What is Autism?
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities.

Autism is one of five disorders that falls under the umbrella of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), a category of neurological disorders characterized by “severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development.”

Prevalence
Autism is the most common of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders, affecting an estimated 1 in 150 births (Centers for Disease Control Prevention, 2007). Roughly translated, this means as many as 1.5 million Americans today are believed to have some form of autism. And this number is on the rise.

Based on statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and other governmental agencies, autism is growing at a startling rate of 10-17 percent per year. At this rate, the ASA estimates that the prevalence of autism could reach 4 million Americans in the next decade.

Autism knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries; family income levels; lifestyle choices; or educational levels, and can affect any family and any child.

And although the overall incidence of autism is consistent around the globe, it is four times more prevalent in boys than in girls.

Learn Signs
The characteristic behaviors of autism spectrum disorders may or may not be apparent in infancy (18 to 24 months), but usually become obvious during early childhood (24 months to 6 years).

As part of a well-baby/well-child visit, your child's doctor should do a "developmental screening," asking specific questions about your baby's progress. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) lists five behaviors that signal further evaluation is warranted:

Does not babble or coo by 12 months
Does not gesture (point, wave, grasp) by 12 months
Does not say single words by 16 months
Does not say two-word phrases on his or her own by 24 months
Has any loss of any language or social skill at any age
Having any of these five "red flags" does not mean your child has autism. But because the characteristics of the disorder vary so much, a child showing these behaviors should have further evaluations by a multidisciplinary team. This team may include a neurologist, psychologist, developmental pediatrician, speech/language therapist, learning consultant, or other professionals knowledgeable about autism.

Defining Symptomatology
Occasionally with autism there are certain symptoms that become defining of the individual as he/she ages. It is critical not to confuse the evolving, defining symptom as primary in nature, but rather secondary to the syndrome of autism itself. Those symptomatologies are obsessive /compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, epilepsy, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Following is a list of related syndromes/disorders that manifest behaviors similar to those of autism and/or are more prevalent in individuals with autism:

Cornelia deLange Sydrome: Cornelia deLange Syndrome Foundation

Tourette’s Syndrome: Tourette’s Syndrome Association

Fragile X Syndrome: The National Fragile X Foundation

Williams Syndrome: The Williams Syndrome Association

Down Syndrome: National Down Syndrome Society

Tuberous Sclerosis: Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance

Landau-Kleffner Syndrome: National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders

Congenital Rubella Syndrome: Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults

Untreated Phenylketonuria (PKU): Children’s PKU Network

Kluver-Bucy Syndrome: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Prader-Willi Syndrome: Prader-Willi Syndrome Association

Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome: Lesch-Nyhan Disease Registry

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