Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

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Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a disorder that is a wide range of complex neurodevelopment disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. An outdated term would be “mentally retarded,” but as this term is extremely offensive, is not in use anymore. It occurs in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups, and can vary significantly in severity and character. A milder form of autism is Asperger’s syndrome. Reason
I chose this topic because a few years ago, I had an elective class called “Yes I Can.” In that class, we learned about many disorders, one of them being ASD. There, I met a few people at our school who had ASD. Some of those people became my friends, and they are to this day. I also chose this subject to inform others about this disease.

Type/Causes
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Researchers are not completely sure what exactly causes ASD, but genetics and environment are likely contributors. An acceptable cause would be defects in genes that control brain growth and regulate how brain cells communicate with each other. Studies have shown that people with ASD have bizarre levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in their central nervous system. While it can be treated, ASD cannot be prevented. Treatments for autism are largely either education/behavioral interventions or medications. There are other treatments out there, but those are not supported by scientific