You've probably heard a lot of thoughts and ideas about autism, but here's an overview of what we know.

您可能聽說過很多關於自閉症的想法和觀點，以下是我們所知道的概況。

Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person's social and communication abilities.

自閉症、自閉症譜系障礙或 ASD 是一種影響人的社交和溝通能力的神經發育障礙。

Persons with ASD also have areas of strong interest and sometimes have repetitive behavior and sensory sensitivities.

自閉症患者也有自己感興趣的領域，有時會有重複行為和感官敏感性。

Autism is sometimes associated with strengths in the areas of visual memory, music, art, math, and science, but each person with ASD is unique.

自閉症患者有時在視覺記憶、音樂、藝術、數學和科學方面具有優勢，但每個自閉症患者都是獨一無二的。

Autism is a spectrum disorder and varies significantly from person to person.

自閉症是一種譜系障礙，個體差異很大。

Some people with ASD may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support, and some live entirely independently.

有些自閉症患者在日常生活中可能需要大量的支持，而其他人則可能需要較少的支持，有些人則完全獨立生活。

Changes in brain development associated with autism begin during the prenatal period.

與自閉症有關的大腦發育變化始於產前時期。

These changes are associated with differences in genetics.

這些變化與遺傳學差異有關。

It is possible to diagnose ASD when a child is between 18 and 24 months of age.

可以在孩子 18 到 24 個月大時診斷出 ASD。

Early behavioral intervention helps children with autism learn to communicate and socially interact and has a significant impact on long-term outcome.

早期行為干預有助於自閉症兒童學會溝通和社會交往，並對長期療效產生重大影響。

Support for learning social and communication skills can be helpful throughout adolescence and adulthood.

在整個青春期和成年期，對學習社交和溝通技能的支持都會有所幫助。

People with autism sometimes have other conditions, such as higher rates of sleep disorders, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and gastrointestinal issues.

自閉症患者有時還伴有其他疾病，如睡眠障礙、多動症、焦慮症、抑鬱症和腸胃問題的發病率較高。

Treating these co-occurring conditions can make a big difference.

治療這些併發症會帶來很大的不同。

As adults, people on the autism spectrum can become employed and contribute in important ways to society.

自閉症譜系人士成年後可以就業，為社會做出重要貢獻。

The world is a better place if the qualities of people who are neurodiverse are accepted and valued.

如果神經多樣性人群的特質得到認可和重視，世界將變得更加美好。

The Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development provides state-of-the-art, interdisciplinary clinical care, conducts cutting-edge research, trains the next generation of scientists, and advocates for public policies to help ensure people with autism reach their full potential.

杜克大學自閉症和大腦發育中心提供最先進的跨學科臨床護理，開展前沿研究，培訓下一代科學家，並倡導公共政策，以幫助確保自閉症患者充分發揮其潛能。