ABSTRACT
Autism, originally described by Kanner in 1943, is among the most severe of all neurodevelopmental disorders. It is a pervasive disorder associated with substantial deficits in reciprocal social interaction and communication, and the presence of repetitive and stereotyped behaviors and unusual interests (1). These classic features of autism typically appear in infancy, and the syndrome, by definition, is always present by the age of 3 years. Its manifestations and course often change throughout development, yet autism remains a chronic, lifelong, and disabling condition.
