Recently, researchers at San Diego State University
researchers may have decided the winner of an ongoing battle between competing
theories of autism spectrum disorder. This disorder, often referred to simply
as autism, actually describes a wide range of individuals with social deficits
communication problems and repetitive behaviors . Autism has puzzled
researchers since Leo Kanner first described it in 19431. Most
individuals with autism have normal IQ’s and extremely variable levels of
social deficits2. These social deficits can range from the inability
to use and understand language at all, to having trouble holding reciprocal
conversations with others. While there are countless theories as to what causes
the social deficits in autism, two are emerging as frontrunners.
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| Children with autism often prefer to play alone instead of with other children. Photo from Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative |
