Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of developmental disorders used to describe symptoms of social communication deficits and restrictive and repetitive behaviors in individuals. The classification of ASD describes the severity of one’s disorder, although each individual with autism is unique in terms of his or her symptoms. ASD affects individuals of all ages, genders, races, and ethnicities, from early childhood through adulthood, although symptoms manifest individually in different ways throughout the lifespan.

Autism became a household term in the 2000s, as the prevalence of this group of disorders increased significantly. As such, there are many unanswered questions and constant research efforts to provide concrete answers. Although the cause of ASD is unclear, efforts have been made to raise awareness, improve treatments, and build a ...