Autism

Autism: Introduction

Autism: Autism is classified as one of the pervasive developmental disorders of the brain. It is not a disease. People with classical ... more about Autism.

Autism: Childhood mental condition with social and communication difficulties. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Autism is available below.

Symptoms of Autism

• Impaired social interaction
  • Not responding to name
  • Not look at people
  • Not smiling - note that normal newborns do not smile for several weeks
  • Avoid eye contact
• more symptoms...»

See full list of 48 symptoms of Autism

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Autism:

• Child Behavior: Home Testing
  • ADHD -- Home Test Kits
  • Concentration -- Home Testing
• Child General Health: Home Testing
  • Asthma-Related Home Tests
  • Home Allergy Tests
  • Home Cold & Flu Tests
  • Home Diabetes Tests
  • Home Drug Tests
  • Sleep Apnea Tests
  • Home Strep A Tests
  • Home Hearing Tests
  • Home Ear Infection Tests
• Mental Health (Adults): Home Testing
  • Adult ADHD -- Home Testing
  • Concentration -- Home Tests
• Cold & Flu: Home Testing:
  • Home Fever Tests
  • Home Ear Infection Test Kits
  • Home Flu Tests
• Mental Health: Home Testing:
  • Home Emotional Stress Tests
  • ADHD -- Home Testing
  • Concentration -- Home Test Kits
• Brain & Neurological Disorders: Related Home Testing:
  • ADHD -- Home Tests
  • Drug Screening Kits
• more tests...»

Autism: Complications

Review possible medical complications related to Autism:

• Personality disorder
• Learning disability
• Epilepsy - about a third eventually develop epilepsy
• Depression
• Behavior problems - extremely repetitive, unusual, self-injurious, and aggressive behavior
• Psychosis
• more complications...»

Medical Textbooks Online about Autism

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Autism

• Hearing tests - to see if the problem is hearing impairment or deafness rather than autism.
• Lead tests
• Autism screening tests
  • The Ages and Stages Questionnaire
  • The BRIGANCE® Screens
• more tests...»

See full list of 33 diagnostic tests for Autism

Wrongly Diagnosed with Autism?

• Misdiagnosis of Autism
• Failure to diagnose Autism
• Hidden causes of Autism (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Undiagnosed: Autism

Autism: Self Assessment Tools

• Stroke -- Self Assessment Tools
• Stress -- Self Assessment Tools
• Depression -- Self Assessment Tools
• Weight Management -- Self Assessment Tools
• Mental Health -- Self Assessment Tools
• more tools...»

Autism: Medical Mistakes

• Concentration -- Health Mistakes
• ADHD -- Health Mistakes
• ADHD (Adults) -- Health Mistakes
• Depression -- Health Mistakes
• Bipolar -- Health Mistakes
• Sleep Disorders -- Health Mistakes
• more mistakes...»

Autism: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available for Autism:

• Stroke
• Brain
• more product offers...»

Autism: Undiagnosed Conditions

Commonly undiagnosed diseases in related medical categories:

• Brain & Neurological Disorders: Undiagnosed:
  • Adult ADHD -- Undiagnosed - Often remains undiagnosed through to adulthood.
  • ADHD -- Undiagnosed
  • Alzheimer Disease -- Undiagnosed
  • Migraine -- Undiagnosed
  • Concentration Disorders -- Undiagnosed
  • Stroke -- Undiagnosed
  • Bipolar Disorder -- Undiagnosed
  • Schizophrenia -- Undiagnosed
  • Epilepsy -- Undiagnosed
• more undiagnosed conditions...»

Misdiagnosis and Autism

Mild worm infections undiagnosed in children: Human worm infestations, esp. threadworm, can be overlooked in some cases, because it may cause only mild or even absent symptoms....read more »

Parental fears about toddler behavior often unfounded: There are many behaviors in infants and toddlers that may give rise to a fear that the child has some form of mental health condition. In particular,...read more »

Undiagnosed stroke leads to misdiagnosed aphasia: BBC News UK reported on a man who had been institutionalized and treated for mental illness because he suffered from sudden inability to speak....read more »

Dementia may be a drug interaction: A common scenario in aged care is for a patient to show mental decline to dementia. Whereas this can, of course, occur due to various medical...read more »

Mesenteric adenitis misdiagnosed as appendicitis in children: Because appendicitis is one of the more feared conditions for a child with abdominal pain, it can...read more »

