Dr Sharat Chandra Pani
Autism is a severe developmental disorder that affects the way a child sees and interacts with the rest of the world. It limits their ability to interact with others socially, in fact many autism suffers avoid human contact. Autism is part of a larger group of disorders called pervasive developmental disorders (PDD).
In 1911 a Swiss psychiatrist Eugene Bleuler, coined the term Autism to describe pepole who had a difficulty in communication, he however was referring to adult schizophrenia. The term as we know it today is attributed to Leo Kanner, an American Psychiatrist, who in 1943 coined the term while studying children at Johns Hopkins University. He based his discovery on findings from 11 children he observed between 1938 and 1943. What he studied were children who had withdrawal from human contact as early as age one.Until the 1960’s Autism was thought to be a form of schizophrenia, a misdiagnosis that led many parents to blame themselves for the problem. It has only been in the last few decades that the medical fraternity has truly begun to understand Autism; so it is not surprising that a great deal of confusion exists, even among the medical fraternity about the diagnosis, treatment and dental management of children with autism.
In this series of Posts DCSN looks at Autism, it's causes, probable management strategies and useful tips for the parent who is anxious about taking the child to the dentist for the first time; and also the dentist who is probably equally anxious about treating a child with autism.
Posts for parents
Posts for Dentists
Is a child with Autism always mentally retarded? 
Preparing your Child for a vist to the Dentist
Preparing yourself to treat an autistic child
Posts
