Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Emerging Global Health ProblemThe Global ProblemAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which falls under the umbrella term pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), is defined by the International Classification of Diseases, Volume 10 (ICD-10) as a disorder first diagnosed in childhood by the clinical manifestation of marked impairment in communication and social interaction and repetitive or stereotyped behaviors ("Pervasive Developmental Disorders" , 2010). This definition is in line with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-V), currently used in the United States (American Psychological Association, 2013). Children are typically diagnosed with ASD after age two when delays are first detected (“Facts About ASDs,” 2013). The earlier the diagnosis, the sooner treatment can be implemented. Although awareness of autism has increased over the past decade, especially with actions such as the United Nations-sponsored World Autism Day, a significant deficit in clinical understanding of diagnosis and treatment exists in many countries (United Nations, 2007). Unfortunately, in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), access to healthcare is limited to acute conditions requiring immediate care, or standardized tools for screening and diagnosing ASD are lacking or completely absent (Elsabbagh et al ., 2012). Even in high-income countries such as the United States and European countries, the availability and access to standardized diagnostic and screening tools is variable (Elsabbagh et al., 2012). Countries that do not have access to evidence-based screening and diagnostic tools diagnostic tools subsequently do not have access to evidence-based treatments and cures… half of the paper… evision. Retrieved June 15, 2014, from http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2010/en#/F84United Nations. (2007, December 18). World Autism Awareness Day (resolution 62/139). Retrieved from (http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/62/139Wallace, S., Fein, D., Rosanoff, M., Dawson, G., Hossain , S., Brennan, L., Como, A. and Shih, A. (2012), A global public health strategy for autism spectrum disorders, 5: 211–217 doi: 10.1002/aur.1236 World Health Organization (2013, May 30). Comprehensive and coordinated efforts to manage autism spectrum disorders (Document EB133/4. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mental_health/action_plan_2013/eb_solving_childhood/en/Facts About ASDs). December 20, 2013). Retrieved February 11, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html.