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Please note: This information was as
current as we could make it on the date given above. But medical information is
always changing, and some information given here may be out of date. For
regularly updated information on a variety of health topics, please visit
familydoctor.org, the AAFP patient
education Web site. |
An article on this topic is available in this issue of
AFP.
What You Should Know About Autism
What is autism?
Autism is a brain disorder that causes poor development of language and social skills. People with autism may also have mental retardation, seizures, or mental disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety). About one third will be able to achieve some degree of independent living as adults.
What causes autism?
No one knows for sure what causes autism. It is not caused by poor parenting or immunization shots (vaccines). In some cases, it may be caused by an inherited problem or lead poisoning.
How can I tell if my child is autistic?
Early detection of autism can improve the eventual outcome. Your doctor may want to screen for autism if your child:
- is not babbling by 12 months of age.
- doesn't point or make other gestures by 12 months of age.
- doesn't use single words by 16 months of age.
- doesn't use two-word phrases by 24 months of age.
- seems to have lost a skill he or she had before (at any age).
How is autism treated?
There are different treatments for autism. Traditional treatments use positive reinforcement (rewarding a desired behavior) and negative reinforcement (not rewarding an undesired behavior) in settings designed to help with learning.
No medicine has been found to treat autism, but some medicines may help treat a child with seizures, hyperactivity, or depression.
Where can I get more information?
- Your doctor
- Autism Society of America
Telephone: 1-800-3AUTISM
Web address: www.autism-society.org - Center for the Study of Autism
Web address: www.autism.org - National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
(NICHD)
Web address: www.nichd.nih.gov
This handout provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. To find out if this handout applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your family doctor.
Visit familydoctor.org for information on this and many other health-related topics.
Copyright © 2002 by the American Academy of Family
Physicians.
Permission is granted to print and photocopy this material for
nonprofit educational uses. Written permission is required for all other uses,
including electronic uses.
