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Autism

Five year-old Stian Jeppesen has Autism, a developmental disorder of the central nervous system. Unable to speak and alternating between disruptive behaviour and being withdrawn, Stian’s autism has had a massive impact on his family.

This film follows his parents Steve and Parool as they go in search of information that will help them understand their son’s condition.

What is Autism?
Although the autistic spectrum covers a wide range of disorders and disability, individuals with Autism have difficulties in three main areas: social interaction,  communication and imaginative play. They also exhibit repetitive behaviour and a resistance to change. 

What Can Science Do for Steve and Parool?
Steve and Parool's first stop is the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics where they meet Professor Anthony Monaco and see what role genes play in causing autism.

Then Stian gets to try out a brand new brain scanner at Oxford University that can build up a picture of how the brains of Autistic people work.

At Cambridge University, the Jeppesen family find out about a blue-sky research project that hopes to treat the social difficulties of Autistic people by giving them a naturally occurring hormone Oxytocin. The hormone enables people to be more trusting towards others.

Steve and Parool with Prof Simon Baron-Cohen