Articles Index

What Is the Vaccine/Autism Controversy About?
The media has been buzzing about a possible link between vaccines and autism. But unless you're paying close attention, you may not realize how complex that debate really is. Here's an overview of the many questions now under debate -- and links to more in-depth info on a variety of subjects.

How Do Doctors Make an Autism Diagnosis?
How do doctors make an autism diagnosis? Autistic Spectrum Disorders are defined by six characteristics. Your practitioner or evaluation team should use the DSM-IV definitions to diagnose you or your child.

Best Intelligence Test for an Autistic Child
If your autistic child was given an intelligence test, chances are it didn't do a great job of measuring his IQ. Children with autism develop and communicate differently, so practitioners should measure their intelligence with different tools.

Speech Therapy for Autism: The Basics
Speech therapy is almost always a must for people with autism. What is a speech therapist? How do speech therapists work with people on the autism spectrum? How do you find a speech therapist?

Symptoms of Autism
Autistic people may have a range of symptoms, including physical, intellectual, psychological and emotional differences.

What Is Autism?
Autism is a complex set of disorders that are suddenly being diagnosed in epidemic proportions. What exactly is autism, who does it strike, and what do autistic people have in common?

Autism Facts from the National Institutes of Health
Need Autism facts? This fact sheet from the National Institutes of Health includes basic information about autism, its causes, diagnoses, and treatments.

Autism Resource, Acronyms, Terms
In this autism resource: some of the most popular autism acronyms and abbreviations and their definitions in one easy lesson!

Autism Overview
What is autism? What causes autism? How is autism treated? This fact sheet from the National Institutes of Health provides a clear and readable overview.

Occupational Therapy and Autism: The Basics
What is occupational therapy, and how is it helpful to people with autism? This overview article covers the basics.

Screening and Diagnosis of Autism
How do professionals screen for and diagnose autism?

Ask an Expert
Experts on autism are often hard to find -- or in great demand. Developmental Pediatrician Dr. James Coplan, Family Psychologists Dr. Robert Naseef and Cindy Ariel, and self-advocate Kate Goldfield (a young adult with Asperger Syndrome) are available at About.com to answer your questions and offer insight and ideas for coping with autism.