Coping with a diagnosis of autism can be a troubling and confusing experience for parents. Ignorance of this bewildering disorder can provoke difficult decision-making for parents and physicians alike. What causes autism? What happens to children with autism when they grow up? Does autism run in families? What kind of educational setting is best? In this accessible, comprehensive book, the authors have discovered the questions on the minds of parents and professionals, and have attempted to answer them. Autism is a puzzling disorder. It begins in early childhood, and disrupts many aspects of development, leaving the child unable to form social relationships or communicate in the usual way. This fascinating book explains in a clear, straightforward manner what is known about the condition. Helpful appendices identify organizations and resource providers concerned with autism.