Modern management approaches for children with autism

Abstract

Autism is a developmental disorder characterised by a triad of impairments, namely communication, social interaction and imagination. It was first described by Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger almost simultaneously in the 1940s, and since then has continued to gain momentum in the clinical, educational and lay world. In fact, prevalence estimates have escalated in recent years, going from 0.4% in 1978 to 1 % in 2006, making autism the third most common childhood disorder after intellectual disability and language impairment.