once thought that children became autistic because of “poor parenting” and that the only solution was for the parents to be removed from the child (Baron-Cohen26). We now know that autism is caused by biological factors due to: neurological symptoms, mental disability, genetic causes, infections and even pregnancy difficulties. Although autism is considered a disease or disorder, autistic children may demonstrate special skills. These skills are called “isolated islands of intelligence” (Baron-Cohen 53). Some examples of this can be found in an autistic child's ability to draw, play music or remember a certain date. Nadia, an autistic child, has the ability to draw “in an almost photographic way” (Baron-Cohen 54). Children with autism can also play instruments, sing songs accurately, recognize structures in music, and more. One problem that arises when autistic children undergo therapy is that they begin to lose their remarkable abilities. For parents, discovering that their child has autism can be very shocking. They go from a lively, spirited baby to a completely unfamiliar child. Many therapies have been designed to help children with autism. Some of these therapies are: behavioral therapy, speech therapy, maintenance therapy, music therapy and the most recent, facilitation therapy. Since most autistic children are different and...... middle of paper ......bsp; Another treatment for autism is an effective medication called clomipramine. It was reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry that it “reduced a range of symptoms in three-quarters of the autistic children tested” (Goleman C11). The improvements in the children were that they were able to make eye contact and initiate interactions. Compulsive behaviors were also reduced. In facilitation therapy, many compulsive behaviors are still observed, and when the child is given medication, there is no doubt that it is the autistic child who is communicating. For some children with autism, facilitation therapy may be the key to reaching out. . For the majority of autistic people, intensive therapy is necessary to bridge the gap between the real world and the world they live in. It takes more than a hand supporting a wrist or an arm to communicate. Facilitation therapy proves too controversial to really know if these are the autistic person's own thoughts. Yes, there is a person hidden inside this mute creature. Hopefully, with the love and support of family and other outside contacts, this unique individual will emerge..