What is autism? As this eMedTV article explains, autism is a brain disorder that affects thought, communication, and social interaction. This Web page also includes information on the possible causes, symptoms, and treatment options for autism.
Classical autism is just one of the five types of autism spectrum disorder. This section of the eMedTV library identifies the other types of autism spectrum disorder, such as Asperger syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder.
There are no known causes of autism, but scientists are studying possible genetic and environmental causes of the disorder. This eMedTV page sheds light on current areas of research focused on possible causes of autism.
Examples of early symptoms of autism include repetitive or unusual use of language and interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus. This eMedTV page describes other early autism symptoms that doctors look for when diagnosing the disorder.
Impaired social interaction and problems with verbal and nonverbal communication are common signs of autism. This eMedTV article describes these symptoms in detail, pointing out that parents are often the first to recognize these signs in their child.
As explained in this eMedTV article, making an autism diagnosis often involves using a questionnaire to gather information about a child's development and behavior. This resource also explains the behavior doctors look for when making a diagnosis.
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) has become widely accepted as an effective treatment for autism. This eMedTV page features a list of questions parents should ask about any treatment they may be considering for their child.
This eMedTV page offers examples of drugs used for autism, such as Prozac and Haldol. As this article explains, these medications are prescribed "off label," meaning that they haven't been approved by the FDA to treat autism.
As this eMedTV segment explains, speech language therapy for autism can be combined with occupational and physical therapies to improve communication in those with autism. This article offers a closer look at speech and language therapy.
This portion of the eMedTV site identifies the general goals of autism education for children in various age groups. This article also contains questions parents should consider asking about their autistic child's individual education program.
Typically, autistic children will have communication problems and difficulties with social interaction. This eMedTV Web page explains how children with this disorder engage in repetitive behaviors or focus on narrow, obsessive interests.
Language development in autistic children differs from that seen in children without autism. This eMedTV site addresses issues of language development in autistic children, such as problems with word and sentence meaning, intonation, and rhythm.
As this eMedTV segment explains, adult autism can create a unique set of challenges. This article offers advice for those dealing with adults who have this condition, including information about living arrangements and government programs.
Many parents wonder if autism is caused by the MMR vaccine. This eMedTV article discusses this question in detail, describing studies done on the possible link and explaining why current research suggests that there is no connection between the two.
This eMedTV resource provides details about several of the autism research studies currently under way. For example, ongoing research includes imaging studies searching for brain abnormalities that could cause impaired social communication.
Current statistics on autism indicate that the disorder is more common than childhood cancer. This eMedTV article features a variety of statistics that may help the reader understand more about this developmental disorder.
