Autism - A developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills.  Autism is a physical condition linked to abnormal biology and chemistry in the brain. The exact causes of these abnormalities remain unknown, but this is a very active area of research. There are probably a combination of factors that lead to autism. -PubMed

Such clinical terms for a disorder that consumes the lives of families of  perhaps 1 in 110 American children (Centers for Diseases Control).  [Read more...]