Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder (a "brain" disease) characterized by the presence of persistent (ongoing) communication and social issues. It is a developmental disorder, which begins in early childhood and continues throughout life. Autism spectrum disorder affects most every aspect of life along the way. Cognitive (thinking and language) and social skills are typically developmentally delayed compared to their peers without the disorder. However, their motor (movement) skills develop in a more typical way.
Specific social interaction, communication and behavioral problems must be present before the diagnosis can be made. Though all people with autism show the same overall pattern of impairments, the severity of these issues will vary from case to case. Some people show mild impairments and others have more severe issues.
From a very early age, children with autism spectrum disorder demonstrate difficulties in interacting with other people...More
Young children with autism are more than twice as likely to have sleep problems than typical kids or those with other developmental delays, a new study reports. More...
Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are so closely linked that they not only run in families, but each increases the risk of the other in future siblings, a new study finds. More...
Yet another study reveals that autism is far more common than once thought, with nearly 3 percent of American children diagnosed with the disorder. More...
Connections between different areas of the brain are sustained longer than usual in people with autism, perhaps explaining some of their symptoms, a new study suggests. More...
A new government study finds that roughly 1 in 40 American children has autism, a huge jump from the previous estimate of 1 in every 59 children. More...
When a child with autism can play the piano or sing a song, their brains may benefit, new research suggests. More...
Traffic-related air pollution may play a role in development of autism, new research suggests. More...
Many pregnant women may wonder if antidepressants -- or other drugs acting on the brain's neurotransmitters -- might raise their baby's odds of developing autism. Now, reassuring research suggests that's not the case. More...
Children with autism or developmental delays may be at increased risk for obesity, a new study finds. More...
The number of genes known to be associated with autism now stands at 102, researchers report. More...
Autism spectrum disorder -- or ASD -- is a developmental disability now diagnosed in about one in 37 boys and one in 151 girls in the United States. More...
Robots may hold the keys to social success for kids with autism. More...
High levels of exposure to the insecticide DDT in women seems to more than double the risk of autism in their children, new research suggests. More...
Children born to women who got the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy have no greater risk of autism than other kids, a new study finds. More...
Alex, who is 9, was part of a pilot study that used the smartglasses to provide a small group of children real-time feedback about the emotions being conveyed in others' faces, researchers explained. More...
Children with autism show abnormalities in a deep brain circuit that typically makes socializing enjoyable, a new study finds. More...
The underpinnings of autism may lie in an unexpected part of the brain, a small study suggests. More...
Letting any teen behind the wheel of a car is nerve-wracking for parents, but if your teen has autism, you may wonder if driving is even possible. More...
Children with autism are more likely to also have a food, respiratory or skin allergy, new research suggests. More...
A close examination of baby teeth is giving new insight into the roots of autism -- and ways to spot it early. More...
An important checklist used to screen for autism can miss subtle clues in some children, delaying their eventual diagnosis. More...
There is international consensus as to the importance of work experience and vocational training for helping individuals with autism spectrum disorder obtain employment, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Autism Research, held from May 9 to 12 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. More...
Adults with autism face many challenges, and one of the biggest is finding and keeping a job. More...
It may seem counterintuitive, but a robot might help kids with autism interact better with humans. More...
The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder was estimated at 16.8 per 1,000 children aged 8 years in 2014, according to research published online April 27 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. More...
Autism rates continue to climb in the United States. More...
Autism may be detected at an early age by paying attention to your baby's social and language skills, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. More...
Co-occurrence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is common in children with autism spectrum disorder, and children with both conditions have a higher risk of anxiety and mood disorders, according to a study published in the April issue of Pediatrics. More...
Neurons in a brain area involved with social and emotional behavior normally increase as children become adults, but this does not occur in people with autism, new research contends. More...
Compared with the general population, children with autism spectrum disorder and their younger siblings are undervaccinated, according to a study published online March 26 in JAMA Pediatrics. More...
New research suggests that a special MRI technique can spot abnormal connections in the brains of preschoolers with autism. More...
In neurotypical development, there is an increase in the number of mature neurons in the basal and accessory basal nuclei, whereas an initial excess of amygdala neurons is seen during childhood in autism spectrum disorder, followed by a reduction in adulthood, according to a study published online March 20 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. More...
Vaccine skeptics appear to be swaying many parents of children with autism to forgo critical childhood vaccines, a new study suggests. More...
The pre-pregnancy width of a woman's waist -- but not whether or not she is actually obese -- may be tied to autism risk in her children, new research suggests. More...
Moderate use of Facebook may help make adults with autism happier, a new study suggests. More...
Change in psychiatric manual will fold it into autism spectrum disorders, leaving many unsure about getting needed services More...