What is Autism?
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that is estimated to occur in approximately 1 in 150 children. Often diagnosed in early childhood, autism is a neurological disorder that includes various behavioral excesses and deficiencies, such as:
- Impaired social interactions (e.g., lack of eye contact, social withdrawal)
- Limited communication skills (e.g., language delays)
- Stereotypic behavior(s) (e.g., repetitive motor movements)
- Problem behavior(s) (e.g., tantrums, aggression and self-injury)
- Narrow interests (e.g., talking about or interacting with a limited number of topics or activities)
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), neurological disorders for which there is no medical detection, treatment or cure, are the fastest growing serious developmental disabilities with a 10 to 17 percent annual growth rate.
Is there a cure for autism?
Although there is no known cure for autism, research indicates the best treatment is intensive early intervention such as applied behavior analysis.