Autistic spectrum as developmental disorder and its impact on parenthood

Autism is a severe developmental lifelong condition and it has the incidence in his most classical form 2-5 in 10.000 births, more boys than girls. Modern medicine and science all together are still straggling to explain the cause of autism and the proper way of its treatment. In this work, I will start with history of autism because it is essential to know the main background. At this moment we have a lot of scientific work that can help to put together some main characteristics of autism into as much as possible clear picture. It is important to show the neurological side of autistic continuum and to explain it through developmental stages. By compering children with typical development and atypical development we can show how autism can be hard to cope with. It is not hard only for children, it is hard for their parents and siblings as well. It is necessary also to explain what kind of help and prevention children and their families can obtain. Being parent is not easy, challenges are at every corner and struggle with mental health is heavy burden. DSM-V can provide important explanations in part considering diagnostic criteria. Role of genetic component is equally important to be explained, alongside with behavioral, social, emotional, mental changes. Every child with autism is completely different from any other child who has the same diagnosis. Keywords: Autism, Asperger syndrome, behavior, mental changes, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), Genetic, Neurology.