Autism
Autism typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, autism and its associated behaviors occurs in approximately 15 of 10,000 individuals. Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls and knows no racial, ethnic or social boundaries. Socio-economic lifestyle and educational levels do not affect the possibility of its occurrence. Autism interferes with the normal development of the brain in areas of reasoning, social interaction and communication skills. Children and adults with autism typically have deficiencies in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions and leisure or play activities. The prevalence of autism now rates as the third most common developmental disability – more common than Down syndrome. Although the cause of autism is not known, current research links autism to biological or neurological differences in the brain.

Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is a genetic condition caused by extra genetic material from the 21st chromosome. Varying degrees of intellectual disability are associated with Down syndrome. They can range from mild to severe. Down syndrome takes its name from the British doctor, John Langdon Down, who first clinically identified the condition in 1866. There is an increased risk of having a child with Down syndrome if the mother’s age is over 35. It is not known what causes the extra 21st chromosome, but the association with the mother’s age is well documented. There are a number of tests now used for diagnostic purposes and screening. Some physical traits that are common but not always present are folds over the eyes, flattened bridge of the nose, and decreased muscle tone.