Autism

There's nothing to suggest that autism is more prevalent today than it was decades, hundreds, or thousands of years ago. Autism diagnosis is on the increase but this doesn't mean that autism is on the increase.

Yes, as long as it is legal for a person to work at 16 years old where they live they can get a job. Being Autistic doesn't necessarily stop someone from getting a job, most Autistic people work or have worked.

Anywhere between "loads" and "not that many, really"

Yes, of course Autistic people can be in wheelchairs. A person can have more than one condition or disability, and Autistic people are as likely to use a wheelchair as any other group of people.

Approximately 1 in 150 children have autism, that is approx. 73 a day, and approx. 26,767 children a year are born with autism in the US.

Numbers are up from 1 in 10,000 a generation ago, and 3-4 generations ago, autism was practically unknown.

Reasons for the increase may include:

- Increased numbers of pregnant women on medication during pregnancy. For example, the anticonvulsant drug sodium valproate (epilim/depakote) is proven in studies to cause a 10% risk of autism when unborn babies are exposed to it.

- Various other anticonvulsant drugs and hormonal drugs are also suspect, and under investigation for causing increased risk of autism.

- Increased diagnosis. More children at the "softer" end of the spectrum are now obtaining diagnosis.

- Environmental genetic damage. It is generally accepted that certain chemicals in our environment cause genetic damage. This may be associated with the increase in autism rates.

- Older parental ages. Women are having children when older. Genetic damage is more likely to occur in eggs from older women, and in sperm cells from older men.

Unknown but possible candidates for autism rate increase include:

- foetal ultrasound, which has never been tested for human safety yet is now universal

- vaccine overload, where too many vaccines create an immune response overload in young children / babies

- general environmental pollution, including lead and mercury, plus a host of other damaging chemicals and poisons.

Sadly, no. There are many methods, techniques and tricks you can try, but there is no cure, unfortunately.

Sorry, no. Bella Thorne, an actress, has it. There is no cure. There are many claims that they can, but it rarely works.

There is one type of autism. However, there are multiple types of pervasive developmental disorders, of which autism is one.

The pervasive developmental disorders, also known as autism spectrum disorders, include five disorders that affect social and communication skills as well as motor and language skills. The five disorders are: Classic Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Persuasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS), Rett's Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

Flu shots do not cause autism. Because when one identical twin has autism, the other twin almost always has autism, too, we know that it is in the genes. Some of the genes associated with autism have been identified. But, since there are rare occasions when the other twin does not have autism, it is thought that something extra must trigger the development of autism in those persons who have the genes for it. The factors that could trigger autism genes are not known.

A gluten-free diet can be helpful for some people with Autism. Autistic people are six times more likely to suffer digestive problems, some will be intolerant or sensitvie to gluten, but even in those who aren't a gluten-free diet can be a healthier option and can help with symptoms.

Currently there is no single dominant theory, mostly because there haven't been any clear causes. The latest trend is to speculate on a genetic basis and there are a couple shreds of support for the hypothesis that epigenetics are also playing a part. Environmental contamination with hormone-like chemicals, diet changes, maternal health factors and exposure to industrial chemicals have all been proposed as causes or factors influencing the risk of autism, but the reality is no one really knows or has any good evidence yet.

Incidentally, the hoax about linking childhood vaccines to autism has been thoroughly debunked. The original paper that was published has been redacted in its entirety and follow-up studies looking at the linkage found no evidence to support the assertation. Vaccinating your child will not increase the risk of your child being diagnosed with autism. However, not vaccinating your child does increase the risk of severe childhood disease and potential death from whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella. All of these diseases are still present around the world.

It can be a sign of sensory integration problems; however, it could also be a sign of an inner ear disorder. Sometimes children who have inner ear problems rock back and forth to reach equilibrium. Many children with autism have inner ear and balance issues.

No one can really 'sense' other people's feelings, no one has that ability. People determine how other people feel based on body language, as Autistic people do not understand body language it is harder to understand how someone is feeling unless they say how they are feeling.

Personality disorders have their onset in late adolescence or early adulthood. Doctors rarely give a diagnosis of personality disorder to children on the grounds that children's personalities are still in the process of formation.

Children in secondary school go to the normal classes but are helped with by a "learning supporter"

The majority of them require no assistance to learn and take classes with everyone else. They just struggle with the social context of the classes.

No, autism cannot cause you to go blind. Autism is a neurological difference, it has no effect on the eyes and cannot lead to blindness at all.

PDD is an acronym for pervasive developmental disability, which is a description of a type of developmental disorder. It means the same as autism spectrum disorder. It encompasses five conditions: autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and PDD-Not Otherwise Specified. See the related question below "What are autism spectrum disorders?" for more details.

Bill Gates has never openly told the public that he is Autistic. It is however suspected that he is Autistic as he shows Autistic traits such as his computer skills, flat tone when speaking, poor social and communication skills, and high IQ.

Diabetes isn't a preexisting condition in terms of health or life insurance, but generally results in a rate-up or a decline, depending on whether or not you are taking oral medications or getting an insulin shot.

I have High Functioning Autism and I have laughed by myself for all my life. usually because I think of something funny that has been on my mind for a while, this is usually not seen as funny by most other people.

I don't know why I laugh at things left in my memory or why my humour is different but I see it merely as a difference and there is as much need explaining it as there is why Neurotypical("normal") people do many things me and other autistic people see as strange.

Allism is sometimes used by autistic self-advocates as a term for non-autistic people. Autism comes from the Greek 'autos' for 'self' (self-oriented), allism comes from the Greek 'allos' for 'other' (other-oriented).

Most people use 'neurotypical' or 'typically developing', but those aren't exact antonyms because some people aren't neurotypical but aren't autistic either - they have other neurodevelopmental differences, such as Down Syndrome or whatever.

Most babies begin walking between 10 mos. and 18 mos. Some walk younger and some later, it's all normal.