Autism is a brain development disorder that is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a child is three years old. This set of signs distinguishes autism from milder autism spectrum disorders (ASD) such as pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).
Autism falls under the category of Pervasive Developmental Disorders, which includes disorders like Rett Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and then autism is then divided up in many different subtypes including Asperger's Syndrome. Autism effects the fields of social skills, communication and stereotypical behaviors, which most people associated with things like rocking, flapping, lining things up, etc.
The prevalence of ASD is about 6 per 1,000 people, with about four times as many boys as girls.
Autism affects many parts of the brain; how this occurs is not understood. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child's life. Early behavioral or cognitive intervention can help children gain self-care, social, and communication skills. There is no known cure.
Autism and ADHA could present with each other or with a variety of other conditions - but they do not "typically" present together. Some autism symptoms could appear like inattention. You should not easily confuse someone with ADHD with someone with autism as their functioning and behavior are different.
* Stereotypy is apparently purposeless movement, such as hand flapping, making sounds, head rolling, or body rocking.
* Compulsive behavior is intended and appears to follow rules, such as arranging objects in a certain way.
* Sameness is resistance to change; for example, insisting that the furniture not be moved or refusing to be interrupted.
* Ritualistic behavior involves the performance of daily activities the same way each time, such as an unvarying menu or dressing ritual. This is closely associated with sameness and an independent validation has suggested combining the two factors.
* Restricted behavior is limited in focus, interest, or activity, such as preoccupation with a single television program or toy.
* Self-injury includes movements that injure or can injure the person, such as biting oneself. A 2007 study reported that self-injury at some point affected about 30% of children with ASD.
No single repetitive behavior seems to be specific to autism, but only autism appears to have an elevated pattern of occurrence and severity of these behaviors.
| Pub. Date | Topic | Author |
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| 2012-01-21 | Autism Redefined - Harder to get Autism Diagnosis in 2013 as Revised Definition Goes into Effect | Yale University |
| 2012-01-20 | The Mystery of Autism - Another Clue | Northwestern University |
| 2012-01-10 | Doctor Lewis Mehl-Madrona and Autism Treatments | Wendy Taormina-Weiss |
| 2012-01-04 | Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Early Intervention Services | Wendy Taormina-Weiss |
| 2011-12-16 | EPA Mercury Rules Mean Possible Less Childhood Autism | SafeMinds |
| 2011-10-17 | Infants with Low Birthweight 5 Times More Likely to Have Autism | University of Pennsylvania |
| 2011-08-15 | Risk of Autism Among Younger Siblings of a Child with Autism | Autism Speaks |
| 2011-07-25 | Autism Related Medical Diagnostic Code for Wandering - V40.31 | National Autism Association |
| 2011-07-14 | Biomarker for Autism Found | University of Cambridge |
| 2011-06-20 | Autism More Common in IT-rich Region | University of Cambridge |
| 2011-06-09 | Online Test for Autism and Mental Health Issues | Dr. Bonny Forrest |
| 2011-06-08 | Unraveling the Genetics of Autism Spectrum Disorders | Cell Press |
| 2011-05-31 | Discounted Summer Program for Children with Autism | Rethink Autism, Inc. |
| 2011-05-31 | New Research Could Lead to Improved Autism Diagnosis | Radiological Society of North America |
| 2011-05-25 | Autism Changes Molecular Structure of the Brain | University of California - Los Angeles |
