Pervasive developmental disorders, or autism spectrum disorders, include a category of conditions characterized by difficulties with language, cognition and social skills, according to the American Psychiatric Association. The disorders included...
While there are common characteristics in autistics, the severity of the behaviors varies widely. Autism is commonly defined by a deficit in social and communication abilities, with various unusual behaviors associated. Researchers are working to...
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that affects as many as 1 in 110 children. Affected children often exist in their own worlds and need specialized therapies and assistance to navigate everyday situations. Early intervention is one of...
Autism, a developmental disorder, impacts a person's communication, behavior and social skills. Autism generally appears before the age of 3, and early intervention is recommended to ameliorate the symptoms. Autism disorder falls within a range of...
Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, refers to a group of pervasive developmental disorders that include autism, Asperger's disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, or PDD-NOS, notes Melisaa Dodd Inglese, Ph.D. The...
Pervasive Developmental Disorder -- Not Otherwise Specified, or PDD-NOS -- is a diagnostic term used to describe children who exhibit many of the traits associated with autism spectrum disorders, but do not meet the exact criteria for autism,...
The causes of autism and epilepsy are still not fully understood, and dietary interventions for either condition are best considered as complementary or alternative therapies. Some individuals who experience autistic symptoms, epileptic seizures...
Advocates of a gluten-free diet to treat the symptoms of autism contend that some individuals demonstrate a positive response to the restricted diet. Research that appeared in the December 2009 publication of "Annals of Clinical Psychiatry"...
Autism is a developmental disorder that occurs before age three and continues to show symptoms to some degree throughout life. Those symptoms may range from mild, "odd" behaviors like rocking and socially inappropriate actions like never...
Autism is a developmental disorder included in the group of disorders called autism spectrum disorders. These brain-based disorders affect a child’s behavior, social skills and communication skills. The autism spectrum disorders include...
Patients with autism have developmental problems, which affect their social interactions and communication skills. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains that autism is the most severe type of autism spectrum...
A 2008 study by researchers in Germany, published in the journal "Epidemiology," found that in-patient admissions for autism rose by 30 percent between 2002 and 2005. In-patient autism programs offer treatment for patients with classical autism,...
In a July 2010 study published in the "Disability and Health Journal," researchers note that some states, such as Arizona, experienced a 26 percent increase in autism diagnoses from 2000 to 2004, while other states, such as Georgia and Maryland,...
One out of every 80 to 240 children has autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Three different conditions fall under the category of autism spectrum disorders: autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental...
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a psychological disorder characterized by impulsivity, hyperactivity, and short attention span. ADHD is often comorbid with other mood disorders, but if developmental disorders are present,...
Autism is the best known of the five levels on the autistic disorders spectrum. With autism, a child is typically intensely attached to an established routine and is non-communicative. If the routine is disrupted, the child becomes agitated or...
A sensory diet or planned schedule of stimulating sensory activities is an appropriate treatment intervention for children on the autism spectrum, including those with sensory processing disorder, autism, Asperger's syndrome or pervasive...
Autism is a general term used to describe a related group of neural development and social communication disorders known collectively as autism spectrum disorder, or ASD. Children with ASD commonly have sleep problems related to unusually low...
Autism is one of several developmental disorders that form the autism spectrum. Other disorders on the spectrum include Asperger's syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder -- not otherwise specified, or PDD-NOS. Autism's symptoms manifest...
The impact of diet on autism has been closely studied by researchers over the past few decades. In particular, numerous studies have focused on the benefits of a gluten-free diet on autism. Although the National Institute of Neurological Disorders...
Autism, a disorder of child development, reveals signs and symptoms typically in the first two years of life. Symptoms of autism include repetitive behaviors, avoidance of eye contact, problems with social interaction and difficulty communicating....
Pervasive Developmental Disorder--Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) is a developmental disorder on the autistic spectrum. Other autistic spectrum disorders--abbreviated as ASD--include autism and Asperger's syndrome. Symptoms of autism or PDD-NOS...
Autism is a developmental disorder with symptoms including restricted and repetitive behaviors, difficulty with social interaction and impaired communication skills. Autism is one of the disorders recognized as belonging to the "autistic...