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'''Autism''' is a neurological disorder, characterized by inability to interact socially; linguistic disability; intense, narrow interests; and repetitive behaviors. These are called stims or stimming. They include walking on tiptoes, flapping of hands, staring at objects for a prolonged period of time, oral fixation, spinning in circles, and other repetitive activities.  Other signs include lack of eye contact, playing alone, lack of words, or in the case of [[Asperger's syndrome]], increased intelligence and big vocabulary but lack of social skills. It is usually detected by the time a child is four years old but some people's autism go unnoticed into adulthood. There are many intelligent and talented autistic individuals.<ref>Temple Grandin, "Thinking in Pictures, Expanded Edition: My Life with Autism" amazon link http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307275655/ref=wl_it_dp/103-3432247-4184629?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1CWNFSEUCIXQL&colid=49VN3HJC5OQK</ref>

'''Autism''' is a neurological disorder, characterized by inability to interact socially; linguistic disability; intense, narrow interests; and repetitive behaviors. These are called stims or stimming. They include walking on tiptoes, flapping of hands, staring at objects for a prolonged period of time, oral fixation, spinning in circles, and other repetitive activities.  Other signs include lack of eye contact, playing alone, lack of words, or in the case of [[Asperger's syndrome]], big vocabulary but lack of social skills or inappropriate behavior. It is usually detected by the time a child is four years old but some people's autism go unnoticed into adulthood. There are many intelligent and talented autistic individuals.<ref>Temple Grandin, "Thinking in Pictures, Expanded Edition: My Life with Autism" amazon link http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307275655/ref=wl_it_dp/103-3432247-4184629?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1CWNFSEUCIXQL&colid=49VN3HJC5OQK</ref>

Diagnoses of autism has increased from 1:10,000 in 1988 to 1:166 people today. Some estimates are as high as 1 in 150 people <ref>http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/faq_prevalence.htm</ref>, and it has been rising. Among boys, 1 in 94 has the disorder.  In New Jersey, which has the highest rate in the nation, 1 in every 60 boys has autism and 1 in every 94 children is affected.  

Diagnoses of autism has increased from 1:10,000 in 1988 to 1:166 people today. Some estimates are as high as 1 in 150 people <ref>http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/faq_prevalence.htm</ref>, and it has been rising. Among boys, 1 in 94 has the disorder.  In New Jersey, which has the highest rate in the nation, 1 in every 60 boys has autism and 1 in every 94 children is affected.

 

Some parents, politicians and a few fringe researchers cite a [[mercury]] preservative used in vaccines, thimerosal, as the cause of injury in many recipients, including a cause of increase in autism rates. Thimerosal is a inorganic form of mercury that has widely been used as a vaccine preservative, and still is despite widespread calls for its removal.  Most of the influenza vaccines contain thimerosal equivalent to 25 micrograms of toxic [[mercury]], an amount that would be safe under [[EPA]] limits only if the recipient weighs 550 pounds.  

Autism is a spectrum disorder which means there is a range in how it affects different people. There is the fragile x syndrome, [[Asperger's syndrome]], pdd nos, mild autism, moderate autism, severe autism, and some [[idiot savants]].  Autistic children will not all act like the character portrayed in the movie ''[[Rain Man]]''.  Nor are all autistic children uncaring or unable to show emotion, in fact many are very caring.

Autism is a spectrum disorder which means there is a range in how it affects different people. There is the fragile x syndrome, [[Asperger's syndrome]], pdd nos, mild autism, moderate autism, severe autism, and some [[idiot savants]].  Autistic children will not all act like the character portrayed in the movie ''[[Rain Man]]''.  Nor are all autistic children uncaring or unable to show emotion, in fact many are very caring.

There is a rare form of low functioning autism called ''idiot savants'' in which the people who suffer from it cannot brush their teeth or take a bath or dress themselves or do any other basic activities but are extremely good at one thing, usually mathematics but sometimes also involving music, memory feats, or hyperlexia.  

There is a rare form of low functioning autism called ''idiot savants'' in which the people who suffer from it cannot brush their teeth or take a bath or dress themselves or do any other basic activities but are extremely good at one thing, usually mathematics but sometimes also involving music, memory feats, or hyperlexia.  

Autism was first identified in 1943 by Dr. [[Leo Kanner]]. Dr. Hans Asperger also did some research into autism at about the same time and discovered [[Asperger's syndrome]]. In the past it was blamed on frigid mothers.   

Autism was first identified in 1943 by Dr. [[Leo Kanner]]. Dr. Hans Asperger also did some research into autism at about the same time and discovered [[Asperger's syndrome]]. In the past it was blamed on frigid mothers. As early as the 90's many psychotherapies were used to treat it. One very effective treatment, though not a cure, is Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA therapy).   

==External Links==

==External Links==

 

#http://www.autismdigest.com/

#http://www.autismdigest.com/

#http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/

#http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/