One of the primary difficulties of Autism Spectrum Disorders is developing social relationships and intimacy. The majority of people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder struggle with developing meaningful relationships and may find them very stressful. However, some people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder have successful marriages or intimate relationships. See similar questions...

Some people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder can perform well in particular areas. Drawing, music, calendar calculation and memory are the most common skills. These savant talents represent a very small percentage of people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. See similar questions...

When provided with appropriate support and experiences, many individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder are able to live independent lives, while others can live semi-independently, requiring support from their family, specialist services and/or support workers. With suitable intervention programs people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder can develop skills that facilitate independence. See similar questions...

No . Names are not being collected. They are not needed to know how many people have this syndrome. We do need to ensure that we do not enter a person twice (if they receive a diagnosis by two or more diagnosticians). We are asking the person reporting to use a designated standard method of coding for the cases that will allow the names to remain confidential. See similar questions...

Autism spectrum disorder (or ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability. The term spectrum disorder is used to describe the group of developmental disorders that includes autism, high functioning autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). See similar questions...

There is no fixed age and no fixed way to tell someone that they have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. It depends very much on the individual’s age, their level of awareness and their need to know. Telling an individual about the diagnosis is not completed in a single conversation. It is a long-term process and may bring out a variety of responses ranging from denial to relief. Specialised support and counselling may be required to assist the individual and others through this process. See similar questions...

Though the presentation of symptoms with Autism can vary quite a bit, there are specific behaviors necessary for diagnosing it. Impairment in reciprocal social interaction must be present. We often envision a child with Autism as avoiding eye contact or perhaps as using people as they would inanimate objects. Communicative deficits also must be present for an ASD to be diagnosed. See similar questions...

This varies considerably and is influenced by cognitive and verbal skills, and by education and management programs. Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder generally grow up to be adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Education, support and advocacy may need to continue throughout adulthood and behaviours and skills can improve and develop over time. See similar questions...

They can be. It depends on how the condition impacts the individuals ability to function in life. A comprehensive assessment of the individuals needs would be needed to know for sure; therefore, a person with Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder should be assessed by a pre-admission screening provider. You can schedule an assessment with a pre-admission screener by contacting your local coordination agency. Click here to find a local coordination agency in your area. See similar questions...

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), also known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs), cause severe and pervasive impairment in thinking, feeling, language, and the ability to relate to others. These disorders are usually first diagnosed in early childhood and range from a severe form, called autistic disorder, through pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), to a much milder form, Asperger syndrome. See similar questions...

Below is a list of frequently asked questions concerning environmental health and autism, and related issues. See similar questions...

Autism is a brain condition, present from birth, which affects the way the brain processes information. In 1995, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) concluded that autism probably results from a genetic susceptibility that involves multiple genes. A variety of factors could be associated with some forms of autism, including infectious, metabolic, genetic, neurological, and environmental factors. See similar questions...

In 2003, a detailed, federally supported study was published on the prevalence of autism spectrum conditions among children aged 3 to 10 years in metropolitan Atlanta. Using 1996 data, that study showed the prevalence for autism was 3.4 per 1000, with a male-female ratio of 4 to 1. The study did not show a major increase in autism compared to studies done in the 1980s and early 1990s. See similar questions...

Autism is a spectrum disorder where symptoms and characteristics can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations, from mild to severe and in any combination. A high functioning individual with autism might simply seem eccentric, a loner. More severely affected individuals may hardly communicate and prefer to function primarily in "their own world". Most individuals fall in the middle of the spectrum. See similar questions...

The original estimates of the prevalence of autism indicated that it occurred in around 2 per 10,000 people. However, recent estimates place the prevalence as high as or higher than 6 per 1,000 for all autism spectrum disorders combined. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently lists the prevalence of autism as 1 in 166 births. See similar questions...

Since autism has been thought to be a low incidence condition, funds have not been adequately appropriated to find its cause or treatment. Guesses at the prevalence and incidence of ASD's do not merit the attention of the Federal Government. They need to see data. See similar questions...

Certain behaviors exhibited to stimulate the senses, such as switching a light on and off repeatedly or humming loudly. Uneven skill development. Some skills are normal or superior for their age while others show significant delay. See similar questions...

We find that all people on the autism spectrum can benefit from the RDI® Program. It appears to be helpful regardless of IQ, language, gender or diagnosis. The most important factor in determining the rate of improvement is the degree to which we have to overcome obstacles like the child's desire to control others, and the presence of co-occurring illnesses. See similar questions...