(http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/autism.htm#What_is_the_prognosis)
(http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/autism.htm#What_research_is_being_done)

(http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/autism.htm#Organizations)
(http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/autism.htm#Spanish Publications)
(http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/autism.html)


What is Autism?
Autism (sometimes called “classical autism”) is the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders known as the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
Autism is characterized by three distinctive behaviors. Autistic children have difficulties with social interaction, display problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and exhibit repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests. These behaviors can range in impact from mild to disabling. Autism varies widely in its severity and symptoms and may go unrecognized, especially in mildly affected children or when more debilitating handicaps mask it. Scientists aren’t certain what causes autism, but it’s likely that both genetics and environment play a role.


Is there any treatment?
There is no cure for autism. Therapies and behavioral interventions are designed to remedy specific symptoms and can bring about substantial improvement. The ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that target the core symptoms of autism: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and obsessive or repetitive routines and interests. Most professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better.



What is the prognosis?
For many children, autism symptoms improve with treatment and with age. Some children with autism grow up to lead normal or near-normal lives. Children whose language skills regress early in life, usually before the age of 3, appear to be at risk of developing epilepsy or seizure-like brain activity. During adolescence, some children with autism may become depressed or experience behavioral problems. Parents of these children should be ready to adjust treatment for their child as needed.



What research is being done?
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) conducts research in its laboratories at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and also supports additional research through grants to major medical institutions across the country. As part of the Children’s Health Act of 2000, the NINDS and three sister institutes have formed the NIH Autism Coordinating Committee to expand, intensify, and coordinate NIH’s autism research. More information about the Autism Coordinating Committee is available at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/autismiacc/index.cfm (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/autismiacc/index.cfm). Eight dedicated research centers across the country have been established as “Centers of Excellence in Autism Research” to bring together researchers and the resources they need. The Centers are conducting basic and clinical research, including investigations into causes, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, and treatment of autism.



[/URL]
Association for Science in Autism Treatment
389 Main Street
Suite 202
Malden, ME 02148
info@asatonline.org
[URL="http://www.asatonline.org/"]http://www.asatonline.org (http://www.infantrefluxdisease.com/forums/)
Tel: 781-397-8943
Fax: 781-397-8887

Autism National Committee (AUTCOM)
P.O. Box 429
Forest Knolls, CA 94933
http://www.autcom.org (http://www.autcom.org/)

Autism Network International (ANI)
P.O. Box 35448
Syracuse, NY 13235-5448
jisincla@mailbox.syr.edu (jisincla@mailbox.syr.edu)
http://ani.autistics.org (http://ani.autistics.org/)

Autism Research Institute (ARI)
4182 Adams Avenue
San Diego, CA 92116
http://www.autismresearchinstitute.com (http://www.autismresearchinstitute.com/)
Tel: 619-281-7165
Fax: 619-563-6840

Autism Society of America
7910 Woodmont Ave.
Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814-3067
http://www.autism-society.org (http://www.autism-society.org/)
Tel: 301-657-0881 800-3AUTISM (328-8476)
Fax: 301-657-0869

Cure Autism Now (CAN) Foundation
5455 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 2250
Los Angeles, CA 90036-4234
info@cureautismnow.org (info@cureautismnow.org)
http://www.cureautismnow.org (http://www.cureautismnow.org/)
Tel: 323-549-0500 888-8AUTISM (828-8476)
Fax: 323-549-0547

MAAP Services for Autism, Asperger's, and PDD
P.O. Box 524
Crown Point, IN 46308
info@maapservices.org (info@maapservices.org)
http://www.maapservices.org (http://www.maapservices.org/)
Tel: 219-662-1311
Fax: 219-662-0638

Autism Speaks/National Alliance for Autism Research
2 Park Avenue
11th Floor
New York, NY 10016
contactus@autismspeaks.org (contactus@autismspeaks.org)
http://www.autismspeaks.org (http://www.autismspeaks.org/)
Tel: 212-252-8584 California: 310-230-3568
Fax: 212-252-8676

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of Special Education Programs
P.O. Box 1492
Washington, DC 20013-1492
nichcy@aed.org (nichcy@aed.org)
http://www.nichcy.org (http://www.nichcy.org/)
Tel: 800-695-0285
Fax: 202-884-8441

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
National Institutes of Health, DHHS
31 Center Drive, Rm. 2A32 MSC 2425
Bethesda, MD 20892-2425
http://www.nichd.nih.gov (http://www.nichd.nih.gov/)
Tel: 301-496-5133
Fax: 301-496-7101

