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Autism is a complex neurobiological spectrum disorder that results in mild to severe symptoms that often lasts throughout a person's lifetime. In the United States the rate of an autism diagnosis is 1 in 150 individuals. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the fastest growing developmental disorder. ASD is more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.
Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD and it crosses all racial, ethnic, and social groups. Individuals with ASD have impairments in the following areas: communication, social interactions, symbolic or imaginative play, and restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities.
Often parents are the first to recognize ASD symptoms in their child. With better diagnostic tools doctors are diagnosing child as early as six months, with the average age of diagnosis is three. The earlier the diagnosis gives children with ASD the best advantage to learning skills to lead to a meaningful, productive life.
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