Autism is a complex, life-long, developmental disability that results in social interaction problems, communication difficulties, and restrictive or repetitive interests and behaviors. One in 500 persons might be affected by some form of the disorder. Symptoms of autism are measurable by 18 months of age. Parents and expert clinicians can usually detect symptoms during infancy, although a formal diagnosis is generally not made until the child fails to develop functional language by age two. Autism can be reliably diagnosed by or before age three.
Autism occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups.
Although there is currently no known cure for autism, autism is treatable. Persons with autism can make progress if they receive appropriate, individual intervention. Pre-school children who receive intensive, individualized, behavioral interventions show remarkable progress. In addition, limited pharmacological interventions are available to treat specific symptoms of autism. In the majority of cases, no specific underlying cause can be identified.