LIKE ANY TEENAGER, Louis Wong enjoys sports such as badminton, swimming and cycling. There is ample space for him to move around in Perth, Western Australia, where his family moved from Hong Kong in 1992. The problem is the 17-year-old cannot communicate verbally.
He was diagnosed with autism shortly after his arrival but his parents nevertheless are overjoyed to see him playing sports and his remarkable progress. Teachers at the special needs school he attended in Perth had told them that he was incapable of learning how to read and write.
In 1995, his frustrated but determined mother decided to cease relying on school alone. She used pictures from sources such as newspapers to illustrate to Louis the meanings of various words. She taught him the alphabet by holding his hand tightly and writing each letter with him, time and time again. Experts say autistic children learn best through visual media and repetition.
Louis learned how to count from one to five in 10 months. It took the Wongs three years to help him acquire the basic skill of washing himself.
Scientists are still researching the causes of autism, widely regarded as a form of brain disorder. According to a recent Time magazine report, psychiatrists now suspect as many as 20 genes are factors in the problem.
The increasing incidence of children succumbing to autism spectrum disorder worldwide has prompted heated debate about other suspected man-made triggers, most notably the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine for children. The chairman of the autistic children's charity Rainbow Project, Alan Mercer, said research into the possible link was needed urgently.
