Review examines functioning, disability, and health in autistic patients

The results will provide clarity as investigators conduct basic and applied research and as clinicians diagnose and treat affected patients.

"This research is part of a larger in collaboration with the World Health Organization, and it will yield a new gold standard to assess functional abilities and disabilities in autism," said Dr. Sven Bölte, senior author of the Autism Research analysis.

During the month of April, which is Autism Awareness Month, Wiley has selected this and more than 100 other autism-related articles across its journals and made them freely available. Topics include the latest on diagnostics and treatment, what's known about the role of chromosomes and genetics, and how autism can affect behavior and other aspects of health.