Autism has become a national epidemic, with an estimated one in every 88 children affected, an expert has warned.

Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a biological disorder of the brain that impairs communication and social skills. Signs can include an absence of eye contact, apparent aloofness, avoidance of physical contact even with family, difficulty dealing with interruptions to routine and a lack of interest in other children and what they are doing.

According to Dr Geraldine Leader, director of the Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research (ICAN) at NUI Galway, while an estimated one in 88 children is affected, among boys, this rises to one in 54.

"International evidence indicates an alarming rise in the prevalence of autism...By way of comparison, these estimates represent more children currently diagnosed with autism than diabetes, AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and Down syndrome combined," she explained.

However, the parents of children with autism are being invited to a major conference at NUI Galway next month so that they can share their experiences and hear about the latest research in this area.

The conference will attempt to provide some practical solutions for parents coping with autism on a daily basis. Workshops will focus on topics such as managing behaviour in the home, dealing with non-verbal and minimally verbal children, toilet training and ADHD.

The conference will also provide much needed information on teenagers with autism.

"Much of the research literature to date focuses on the needs of young children with little, if any, discussion paid to the needs of adolescents. For many parents, they are either currently dealing with teenagers challenged with autism, or are anticipating this new phase in a few short years. We are hosting a practical workshop as part of the conference on adolescence, growing up and sexuality," Dr Leader explained.

Experts at the conference will include Prof Susan Swedo of the National Institute of Mental Health in the US, Prof Deborah Fein from the University of Connecticut and Prof Richard Hastings from Bangor University.

They will cover a broad range of topics including employment, inclusion for adults with ASD and effective interventions.

"Autism has become a national epidemic. This conference will bring the world's leading experts in diagnosis, clinical management and education to NUI Galway, as well as catering for the needs of parents," Dr Leader said.

The conference, ‘ASD: From Research to Practice', will be held at NUI Galway on June 11-12. To register, click here. A fee does apply, however a lower early booking fee is available until June 4.