Incidence The rate of incidence, or how often autism occurs in children, ranges from five to fifteen out of 10,000 births. The different estimates are based on slightly different definitions of autism. It is three times more common in boys than girls and is rarely found in more than one child in a family. Autism can be caused by a number of factors, but the cause in the vast majority is not known. It is known that autism is caused by biological, not psychological, factors.
Some babies show signs of autism from infancy.
They may not like to cuddle and may show little interest in their families. It should be noted that any one of these characteristics may occur in children with other disabilities. Early diagnosis and educational evaluation of autism are very important, although help given at any age can make a significant difference. Children with autism will be eligible for special education and related services under this new category. Emphasis in education needs to be on helping the child to learn ways to communicate and on structuring the environment so that it is consistent and predictable.