One disorder, Fragile X syndrome, has been found in about 10 percent of people with autism, mostly males. This inherited disorder is named for a defective piece of the X-chromosome that appears pinched and fragile when seen under a microscope.

People who inherit this faulty bit of genetic code are more likely to have mental retardation and many of the same symptoms as autism.  Some characteristics of Fragile X include long ears and face, they also have delayed speech, hyperactive, and have gross motor delays. 

Other Useful Links about Autism

• Autism Overview
  • Autism is a neurological and developmental disorder that is associated with social, communication, sensory, behavioral and cognitive impairments, as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, activities, or interests. Navigate to the Autism page for more information.
• Autism Diagnostic Procedures
• This link details a list of frequently used procedures to diagnose autism, including Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT), and other screening tests.
• Signs of Autism
  • Please refer to the signs of autism page that outlines communication, socialization, and sensory characteristics that are common in children on the autism spectrum. This is not intended to help diagnose a child.
• Autism Therapy
  • Learn more about various therapies for autism; including play therapy, family therapy, neurofeedback and many more options.
• Autism Treatments
  • Read more about various autism treatments, that include such things as integrative medicine approaches, diets, dietary supplements, and body work.
• Rare Conditions with Autistic-Like Features
  • Please read about other rare conditions with Autistic-Like features, including Angelman Syndrome, Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, Landau-Kleffner Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and Williams Syndrome.
• Additional Diagnosis Associated with Autism
  • Seizure Disorder or Epilepsy
  • Mental Retardation
  • Tuberous Sclerosis
• Basic Neurology
  • Learn more about basic neurology and the various functions of the brain.