Nutrition and Mental Health - Feature Special Feature Nutritional Considerations of the Individual with Autism Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life resulting from a neurological disorder that affects brain functioning which interferes with communication, learning, behavior and social development, and often interferes with the processing of sensory information. Autism and its behavioral symptoms occur in approximately fifteen of every 10,000 individuals, placing it as the third most common developmental disability.
Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls.
It has been found throughout the world in families of all racial, ethnic and social backgrounds. Family income, lifestyle and education levels do not affect the chance of Autism's occurrence. No known factors in the psychological environment of a child have been shown to cause Autism. Various vitamin and dietary treatments have been investigated as possible management programs for children with infantile autism and other developmental disorders. Many people consider food sensitivities as allergies in that one's immune systems are overly reactive to these substances.