Autism typically appears during the first three years of life. A child may appear to be normal but a change in behavior and the persistence of the behavior beyond the normal developmental stage is the first indication to most parents that something is wrong. Fifteen to twenty individuals in every 10,000 births will develop Autism. It is four times more common in boys. Over one half million people in the U.S. today have some form of Autism.
Autism can be mild or severe.
Autistic children have intellectual abilities that are either gifted or severely intellectually impaired. Autism does not show a range. Some Autistic children are referred to as high functioning. This term is generally used to refer to Autistic children who show near normal social and communication skills and near normal learning abilities. Research shows that these individuals continue to have difficulties with coping skills.