what is the most well-known test for autism?
546747
I agree, the AQ and other similar tests are the most prevalent. You can download one yourself at http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/tests/default.asp\n\nto look at, very interesting, and there are other good indicators at that address as well, notably the checklist for autism in toddlers (CHAT)\n\nAll the best, if you are facing autism I wish you all the luck!
956698
I am assuming you are a mom of a child with autism?  Check the links I have given - you should be able to access some of what you are looking for through them.  There are quite a few  sites where you can access the type of pictures you are asking about.  \n\nYour school district may be able to give you access to the PECS software if you have a child with autism.  Most speech language pathologists who work with young children would probably have access to it.  I know that the software is quite specific and quite expensive so it may not be possible to find it on line without paying for it.  I hope this is of some help to you.  Best of luck.
587598
As autism is not technically a "disease," there is no medicine or cure specifically for autism. \n\nAs for your question about home programs, each person with autism is very different and has different needs, so I cannot recommend a specific program. I would suggest, however, that if the person with autism you are asking about is still in school, to be sure to contact his or her teacher(s) and make sure that what he or she is learning at school is being worked on and reinforced at home, to promote generalization of learning. \n\nHere are some recommendations for more information: \n\n"Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism" by Temple Grandin, Ph.D. - http://www.autism.org/temple/tips.html\n\nWebsite of Paula Kluth, Ph.D. - http://www.paulakluth.com/autism.html\n\n"Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew" by Ellen Notbohm - http://www.southflorida.com/sfparenting/sfe-sfp-autism,0,6196233.story\n\nAutism Society of America - http://www.autism-society.org/ \n\n\n"Work to view my autism as a different ability rather than a disability. Look past what you may see as limitations and see the gifts autism has given me. I may not be good at eye contact or conversation, but have you noticed I don't lie, cheat at games, tattle on my classmates, or pass judgment on other people? ... With your support and guidance, the possibilities are broader than you might think. I promise you I'm worth it." - Quotes from 'Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew'
204999
Hi, again, Stephen!  Hmm, I have never heard of Zetia as it relates to Autism.  As a drug used to lower cholesterol and lipid levels, I fail to see what a benefit would be to someone on the Spectrum.  It is important to remember that there is NO drug to treat Autism.  Some parents/caretakers will use medications, namely anti-depressants and anti-psychotics to treat some symptoms (especially in individuals that are prone to violent outbursts, or self-abusive behaviors), or to help people with Autism sleep through the night (a common issue).  Please note that all of these meds can have some nasty side effects, and nobody knows what the long term effects may be in children.\nAlso, and I am not a new-agey, holistic freak, check into some popular, non-prescription therapies like Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and a mixture of Magnesium and B vitamins.  These should only be done under the supervision of a doctor, however, especially with children.
750544
The most common IQ test given today is the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Revised (WAIS-R)  and its equivalent for children  Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - III (WISC- III).\n\nIf you want to undergo this inventory, you should find a licensed psychologist who specializes in conducting IQ assessments.  However, it will cost money.\n\nHowever, IQ is just a number, which may or may not have any validity in gauging your intelligence.  It is a very controversial entity among scientists and the general public alike.
63537
It's kind of like the outbreak of ADD, more people are looking for the signs, thus more kids are being diagnosed with it. But also like ADD, they're reaching out, like you said, to a broader spectrum of kids, having varying degrees of Autism from very little to full blown. Years ago before Autism was understood this much (which it really isn't understood much at all), they would probably only diagnose the kids with the full-blown disorder rather than encompass with that label the kids who only have it slightly, so that attributes mostly. THe more popular reasoning, which is what people use to reason the outbreak of ADD, is that more psychiatrists are more ready to diagnose it, and more parents are ready to accept that disorder as a reason for their children's odd behavior, but which they may not suffer from necessarily. \n\n\nCheck out the DSM IV, I think there's some of it online, it gives the symptoms needed to diagnose every psychological disorder that is diagnosed today.
