ABSTRACT
The ‘autism epidemic’ has been used to describe the steadily increasing numbers of people recognized as having autism or at least an autistic spectrum disorder. An intriguing hypothesis is that our civilisation has increasingly emphasised left-hemisphere functions in preference to right because autism is characterised by a lack of right-hemisphere functions and an exaggerated reliance on the left: so the increase in prevalence at the impairment end of the autistic spectrum is real. Autistic spectrum disorders are more common in boys than girls, though may be under-diagnosed in girls, because they present differently. In any one child on the autistic spectrum, some skills may be deficient while others are intact: during assessment, it is important to build up an overall picture of strengths and weaknesses. Some autistic children would like to make friends more successfully, and are frustrated that they do not; others seem to prefer to be alone, being apparently uninterested in seeking friendship.
