Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills.
Alternative Names
Pervasive developmental disorder - autism
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Autism is a physical condition linked to abnormal biology and chemistry in the brain. The exact causes of these abnormalities remain unknown, but this is a very active area of research. There are probably a combination of factors that lead to autism.
Genetic factors seem to be important. For example, identical twins are much more likely than fraternal twins or siblings to both have autism. Similarly, language abnormalities are more common in relatives of autistic children. Chromosomal abnormalities and other nervous system (neurological) problems are also more common in families with autism.
A number of other possible causes have been suspected, but not proven. They involve:
The exact number of children with autism is not known. A report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that autism and related disorders are more common than previously thought, although it is unclear if this is due to an increasing rate of the illness or an increased ability to diagnose the illness.
Autism affects boys 3 - 4 times more often than girls. Family income, education, and lifestyle do not seem to affect the risk of autism.
Some parents have heard that the MMR vaccine that children receive may cause autism.
Asperger syndrome
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Asperger syndrome is often considered a high functioning form of autism. Persons with this syndrome have impaired social interactions, limited repetitive patterns of behavior, and often are clumsy. Motor milestones may be delayed. Reviewer: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 05/08/2008
Rett syndrome(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Rett syndrome is a disorder of the nervous system that leads to developmental reversals, especially in the areas of expressive language and hand use. Reviewer: Daniel Kantor, MD, Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/21/2006
MMR - vaccine (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
The MMR combined vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Reviewer: Rachel A. Lewis, MD, FAAP, Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/01/2007
Autism - resources(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Resources - autism The following organizations and links are good resources for information on autism: Autism Society of America - www.autism-society.org Autism and PPD Support Network - www.autism-pdd.net CDC's Autism Information Center - www.cdc...Reviewer: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy.Date: 05/02/2007
Mental retardation(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Mental retardation is a condition diagnosed before age 18 that includes below-average general intellectual function, and a lack of the skills necessary for daily living. Reviewer: Rachel A. Lewis, M.D., F.A.A.P., Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/12/2007
Developmental milestones(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Developmental milestones are physical or behavioral signs of development or maturation of infants and children. Rolling over, crawling, walking, and talking are considered developmental milestones and provide important information regarding the child's development. The milestones are different for each age range. See also: Developmental milestones record - 2 months; Developmental milestones record - 4 months; Developmental milestones record - 6 months; Developmental milestones record - 9 months; Developmental milestones record - 12 months; Developmental milestones record - 18 months; Developmental milestones record - 2 years; Developmental milestones record - 3 years; Developmental milestones record - 4 years; Developmental milestones record - 5 years. Reviewer: Daniel Rauch, M.D., FAAP., Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/23/2007
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