In 2012, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that one in 50 children between the ages of six and seventeen suffered from autism spectrum disorder , with men being four times more likely than women. have these conditions (Slaughter 1). Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. Assistance dogs are normally used to help people who are blind, deaf or hard of hearing, as well as other types of disabilities. Service dogs have recently been used to help children with autism. The service dog industry has had a growing impact on the autism community, the pros and cons affect each child differently. Autism was first discovered by Leo Kanner in 1943, he termed it early childhood autism. Before Kanner's discovery, most autistic children were considered possessed and subjected to very inhumane conditions. Autism is the prototypical form of a spectrum of complex and related neurodevelopmental disorders called autism spectrum disorders (ASD), also known as pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) (Berry 73). The main symptom of autism is the inability to communicate and interact easily with others. No cure for autism has been discovered, but some children have recovered naturally. Symptoms are noticed in the first years of life, normally around the age of three. The onset of the disease must be before the age of three (Berry 73). Families with an autistic child must adapt their daily activities to suit the child at all times. It is very difficult for a child with autism to be in a busy area or new environments. Dogs have been the most common service animal since 1927. There are...... middle of paper ......risten E., Cindy L. Adams and Suzanne T. Millman. “Factors affecting behavior and well-being of assistance dogs for children with autism spectrum disorder.” Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Sciences 11.1 (2008): 42-62. Premier Academic Research. Internet. April 7, 2014. Davis BW, et al. “Placement of Assistance Dogs in the Pediatric Population: Benefits, Risks, and Recommendations for Future Application.” Anthrozoos 17.2 (2004): 130-145. Environment completed. Internet. April 7, 2014. Slaughter, Virginia, Ph.D. “Autism.” Magill'S Medical Guide (online edition) (2013): Research starters. Internet. April 17, 2014.Waterlander, Tara A. “Dogs in the Classroom: When Schools Should Allow a Service Dog to Accompany a Child with Autism in the Classroom Under Federal and State Laws.” » George Mason University Civil Rights Law Journal 22.3 (2012): 337-388. Academic research completed. Internet. April 7. 2014.