27. Autism is a rare disorder that occurs in about 4 in 10,000 children. In a child with autism, thinking, language, and behavior are all affected. The disorder is about two to four times more common in males than females. In general, autistic children have the following characteristics:

* language disorder: language is bnoth delayed and deviant

* strange behavior like ritualistic hand movements or repetitive behaviors

* social isolation: they don't enjoy being held or cuddled, and may neither respond nor appreciate feelings of others

Some of the children have isolated skills e.g. they may be able to assemble complex puzzles, multiply as quickly as pocket calculators, and read the newspaper with expression but not understanding.