Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I have a fifth grade student who has difficulties socially and has some special interests and repetitive behaviors; however, his doctor said he doesn’t have autism because his language has developed normally. Is this true?

A: Maybe. Your son may have Asperger syndrome, which includes social skill deficits and restrictive/repetitive behaviors, but apparently normal speech development. His symptoms could be characteristic of other disabilities, such as a learning disability or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; however, so your best bet would be to seek an assessment with an individual or team with experience with all of those disabilities. Please see Asperger Syndrome Overview for more information.

Q: My son was given an educational diagnosis of developmental delay. Is that the same thing as Pervasive Developmental Disorder?

A: Not necessarily. Schools have the option of labeling young children with any disability as developmentally delayed. Pervasive Developmental Disorders may be one diagnosis that fits within the category of developmental delay.

Q: My daughter’s pediatrician said he thinks she has autism. I’ve never heard of a girl having autism. Could he be right?

A: The majority of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are boys; however, about one out of four individuals with ASD are girls. Please see Prevalence for more information.

Q: A parent of child with autism told me that the MMR vaccine caused her son to develop autism. Is this possible?

A: Currently, it is unclear what the cause of autism is. It is thought to be linked to chromosomal abnormalities and other disorders, toxins, and anoxia. Most recent large-scale studies refute the link between autism and vaccines. Please see Prevalence for more information.