Autism Spectrum Disorder

Book Title

Macmillan Encyclopedia of Families, Marriages, and Intimate Relationships

Author(s)

Michael Voltaire, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Book Chapter

ISBN

9780028664613

Publication Date

7-2019

Edition

First

Description

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or autism in short, is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that appears in infancy and early childhood. During much of the twentieth century, autism was considered a rare disorder, but its diagnosis has increased in recent years, owing perhaps to a much broader definition and increased awareness of the condition. In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published its latest estimate of the prevalence of the disorder in the United States and identified 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls) as having autism. It is now clear that genes and environmental factors are implicated in autism. Although there is no cure for ASD, its symptoms can be treated with behavioral, psychosocial, and pharmacological interventions.

Publisher

Gale

City

Farmington Hills, Michigan

First Page

72

Last Page

75

Additional Information

Editors: James J. Ponzetti Jr., Maureen Blankemeyer, Sean M. Horan, Heidi Lyons, Aya Shigeto. Two-volume set.

NSUWorks Citation

Voltaire, M. (2019). Autism Spectrum Disorder. Macmillan Encyclopedia of Families, Marriages, and Intimate Relationships, 72-75.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facbooks/632

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