What are Autism Spectrum Disorders or ASDs?
The autism spectrum disorders (or ASDs) are some of the most difficult and puzzling disabilities to affect children. Autism is the most severe form of a group of related disorders sometimes called “autistic-spectrum disorders”, or “pervasive developmental disorders”. Other ASDs include Asperger Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). The symptoms of ASDs make it difficult for a child to communicate, to socialize and to behave normally. Early signs of autistic behavior may be noticed in children as young as infants, but the diagnosis is not usually made until a child is three years of age. Even though ASDs are often associated with developmental delays and mental retardation, these can occur in children who are of average or above average intelligence. ASDs touch children of all races, all economic levels and both sexes. No single cause and no cures have been found. The risk of having an ASD seems to be strongly influenced by genetics, but no s
