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A toddler and his mother sitting at a table while his plays with his sensory toys.

Autism Facts

Discover the facts about autism: a spectrum of differences in communication and behavior. Learn, understand, and support autism.

What is Autism?

  • Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a developmental condition that impacts how a person interacts with others, communicates, learns, and behaves.

Why is it a “spectrum” disorder?

  • “Spectrum” refers to the fact that autism symptoms can vary widely, but could include challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and difficulties in speech and nonverbal communication.

Why is it called “disorder”?

  • The word "disorder" in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) comes from medical and psychological systems that are used to describe how someone’s behavior, development, or way of thinking is different from what most people experience. These differences can sometimes make daily life more challenging.

Are vaccines a cause of autism?

  • Previous publications that indicated vaccines were linked to autism have been retracted due to the authors falsifying their data and their studies being critically flawed.
  • The CDC's position is firmly based on scientific evidence demonstrating that vaccines do not cause autism.

What causes Autism?

  • It is generally accepted that ASD is caused by differences in the brain. The most current research indicates that there is no single cause, and autism likely develops from a combination of inherited and environmental factors.
  • Research is ongoing to better understand autism and its causes. Scientists are exploring genetic (inherited), environmental, and neurological (how the brain is built) factors that may contribute to the development of autism. This research aims to improve diagnosis, treatment, and support for individuals with autism and their families.
Sarah Hendrickx with pink hair wearing a black bucket hat and black rimmed glasses smiling and holding a sensory toy.

Autism is not a processing error. It's a different operating system.

— Sarah Hendrickx Autistic Author of Girls on the Autism Spectrum

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Huguet, G., Ey, E., & Bourgeron, T. (2013). The genetic landscapes of autism spectrum disorders. Annual review of genomics and human genetics, 14(1), 191-213. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-genom-091212-153431

Modabbernia, A., Velthorst, E., & Reichenberg, A. (2017). Environmental risk factors for autism: an evidence-based review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Molecular autism, 8, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-017-0121-4

Hviid, A., Hansen, J. V., Frisch, M., & Melbye, M. (2019). Measles, mumps, rubella vaccination and autism: a nationwide cohort study. Annals of internal medicine, 170(8), 513-520. https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-210

Taylor, L. E., Swerdfeger, A. L., & Eslick, G. D. (2014). Vaccines are not associated with autism: an evidence-based meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies. Vaccine, 32(29), 3623-3629.

Hviid, A., Hansen, J. V., Frisch, M., & Melbye, M. (2019). Measles, mumps, rubella vaccination and autism: a nationwide cohort study. Annals of internal medicine, 170(8), 513-520. https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-210

Madsen, K. M., Hviid, A., Vestergaard, M., Schendel, D., Wohlfahrt, J., Thorsen, P., ... & Melbye, M. (2002). A population-based study of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination and autism. New England Journal of Medicine, 347(19), 1477-1482.

Taylor, L. E., Swerdfeger, A. L., & Eslick, G. D. (2014). Vaccines are not associated with autism: an evidence-based meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies. Vaccine, 32(29), 3623-3629.