What is Autism?
Autism is a developmental disorder that is characterized by impaired development in communication, social interaction, and behavior. Autism is classified as a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), which is part of a broad spectrum of developmental disorders affecting young children and adults--the Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The range of these disorders varies from severely impaired individuals with autism to other individuals who have abnormalities of social interaction but normal intelligence--Asperger's syndrome. The ways in which autism is exhibited can differ greatly. Additionally, autism can be found in association with other disorders such as mental retardation and certain medical conditions. The degree of autism can range from mild to severe. Mildly affected individuals may appear very close to normal. Severely afflicted individuals may be extremely retarded and unable to function in almost any setting.
In the past, autism has been confused with childhood schizophrenia or childhood psychosis. As additional research information about autism becomes available, the scope and definition of the condition continues to become more refined. Much of the past confusion about the disorder has been resolved.
Related Links
- AutismWeb
The Parent’s Guide to Autism and PDD
http://www.autismweb.com/ - Center for the Study of Autism
The Center for the Study of Autism (CSA) provides information about autism to parents and professionals, and conducts research on the efficacy of various therapeutic interventions.
http://www.autism.org/ - Autism.TV
An Internet portal for websites containing videos and audio files on autism.
http://www.up-to-date.com/ autism.tv/index.html 
Autism Research Institute – Defeat Autism Now!(DAN!)- Autism Society of America
- BBC Health - AUTISM
Autism Statistics
- As many as 1 in every 150 children have an autism disorder.
- For every girl who has one, three to seven boys do.
- 33% to 64% of children with autism disorders have mental retardation, less than once thought.
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Latest Threads
MSNBC and NBC News SPECIAL REPORT
AUTISM - The Hidden Epidemic?
The number of U.S. children diagnosed with autism has skyrocketed in the past decade, causing widespread concern and confusion. As families struggle to cope with the disorder, MSNBC and NBC look at the issues surrounding autism, the theories behind the dramatic increase and the latest on treatments.