FROM : http://sowhataboutit.wordpress.com/

 

TEN (interesting and random) Facts on Autism/ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder)/Asperger’s:

 

1. 6% of people with autism have idiot savant abilities (specific areas of extreme ability)

2. 50% of all idiot savants (people with amazing abilities in a specific area) have autism

3. 70%-80% of those with autism also have mental retardation

4. sex ratio for autism is male:female = 4:1

5. Asperger’s Syndrome is also known as high-functioning autism

6. autism cannot be cured or prevented – yet.

(i.e. it stays with a person into adulthood, although certain symptoms might diminish with time).

7. increased brain size has been strongly associated with ASD – reflects a failure of pruning of neurons

8. strong genetic influence – ASD is one of the most heritable developmental disorders

9. people with autism tend to look preferentially at the mouth area of the face (rather than the eyes, which is where most people tend to focus at)

10. people with ASD appear to be “mindblind” (i.e. lack of a Theory of Mind: refer to previous post.)