469151
Here are some books that might help:\nAutism Spectrum Disorders: The Complete Guide by \nChantal Sicile-Kira, Temple Grandin\n\nAlso, a look at applied behavioural analysis, one of the most commonly used and reliable treatments is seen in the book\n\nApplied Behaviour Analysis and Autism: Building a Future Together ~ by Mickey Keenan (Editor), et al\n \nthere are many good Yahoo groups for people with your questions:\nhttp://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=autism&submit=Search\n\nYes, your child can have a normal adult life, with a whole lot of support from his family and friends.  The specifics of a driver's license depends entirely on his individual ability.  My non-autistic friend didn't get one until she was 30 years old, out of fear.  My autistic brother got one when he was 21, which is how long it took him to learn the skills he needed.
379289
http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer
778633
There is currently no "cure" for autism. I know that it is devastating for parents when their child has autism. There is research being done all over the world for this condition, but as of yet, there is no cure & anyone that tries to tell you that there is, is just trying to take advantage of the fact that desperate parents will try ANYTHING to help their children. These guys have no scruples & I often wonder how they can sleep at night.
26508
Often regular pediatricians are not equipped to make a determination. Get an evaluation from a developmental pediatrician or pediatric neurologist. Here's a link to the criteria used for autism and related disorders.
723860
Whether due to better diagnosing by doctors, greater general awareness in the community or a true increase in cases- Autism is going up.  Where a few years ago it was a rare and almost unknown disorder affecting 1 in around 1000 - 1500 children, it now affects 1 in 166 children.   It has been proven that the increase is not due to a loosening of diag. criteria, is not due to artificailly inflated statistics and that there is a true, rapid increase of cases.   In fact, many feel that it was under reported or misdiagnosed in the past as mental retardation and still is today. \nAutism and PDD are real and affect children in a real way.   I know because my son has High Functioning Autism and I work with special needs children.  And every day I meet more and more parents with young children recently diagnosed with it and it is startling and worrysome.  I was a preschool teacher and never saw or heard of it until about 5-10 years ago.  Now it is so common.  \nSo, I would say in my experience as an educator and as a parent that yes, it is increasing and it is not a myth.  And it is proven by more and more studies showing that conclusion.
745910
I'm not quite sure what you're asking here. I don't know whether you're trying to figure out why some people are autistic, the history of autism, how autism originated, or something else entirely, so I'll try to answer all three briefly.\n\nAutism was described in the 1940s by both Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger. Leo Kanner's account of autism was accepted fairly early into the DSM as autistic disorder, while Asperger's account entered the DSM as Asperger's disorder in 1994. Autism existed long before that however - it is involved in the changeling myths of European folklore, plus scientists like Newton may have been autistic. It didn't just suddenly appear in 1940 because of thimerosal in vaccines. It's probably been part of human variation for hundreds of thousands of years.\n\nAutism appears to be genetic. My family is fairly typical of families of autistics in that I'm autistic, my parents display autistic traits, and I have relatives on the spectrum. Autism isn't mercury poisoning, and it isn't a behavioral disorder caused by bad parenting. It also isn't gluten and casein allergies, though we tend to have a higher incidence of things like food allergies than the general non-autistic population. The fact that some of us get less stimmy and more able to learn after we have these foods eliminated from our diets doesn't mean that we're no longer autistic, it means that we're less miserable from physical problems.
286251
The "Woodcock-Johnson" is really all you need to know. It's the standard, in terms of individualized testing. If you are asking this question, you might not be aware, it's not something you can just pick-up and use or properly interpret.
1080194
Go to www.autismspeaks.com answers everything...
406433
hey :) i work with children with severe autism. Autism is a developmental disorder and is the most common developmental disorder in a group called the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Other ASDs include Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified . \n\nTho each child is individual most people with autism have impairments in social interaction, social communication, and imagination. This is referred to as the triad of impairments. \n\nI dont belive there is any direct research which shows autism is genetic, i think they are unsure about the cause.\n\nThere are lost of usefull websites on autism, and the autism awareness society. \n\nhttp://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer\nhttp://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/autism.cfm\nhttp://www.learningdifficulties.org.au/autism.htm\n\nhope you find them helpful, all the best faerie rainbow dust x x x x x
202405
Here is one of the tests you are talking about.  I hope this helps.
430135
No one is really sure what is causing the "epidemic" of autism cases.\n\nI doubt it's caused by baby formula...that's just some vitamins and lactation protiens.\n\nThe world is full of hazards...perhaps a combination of environmental factors are sharing a vector and causing this surge in autistic cases.