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.

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

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.

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.

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.

No. While social improvements are dramatic, children who succeed in their RDI® Program demonstrate dramatic changes in flexible thinking, pragmatic communication, creative information processing, problem-solving, and self-development. We view social skills as important but vastly different from Dynamic Intelligence. Skills such as behaving appropriately, following rules, good hygiene and proper dress are essential for acceptance and success.

Treating the core problems of Autism and Asperger's Syndrome is a marathon and not a sprint. Many of our families continue working on higher level objectives throughout childhood and adolescence.

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.

We really do not know how many people in the United States have an autism spectrum disorder. We can say with some certainty, that there are more than the 5 in 10,000 (autism) and 15 in 10,000 (all autism spectrum disorders) that has been reported from the 1970's through 2002. Studies from California suggested a 273% increase from 1987 to 1998. This alarming number drew the attention of the media and of Congress as well.

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.

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).

A2: The US National Institute of Health estimates that one American child in 150 is affected with an ASD, compared with one in 10,000 a decade ago. As many as 1.5 million Americans today are believed to have some form of autism. The overall incidence is consistent around the globe, but is four times more prevalent in boys than girls. It's now estimated that one boy in 94 is diagnosed with autism.

Applied Behavior Analysis has been proven effective through published, long-term, replicated research. If appropriate, we believe that children with autism should start a quality, intensive ABA program as soon after diagnosis as possible.

Research indicates that other factors besides the genetic component are contributing to the rise in increasing occurrences of ASD, such as environmental toxins (e.g., heavy metals such as mercury), which are more prevalent in our current environment than in the past. Those with ASD (or those who are at risk) may be especially vulnerable, as their ability to metabolize and detoxify these exposures can be compromised.

Autism spectrum diagnoses are now known to be largely genetic in origin, and runs in families. Twin studies have uncovered many examples of identical (monozygotic) twins having autism spectrum diagnoses. One may have autism and the other AS, but when one identical twin is autistic, the other one is as well. If autistic conditions were not genetic, this would probably not happen.

It’s special because it is one of the few, if not the only condition that imparts strengths as well as weaknesses. People with autism spectrum diagnoses have normal to very high IQs, and many have special skills. A few of us have remarkable and even extraordinary abilities. These people are called prodigious savants. Many of us have islands of ability and what are known as splinter skills.

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.