Two decades ago children labled as having severe language/communication disorders could very well have been labled with autism if it occured in this day and age. This in part to how the diagnosis of autism has evolved in the past 10 to 20 years.

Nutritionists at the Mayo Clinic discourage families from applying special diets for their children affected by autism. Their reasoning is the lack of scientific evidence that supports positive effects lessening the symptoms of autism. A contrary opinion offered by another nutritional consultant cites reasons that diet can help

Despite recent concerns by many regarding the onset of autism and the MMR vaccine, researchers at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and The University of Louisville School of Medicine have reviewed trends and found no decline in the number of parents immunizing their children.

In an effort to create a startup of an Autism Treatment Netowrk (ATN) the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center received a $250,000.00 grant. The ATN will offer comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, care and counseling for children and teens with ASD.

A recent study that appears in the April edition of Pediatrics notes that households with children affected by ASD spend thousands of dollars on therapies, this we all know. But on the flipside, the study also measured variables on the makeup of the household such as the parent's highest level of education, total household income, and geography. Once analyzed these variables could predict with relative accuracy the earning potential of these families which typically fell short of similar families without a child on the spectrum.

As much as $6,200.00 a year.

In a small group tested, findings indicate that babies born prematurely are at risk for many developmental problems. The risk is greater for those born prematurely and have a lower birth weight.