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Understanding Autism

1.Autism（孤独症）is a life-long developmental disability that prevents individuals from properly understanding what they see,hear,and otherwise sense.This results in severe problems of social relationships,communication,and behavior.Individuals with autism have to painstakingly '（费力地） learn normal patterns of speech and communication,and appropriate ways to relate to people,objects,and events,in a similar manner to those who have had a stroke.

2.The cause of autism is still unknown.Some research suggests a physical problem affecting those parts of the brain that process language and information coming in from the senses.There may be some imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain.Genetic （遗传的） factors may sometimes be involved.Autism may indeed result from a combination of several “causes”。

3.Most people with mental retardation （智力迟钝的）show relatively even skill development.Individuals with autism,however,typically show uneven skill development,with deficits （~欠缺） in certain areas - most frequently in their ability to communicate and relate to others - and distinct skills in other areas.It is important to distinguish autism from mental retardation or other disorders,since diagnostic （诊断的） confusion may lead to inappropriate and ineffective treatment techniques.

4.In general,individuals with autism perform best at jobs which are structured and involve a degree of repetition.Some people who have autism are working as artists,piano tuners,painters,farm workers,office workers,computer operators,dishwashers,assembly line workers,or employees of sheltered workshops or other sheltered work settings.