Autism is a group of serious developmental problems called autism spectrum disorders (ASD) that appear in early childhood — usually before age 3. Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction, communication skills, and cognitive function. While all autism disorders affect these communication and interaction abilities, the symptoms and severity varies greatly from one child to another.
Persons with autism may also suffer from physical problems such as asthma, epilepsy, digestive disorders, persistent viral infections, feeding disorders and sleep disorders.
Autism is four times more common in boys than in girls. Its ocurrence has climbed to one in 110 children across the United States. The number of children diagnosed with autism has been increasing but it is not clear whether this is due to better detection and reporting of autism or a real increase in the number of cases. While there is no cure for autism, early identification and appropriate treatment is key to improving the outcome for these children. Learn more about autism 
TreatmentThere is no cure for autism but there are treatment options. Each person with autism is different and treatment plans need to be made specifically for each individual. Treatment should begin as early as possible. Occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language therapy may help children with needs in these areas.
Learn more about autism treatment
While there are no medications specifically to treat autism, doctors may prescribe medications for some symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Learn more about medications for autism
Track autism symptoms to identify patterns and help with a treatment plan. Our progress tracker can be printed or even shared with your healthcare professional electronically.
Progress tracking for Autism
News & ResearchLife for a typical autistic person, challenges and difficulties. Topic includes discussion of resources or lack thereof.
Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles have developed a new strain of mice engineered with a missing gene, which results in displaying the hallmarks of the autism condition. The mice have also responded to a particular drug in the same way humans with autism do, which could open the door to new autism therapies.
DiagnosisChildren with autism generally have problems in three crucial areas of development — social interaction, communication and behavior. But autism symptoms vary greatly and two children with the same diagnosis may behave quite differently. In most cases, severe autism is marked by a complete inability to communicate and interact with other people.
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This simple questionnaire is designed to help you determine if a child has symptoms of autism and could benefit from professional help.
Doctor Discussion GuideTalking to a doctor or mental health professional about autism can be difficult. Knowing what questions to ask can help. Our Doctor Discussion Guide includes a list of questions you may want to ask. You can even add questions of your own and then print out the list.
Autism Doctor Discussion Guide