Blood pressure cuffs misdiagnose hypertension in children: One known misdiagnosis issue with hyperension, arises in relation to the simple equipment used...read more »

Mild traumatic brain injury often remains undiagnosed: Although the symptoms of severe brain injury are hard to miss, it is less clear for milder injuries, or even those causing a mild concussion...read more »

ADHD under-diagnosed in adults: Although the over-diagnoses of ADHD in children is a well-known controversy, the reverse side related to adults. Some adults can remain undiagnosed, and indeed the condition has usually been...read more »

MTBI misdiagnosed as balance problem: When a person has symptoms such as vertigo or dizziness, a diagnosis of brain injury may go overlooked. This is particularly true of mild traumatic brain...read more »

Bipolar disorder misdiagosed as various conditions by primary physicians: Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder) often fails to be diagnosed correctly by primary care physicians. Many patients with bipolar...read more »

Eating disorders under-diagnosed in men: The typical patient with an eating disorder is female. The result is that men with eating disorders often fail to be diagnosed or have a delayed diagnosis...read more »

Depression undiagnosed in teenagers: Serious bouts of depression can be undiagnosed in teenagers. The "normal" moodiness of teenagers can cause severe medical depression to be overlooked. See misdiagnosis of depression or ...read more »

Brain pressure condition often misdiagnosed as dementia: A condition that results from an excessive pressure of CSF within the brain is often...read more »

Post-concussive brain injury often misdiagnosed: A study found that soldiers who had suffered a concussive injury in battle often were misdiagnosed...read more »

Children with migraine often misdiagnosed: A migraine often fails to be correctly diagnosed in pediatric patients. These patients are not the typical migraine sufferers, but migraines can also occur in children. See ...read more »

Undiagnosed anxiety disorders related to depression: Patients with depression (see symptoms of depression) may also have undiagnosed anxiety disorders (see symptoms of anxiety disorders). Failure to diagnose these...read more »

Autism is a developmental abnormality: Autism occurs due to developmental abnormality. There is scope for improvement, but not full recovery, provided children are provided appropriate intervention at the earliest possible...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Autism

Autism: Research Doctors & Specialists

Research related physicians and medical specialists:

• Mental Health Specialists:
  • Psychiatry (Mental Health)
  • Addiction Psychiatry
  • Geriatric Psychiatry (Seniors Mental Health)
  • Pediatric / Adolescent Psychiatry (Child/Teen Mental Health)
  • Pediatric Developmental Behavioral Health (Child Behavior Specialist)
  • Psychosomatic Medicine
  • Forensic Psychiatry
• Neurology (Brain/CNS Specialists):
  • Neurology (Brain/CNS Specialists)
  • Pediatric Neurology (Child Brain Specialist)
  • Pediatric Neurosurgery (Child Neurosurgeon)
  • Clinical Neurophysiology
  • Neurodevelopment Disabilities
  • Neurosurgery (Brain Surgery)
  • Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (Nerve/Muscle/Bone Specialists)
  • Neuroradiology
  • Vascular Neurology
  • Neuropathology
  • Otology / Neurotology (Ear/Hearing Specialists)
• more specialists...»

Other doctor, physician and specialist research services:

• Rate Your Doctor Online
• Research Your Doctor Online
• Review Patient Surveys About Your Doctor
• Research local specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Hospitals & Clinics: Autism

Research quality ratings and patient safety measures for medical facilities in specialties related to Autism:

• Mental Health -- Hospital Quality Ratings
• Child Health (Pediatrics) -- Hospital Quality Ratings
• more hospital ratings...»

Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »

Choosing the Best Hospital: More general information, not necessarily in relation to Autism, on hospital performance and surgical care quality:

• 50 Best Hospitals Report
• Outstanding Patient Experinece Award Winning Hospitals
• Women's Health Best Hospitals
• Patient Safety
• Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence Study (2009)

Autism: Rare Types

Rare types of diseases and disorders in related medical categories:

• Brain & Neurological Disorders: Rare Types:
  • Adult ADHD -- Rare Types
  • ADHD -- Rare Types
  • Alzheimer Disease -- Rare Types
  • Migraine -- Rare Types
  • Concentration Disorders -- Rare Types
  • Stroke -- Rare Types
  • Bipolar Disorder -- Rare Types
  • Schizophrenia -- Rare Types
  • Epilepsy -- Rare Types
• more rare diseases...»

