Anxiety Disorders
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Autism Spectrum Disorders
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a complex neurological developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. ASD is defined by a certain set of behaviors that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for ASD, however the prevalence has risen to 1 in every 150 American children, with 1.5 million Americans living with the effects of ASD today. Although the number of diagnosed cases is rising, it’s not clear whether this is due to better detection and reporting of autism, a real increase in the number of cases, or both. Though symptoms and severity vary, ASD affects a child’s ability in three crucial areas of development — social interaction, language and behavior. Again, the symptoms of ASD vary greatly and two children with the same diagnosis may act quite differently and have strikingly different skills. For this reason ASD is now referred to as a “spectrum disorder”. Below are some of the symptoms exhibited by the “Autism Spectrum Disorders” population.
There is no cure for autism, however intensive, early treatment can make an enormous difference in the lives of many children with the disorder. Research is ongoing to examine the cause and most effective strategies to mitigate the symptoms of ASD. For more information on Autism Spectrum Disorders go to: National Institute of Mental Health National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) PsychCentral MentalHelp.net Autism Society of America Autism Speaks |