Commentary: Not everyone with autism is the same
There is no known single cause for autism and there is no known cure. Researchers have identified over 200 genes that have been found to be defective in those with autism.
7:30 am, Apr. 19, 2021
By Gene Rossum, Starbuck, MN
April is National Autism Awareness Month. Nationally, 1 in 58 children are diagnosed with autism. In Minnesota, some say it may be as high as 1 in 42.
What is autism?
When people refer to autism today, they are usually talking about the Autism Spectrum Disorders or ASD. That encompasses four complex, brain-based disorders that affect a person’s behavior as well as social and communication skills. Those four disorders are: autistic disorder, childhood disintegrating disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PPD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome.