What is autism and how prevalent is it?
Peggy Halliday: Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the functioning of the brain. autism spectrum disorders include artistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified, also abbreviated as PDD-NOS and Asperger's disorder. All of these conditions of autism share common symptoms, but they vary in the severity and the way these symptoms are, of the exact nature of the autism symptoms in each child. Classic autism or autistic disorder is characterized by serious impairments in three areas, in social interaction, in communication and language and in restricted interest and behaviors. All of these characteristics begin before the age of three and last a life time. The CDC, the center for disease control, estimates that today autism affects one in 150 individuals.
