Autism is a disorder surrounded by enigma. This confusing thing we call autism has left many developmental experts wondering time and time again what the specific causes might be. Dead ends and an endless multitude of potential factors seem to be the most common findings that researchers stumble upon when it comes to the origins of autism. Although it is postulated that autism has a fairly strong genetic basis involving, but not limited to, rare and complex genetic mutations, how the environment may contribute to or cause the expression of these genetic variants remains a mystery (Arndt, Stodgell and Rodier). , 2005). According to Arndt et al. (2005) and Johnson & Myers (2007), many controversial theories surrounding the cause and onset of autism spectrum disorders, such as childhood vaccination as a major contributor, have been completely disproven by researchers in recent times. Even more recent schools of thought point to a specific cause of autism but have not yet been validated, such as high heavy metals or lead poisoning in the human body. At least it has become clear that there is no single cause of autism; there is no irrefutable proof. Additionally, the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders has increased in recent years, particularly over the past decade, reaching epidemic levels. According to a 2007 journal article by Newschaffer, Croen, Daniels, Giarelli, Grether, Levy, Mandell, Miller, Pinto-Martin, Reaven, Reynolds, Rice, Schendel, and Windham, the estimated prevalence rate for a diagnosis of brain disorder autism spectrum was 6 per 1,000. If we fast forward to about two years after the aforementioned article by Newschaffer et al. (2007) was published, we find...... middle of article ......m for the improvement of cognitive, language and adaptive behaviors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Pediatrics 154 (3), 338-44. Steege MW, Mace FC, Perry L, Longenecker H (2007). Applied behavior analysis: Beyond discrete trial teaching. Psychology Schools, 44 (1), 91–99. Weiss, MJ and Delmolino, L. (2006): The relationship between early learning rates and treatment outcomes for children with autism receiving intensive applied behavior analysis at home. The Behavior Analyst Today, 7(1), 96 – 105.Department of Health and Human Services. (1999). Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General – Executive Summary. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. Rockville, Maryland.