SAHPARUDIN B SHRANI

PRAVALENCE OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS AUTISM AND

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES MONITORING NETWORK, 14 SITES,
UNITED STATE, 2008

Autism spectrum disorders ( ASDs ) are a group of developmental

disabilities characterized by impairment in social interaction and
communication and by restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of
behavior. Symptoms typically are apparent before age 3 years. The
complex nature of these disorders, coupled with a lack of biologic market
markers for diagnosis and changes in clinical definitions over time, create
challenges in monitoring the prevalence of ADSs. Accurate reporting of
data is essential to understand the prevalence of ADSs in the population
and can help direct research.