| 2011-05-25 | Effective Seizure Treatments for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder | Autism Research Institute |
| 2011-05-19 | Validating Preschool Programs for Children with Autism | University of Miami |
| 2011-05-07 | Governor Signs Autism Insurance Reform Into Law | Virginia Autism Project |
| 2011-05-04 | Majority of Adults With Autism Go Undiagnosed | University of Leicester |
| 2011-04-20 | Half of All Children with Autism Wander | Kennedy Krieger Institute |
| 2011-04-19 | Son Regressed Into Autism After Vaccines | SafeMinds |
| 2011-04-13 | Why Brain Development Diverges in Autism Spectrum Disorders | Children's Hospital Boston |
| 2011-04-11 | Socioeconomics Reduced Role in Autism Diagnosis | American Sociological Association |
| 2011-04-04 | Autistic's Exceptional Visual Abilities | University of Montreal |
| 2011-04-02 | Need for Better Autism Treatments, Research and Services | National Autism Association |
| 2011-03-31 | Video Series Answers Questions About Autism for Parents | Rethink Autism, Inc. |
| 2011-03-22 | Interest in Toys Predicts Autism Treatment Effectiveness | University of Washington |
| 2011-03-17 | New Diagnostic Code for Children with Autism would Help Combat Deaths | National Autism Association |
| 2011-02-22 | Using EEGs to Diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorders | Children's Hospital Boston |
| 2011-02-08 | Supporting Children and Adults with Autism in Chicago | Little City Foundation |
| 2011-01-29 | Possible Treatments Available for Autism | Autism Expert |
| 2011-01-29 | Don't Let a Label Define Your Autistic Child - Disability and Autism | Autism Expert |
| 2011-01-27 | Effective School-Based Autism Program | Rethink Autism, Inc. |
| 2011-01-19 | Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network Expands to 17 Sites in North America | Autism Speaks |
| 2011-01-18 | Autism Speaks Collaborates On Prevalence Investigation Of Autism In The Somali Population In Minneapolis | Autism Speaks |
| 2011-01-10 | Autism Resource Database Lists Service Providers Across 58 Countries | Autism Support Network |
| 2010-12-14 | Helping Parents of Children with Autism Navigate Holiday Season | Rethink Autism, Inc. |
| 2010-12-08 | Toddlers with Autism Show Improved Social Skills Following Targeted Intervention | NIH/National Institute of Mental Health |
| 2010-12-04 | High Functioning Autism - What is HFA | Albert Morrison |
| 2010-12-02 | Major Step Toward Biological Test for Autism | McLean Hospital |
| 2010-11-29 | Playing with Building Blocks of Creativity Help Children with Autism | University of Rochester Medical Center |
| 2010-11-17 | Genetic Link between Autism and Schizophrenia Confirmed | Alice Wolfe |
| 2010-11-11 | Window of Opportunity for Successful Autism Therapy | Cell Press |
| 2010-11-01 | Collaboration Among Autism Professionals and Families | Relate to Autism |
| 2010-10-22 | Rapid Rise in Medicaid Expenditures for Autism Spectrum Disorder Treatment | Elsevier |
| 2010-10-11 | Autism Support Network Supporting Global Audience | Autism Support Network |
| 2010-10-06 | Life Threatening Breathing Disorder of Rett Syndrome Prevented | Rett Syndrome |
| 2010-10-02 | Language Delays in Siblings of Children with Autism | Washington University School of Medicine |
| 2010-09-16 | Link to Autism in Boys Found in Missing DNA | Centre for Addiction and Mental Health |
| 2010-09-09 | AERI Merges With AHEADD To Support Autism | AHEADD |
| 2010-09-06 | Visual Pattern Preferences May be Sign of Autism in Children | University of California - San Diego |
| 2010-09-01 | Infant's Gaze May be Subtle Marker for Autism Risk | Kennedy Krieger Institute |
| 2010-08-17 | Gene Disturbances Role in Autism | University of Gothenburg |
| 2010-08-08 | Autism: Lack of evidence for Antidepressants | Wiley-Blackwell |
| 2010-08-03 | Autism's Toll Beyond Childhood on Marriages Study | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| 2010-08-02 | Relatives of Individuals with Autism Tend to Display Abnormal Eye Movements | JAMA and Archives Journals |
