In 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report that raised many an eyebrow across the country. Examining the prevalence of autism in the United States, the report concluded that autism figures were rising rapidly, affecting 1 in every 150 American children.

Those figures translate to roughly 1.5 million Americans with some form of autism today, making autism the most common of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders, which are characterized by severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development. As autism draws more public interest and concern, the desire to understand autism continues to grow as well.

What is Autism?

Autism is a neurological disorder that affects certain functions of the brain, such as the development of communication skills and areas of social interaction. According to the Autism Society of America (ASA), autism will appear during the first three years of life.

What Are the Symptoms of Autism?

Behaviors associated with autism might not present themselves in infancy, but typically become obvious during early childhood (anywhere from 24 months to 6 years of age). According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the following five behaviors should require further evaluation beyond the typical well-child visit:

* baby does not coo or babble by 12 months
* baby does not gesture (wave, point or grasp) by 12 months
* child does not say single words by 16 months
* child does not say two-word phrases on his or her own by 24 months
* loss of language or social skill at any age

While none of these symptoms guarantee a child has autism, should any of these symptoms show themselves, it's important to have a further evaluation by a team of doctors. Parents should consider consulting a neurologist, psychologist, developmental pediatrician, and a speech/language therapist.

What Causes Autism?

Unfortunately, researchers have yet to determine one single cause for autism. Brain scans have shown differences in the shape and structure of the brain in children with autism versus neuro-typical children, and it has become widely accepted that autism is the result of these abnormalities in structure and function.

As for what causes those abnormalities, research continues to be conducted into the possiblities. One theory that is gaining steam is a genetic vulnerablity to autism. Autism tends to occur more frequently among individuals with certain medical conditions, such as congential rubella syndrome, Fragile X syndrome and tuberous sclerosis.

Research has also indicated that environmental factors could be contributing to the rise in autism. Evironmental toxins such as mercury are more prevalent in the current environment than in the past. Children who might be especially vulnerable, such as those who might have any of the aforementioned genetic conditions, have difficulty metabolizing and detoxifying mercury, which could make them more susceptible to autism.

Is There Anything Parents Can Do?

While there remains no cure for autism, research has shown that early intervention can have a profound impact on reducing the symptoms. Research indicates that the youngest brains are the most flexible, making it easier for intervention techniques to be more effective the earlier the symptoms are detected.

For more information on autism and to find an ASA chapter near you, visit the Autism Society of America Web site at www.autism-society.org.