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Information Clearinghouse
1 Communication Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20892-3456
nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov (nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov)
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov (http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/)
Tel: 800-241-1044 800-241-1055 (TTD/TTY)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
National Institutes of Health, DHHS
6001 Executive Blvd. Rm. 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
nimhinfo@nih.gov (nimhinfo@nih.gov)
http://www.nimh.nih.gov (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/)
Tel: 301-443-4513/866-615-NIMH (-6464) 301-443-8431 (TTY)
Fax: 301-443-4279

Related NINDS Publications and Information

Autism Fact Sheet (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm)
Autism fact sheet compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
NINDS Pervasive Developmental Disorders Information Page (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/pdd/pdd.htm)
Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) information sheet compiled by NINDS, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
NINDS Asperger Syndrome Information Page (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/asperger.htm)
Asperger Syndrome information prepared by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Prepared by:
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892


NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient's medical history.
All NINDS-prepared information is in the public domain and may be freely copied. Credit to the NINDS or the NIH is appreciated.

Common Characteristics of Autism

While understanding of autism has grown tremendously since it was first described by Dr. Leo Kanner in 1943, most of the public, including many professionals in the medical, educational, and vocational fields, are still unaware of how autism affects people and how they can effectively work with individuals with autism. Contrary to popular understanding, many children and adults with autism may make eye contact, show affection, smile and laugh, and demonstrate a variety of other emotions, although in varying degrees. Like other children, they respond to their environment in both positive and negative ways.
Autism is a spectrum disorder. The symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations, from mild to severe. Although autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors, children and adults can exhibit any combination of the behaviors in any degree of severity. Two children, both with the same diagnosis, can act very differently from one another and have varying skills.
Parents may hear different terms used to describe children within this spectrum, such as autistic-like, autistic tendencies, autism spectrum, high-functioning or low-functioning autism, more-abled or less-abled. More important than the term used is to understand that, whatever the diagnosis, children with autism can learn and function productively and show gains with appropriate education and treatment.
Every person with autism is an individual, and like all individuals, has a unique personality and combination of characteristics. Some individuals mildly affected may exhibit only slight delays in language and greater challenges with social interactions. The person may have difficulty initiating and/or maintaining a conversation. Communication is often described as talking at others (for example, monologue on a favorite subject that continues despite attempts by others to interject comments).
People with autism process and respond to information in unique ways. In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present. Persons with autism may also exhibit some of the following traits.

Insistence on sameness; resistance to change
Difficulty in expressing needs; uses gestures or pointing instead of words
Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language
Laughing, crying, showing distress for reasons not apparent to others
Prefers to be alone; aloof manner
Tantrums
Difficulty in mixing with others
May not want to cuddle or be cuddled
Little or no eye contact
Unresponsive to normal teaching methods
Sustained odd play
Spins objects
Inappropriate attachments to objects
Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain
No real fears of danger
Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity
Uneven gross/fine motor skills
Not responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf although hearing tests in normal range.For most of us, the integration of our senses helps us to understand what we are experiencing. For example, our senses of touch, smell and taste work together in the experience of eating a ripe peach: the feel of the peach fuzz as we pick it up, its sweet smell as we bring it to our mouth, and the juices running down our face as we take a bite. For children with autism, sensory integration problems are common. Their senses may be over-or under-active. The fuzz on the peach may actually be experienced as painful; the smell may make the child gag. Some children with autism are particularly sensitive to sound, finding even the most ordinary daily noises painful. Many professionals feel that some of the typical autism behaviors are actually a result of sensory integration difficulties.
There are many myths and misconceptions about autism. Contrary to popular belief, many autistic children do make eye contact; it just may be less or different from a non-autistic child. Many children with autism can develop good functional language and others can develop some type of communication skills, such as sign language or use of pictures. Children do not "outgrow" autism but symptoms may lessen as the child develops and receives treatment.
One of the most devastating myths about autistic children is that they cannot show affection. While sensory stimulation is processed differently in some children with autism, they can and do give affection. But it may require patience on a parent's part to accept and give love in the child's terms.

What is Autism (http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=whatisautism)
Theories on the Causes of Autism
(http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=autismcauses)Diagnosis of Autism (http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=autismdiagnosis)
Consulting with Professionals (http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=autismprofessionals)
ASA's Free Online Course on Autism (http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=course_intro)
Other Related Resources (http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=allaboutautism)