| 2010-07-26 | Teaching Language and Social Skills to Children with Autism | Rethink Autism, Inc. |
| 2010-07-19 | Autism has Unique Vocal Signature | University of Kansas |
| 2010-07-19 | New Scientific Evidence Links Autism to Vaccines and Mercury | SafeMinds |
| 2010-07-16 | TV Implicated in Autism Rise in US | Dr. Beth Paxton |
| 2010-07-08 | Preventing Autism Wandering Related Deaths | Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response Education |
| 2010-06-11 | Researchers Closer to Untying Autism's Genetic Knot | Yale University |
| 2010-06-07 | Public Schools Challenged to Serve More Students with Autism Despite Budget Cuts | Rethink Autism, Inc. |
| 2010-06-06 | Childhood Vaccinations Vs. Autism | Denise Daniels |
| 2010-06-04 | Urine Test for Autism | Imperial College London |
| 2010-06-01 | Parents Play Key Role in Autism Treatment | Chicago Children's Clinic |
| 2010-05-19 | Study Shows 80% Autism Divorce Rates Not True | Kennedy Krieger Institute |
| 2010-04-20 | TV Documentary on Autism Crisis in America | MassMutual |
| 2010-04-20 | Implications of Autism Onset Patterns | Kennedy Krieger Institute |
| 2010-04-08 | Social Influence Role in Autism Diagnoses | University of Chicago Press Journals |
| 2010-04-08 | Oxytocin Improves Autism Emotion Recognition | Elsevier |
| 2010-04-02 | Autism May Not Affect Every Family, But... | Easter Seals |
| 2010-03-12 | Mercury-Autism Link Not Found Because of Government Policy | Coalition for Vaccine Safety |
| 2010-03-08 | Autism's Impact on Older Siblings | University of Oregon |
| 2010-02-17 | Symptoms of Autism Not Found in Children Under 6 Months | University of California - Davis - Health System |
| 2010-02-12 | Why People with Autism Don't Want Hugs | Northwestern University |
| 2010-02-12 | Insight into Autism Causes from Brain Study | University of Edinburgh |
| 2010-01-23 | Autism Clusters in California | Autism Speaks |
| 2010-01-13 | Autism Speaks Calls on Federal Government | Autism Speaks |
| 2010-01-10 | Autism a Brain Connectivity Disorder | Childrens Hospital Boston |
| 2009-12-24 | Autism Treatment Crisis: Insufficient Number of Providers | Rethink Autism, Inc. |
| 2009-12-18 | CDC Issues New Autism Prevalence Report | Autism Speaks |
| 2009-12-09 | People Believe Autism Increase is Real Not Diagnostic | University of Exeter |
| 2009-11-28 | Behavior Problems in Children with Autism - Parent Training Key to Treatment | Yale University |
| 2009-11-21 | David Cameron on Autism - UK Autism Foundation | UK Autism Foundation |
| 2009-11-13 | Landmark UK Autism Law | The National Autistic Society |
| 2009-11-10 | Handwriting Problems for Children with Autism | American Academy of Neurology |
| 2009-11-05 | Autism Consortium Symposium - Autism Update | Autism Consortium |
| 2009-10-14 | State of the Science in Autism Disorders | Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia |
| 2009-10-13 | Children with Autism Denied Sufficient Therapy in Ontario Canada | Autism Resolution Ontario |
| 2009-10-11 | New Genetic Link for Autism Discovered | University of Utah Autism Research Project |
| 2009-10-07 | Autism, Learning Disabilities, and ADHD Education and Treatment | The Help Group |
| 2009-10-02 | Stimulus Grant for Whole-Genome Sequencing In Children With Autism | Childrens Hospital Boston |
| 2009-09-27 | Autistic Community Condemns Autism Speaks | The Autistic Self Advocacy Network |
| 2009-09-01 | ADHD Guidance - Huntington Learning Center | Huntington Learning Center |
| 2009-08-31 | Autism - Sensing and Intuition | Louise Page |
| 2009-04-21 | Respite Care Information for Children with Autism | ARCH National Resource Center |
| 2009-04-15 | Melatonin for Sleep Problems in Children with Autism | American Academy of Sleep Medicine |
| 2009-04-11 | Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown Writes on Autism | UK Autism |
| 2009-04-03 | Face to Face with Autism | Nottingham University |
| 2008-01-08 | Life and Health: Developmental Disorders - Autism | Alice Abler |