Causes of Autism

• Rett syndrome
• Fragile X syndrome - found in about 10% of autism cases.
• Tuberous sclerosis - about 25% of autistics.
• Phenylketonuria
• Congenital rubella
• more causes...»

Read more about causes of Autism

More information about causes of Autism:

• Underlying causes of Autism
• Autism as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Autism

Treatments for Autism

• Behavioral therapies
  • Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
  • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
  • Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBS)
  • Parent training
• more treatments...»

See full list of 6 treatments for Autism

Latest Treatments for Autism

• Structured educational program
• Risperidone
• Sertraline
• Fluoxetine
• Clomipramine
• more treatments...»

See full list of 7 latest treatments for Autism

News Archives for Autism

Medical news articles related to Autism include:

• Autism Tied to Older Moms, Breech Birth
• Gene Variant Allies Autism, Gastrointestinal Woes
• Epilepsy Drug May Raise Autism Risk in Offspring
• Study Dispels Link Between Autism and Measles Vaccine
• Being Born Small, Early Raises Autism Risk
• Very Premature Babies Show Raised Risk for Autism
• more health news...»

Source: HealthDay News

Videos for Autism

Patient Surveys for Autism

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Autism
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Autism

Prognosis for Autism: Normal life expectancy but impaired social function.

More about prognosis of Autism

Reseach about Autism

Visit our research pages for current research about Autism treatments.

Clinical Trials for Autism

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Autism include:

• Safety and Efficacy Study in the Treatment of Intestinal Problems Associated With Autism - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Oralgam (human immunoglobulin)
• Use of Acupuncture In Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorder - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Randomized Controlled Trial of Acupuncture Versus Sham Acupuncture in Autistic Spectrum Disorder - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Randomized Control Trial of Using Tongue Acupuncture in Autistic Spectrum Disorder Using PET Scan for Clinical Correlation - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Use of Acupuncture In Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorder - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• more trials...»

See full list of 72 Clinical Trials for Autism

Statistics for Autism

• Medical statistics for Autism
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Autism
• Death and Mortality statistics for Autism
• Society statistics for Autism

Autism: Broader Related Topics

• Pervasive developmental disorders
• Possibly autoimmune diseases
• Brain conditions
• more types...»

Types of Autism

Types of Autism

• Autistic-savant
• more types...»

Read more about Types of Autism

Stories from Users Related to Autism

• Autism-Vaccine Links Get Test In Court
• I Know I'm not Autistic.
• Misdiagnosis of Autism for son at 2 years
• How do I know if my son has Autism
• teacher with possible autistic student
• autism
• Autism and AS(Asperger's Syndrome) Sources

Related forums and medical stories:

• Brain Conditions (246)
  • arachnoid cyst
  • Pain/Pressure in back of head when I laugh
  • Fluid running down back of my head feeling
  • "ice Pick" Headaches
  • vertigo + other symptoms
  • More user stories

User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Autism, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Autism

NINDS Autism Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)

Autism is classified as one of the pervasive developmental disorders of the brain. It is not a disease. People with classical autism show three types of symptoms: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual or severely limited activities and interests. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Autism Information Page: NINDS)

Autism Fact Sheet: NINDS (Excerpt)

Autism is not a disease, but a developmental disorder of brain function. People with classical autism show three types of symptoms: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual or severely limited activities and interests. Symptoms of autism usually appear during the first three years of childhood and continue throughout life. (Source: excerpt from Autism Fact Sheet: NINDS)

Autism: NIMH (Excerpt)

Isolated in worlds of their own, people with autism appear indifferent and remote and are unable to form emotional bonds with others. Although people with this baffling brain disorder can display a wide range of symptoms and disability, many are incapable of understanding other people's thoughts, feelings, and needs. Often, language and intelligence fail to develop fully, making communication and social relationships difficult. Many people with autism engage in repetitive activities, like rocking or banging their heads, or rigidly following familiar patterns in their everyday routines. Some are painfully sensitive to sound, touch, sight, or smell. (Source: excerpt from Autism: NIMH)

Definitions of Autism:

Type of autism characterized by very early detection (< 30 months), social coldness, grossly impaired communication, and bizarre motor responses.> - (Source - Diseases Database)

(psychiatry) an abnormal absorption with the self; marked by communication disorders and short attention span and inability to treat others as people - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Autism as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet