Things Wondered About Autism

Autism is currently one of the most common neurodevelopmental differences. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while 1 in 150 children was diagnosed with autism in 2006, this rate has been updated to 1 in 31 children as of 2025.

Autism can occur in individuals from different cultures, ethnicities, or socioeconomic backgrounds. Scientific data shows that there is no causal relationship between families' income level, lifestyle, or education status and autism. In short, autism is not your fault.

Today, the term “autism” has been replaced by the expression Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This expression refers to a spectrum in which autism can be observed with varying severities and symptoms in individuals.

Did You Know These?

• It is thought that the cause of autism stems from differences in brain structure and function.
• There is evidence suggesting that autism may have a genetic origin. However, the exact gene or genes causing this condition have not yet been fully identified.
• Autism is not a mental illness; it is an innate neurodevelopmental difference.
• The cause of autism is not related to the parents' child-rearing style, level of education, or living conditions.
• In approximately % of individuals diagnosed with autism, neurological symptoms such as epilepsy, involuntary movements, or loss of consciousness may be observed.
• At , there are sensory differences and problems. For example, some may react excessively to loud sounds, while others may show excessive sensitivity to light, smell, or touch.
• Approximately one-third cannot speak and cannot respond to the speech of others (alternative communication systems such as the use of pictures or gestures may be used).
• About half experience gastrointestinal issues such as constipation and diarrhea.
• About half experience feeding problems (selective eating, food refusal, overeating).
• Approximately of them suffer from chronic forms of sleep problems (such as insomnia, waking up in the middle of the night, waking up frequently).
• It is a group that exhibits a high level and variety of behavioral problems among disability groups.

Who and How Often Does It Occur?

Autism is more common in boys. While it was stated in previous years that boys were diagnosed 4 times more often than girls, recent research indicates that this ratio has dropped to approximately 3 times. In fact, studies conducted in recent years show that as age progresses, the gender gap in diagnosis closes, and around the age of 20, the prevalence rate of autism in males/females drops to nearly 1.2:1.

Many children diagnosed with autism may experience the following conditions at varying levels:

• Learning disability,
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,
• Anxiety disorders,
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder,
• Intellectual disability.

Children who perform high in certain areas on intelligence tests may score lower in other areas.

Highly gifted individuals with autism are in the minority. Only about of them have special abilities such as superior memory and musical ability. These characteristics are not a generalized phenomenon in society.