Autism A mental disorder that is characterized by repetitive behavior and a seriously impaired ability to communicate and interact with others. Childhood autism (sometimes called pervasive developmental disorder) is characterized by a profound...

Autism is a severe disorder of brain function marked by problems with social contact, intelligence, and language, together with ritualistic or compulsive behavior and bizarre responses to the environment. Autism is a lifelong disorder that interferes...

A developmental disorder characterized by impairments in social, imaginative and communicative functions, with restricted repetitive interests and activities. Qualitative impairments are evident by age three, although diagnosis often occurs much later....

Autism is a developmental disability caused by a neurological disorder which interferes with normal brain functioning. It is the third most common developmental disability, more common than Down's syndrome, and becomes obvious from birth to the age of...

Autism is a brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication, and causes restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a child is three years old. This set of signs distinguishes autism from milder autism spectrum...

RIGHT FROM THE START Behavioral Intervention for Young Children With Autism SANDRA L. HARRIS, PH.D. AND MARY JANE WEISS, PH.D. A guide which describes Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Intensive Behavioral Intervention (IBI)--one of the most successful, proven treatment and educational methods for...

AUTISM Friday, March 7, 2003 Program funding vital for state families I have followed closely the news regarding Gov. Jim Doyle's proposed budget cuts and the interpretation of Katie Beckett funding from the federal government ("Budget cuts could kill state's model...

The country's leading pediatricians group is making its strongest push yet to have all children screened for autism twice by age 2, warning of symptoms such as babies who don't babble at 9 months and 1-year-olds who don't point to toys.The advice is meant to...

Autism cases in California continued to climb even after a mercury-based vaccine preservative that some people blame for the neurological disorder was removed from routine childhood shots, a new study found.Researchers from the state Department of Public Health found the autism rate in children rose...

Autism affects the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Children and adults with autism have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions and leisure or play activities. This disorder makes it hard for them to relate to the outside world.

Children with autism usually have trouble communicating, behaving in an appropriate fashion, and engaging in other types of normal everyday social contact. Mainstreaming these children benefits their immediate social behavior, such as language skills, in their social development. Schools need to provide adequate resources to teachers and students to help autistic children in this process.

Autism is a neurological condition that affects 15 out of 10,000 people. This essay is an overview of autism, including its nature, symptoms, treatments, and the varying degrees of the affliction.