Entry added by Greg Cruey
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Autism, according to the Autism Society of America, is "a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others." It is not always simple to diagnose and it manifests itself along a spectrum from mild to severe. The disorder typically affects a person's ability to communicate and to interact socially with other people. More severe autism also effects cognitive function (the ability to think or reason clearly) and autistic children are sometimes misdiagnosed as mentally impaired or "retarded."

Autism is diagnosed based on a person's behavior. There is currently not a blood test or genetic test that can be administered to determine with certainty that an individual does (or does not) have autism.

Autism is usually diagnosed by about age three. Children with mildly autistic behaviors are often diagnosed as having pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). A related disorder, Asperger Syndrome, is a form of autism in which children exhibit problems with communications and social interaction but do not lack cognitive functions. Asperger Syndrome is usually diagnosed later than autism - between age four and 11. Aspergers Syndrome is considered to be part of the autism spectrum.

Autism has become controversial in recent years because the growing number of children diagnosed with the disorder. It is unclear whether autism is increasing or whether individuals with autism were simply misdiagnosed in the past. There is also heated debate about the causes of autism. Some parent organizations blame a mercury-based preservative used in many vaccines in the past for causing autism, but that link has not been supported by much scientific evidence and the preservative (thimerosal) has been largely discontinued.

Weblinks for autism

  • http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer

  • http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm

  • http://www.autismspeaks.org/

  • http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/

  • http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/autism/complete-publication.shtml

  • http://www.cureautismnow.org

  • http://www.danmarinofoundation.org

  • http://www.dougflutie.org

  • http://www.autismkey.com/autism_directory.htm

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