Approximately 800,000 people under the age of 18 are currently diagnosed with autism. This number is growing as more screenings become available, and there is no cure in sight. Autism is a disorder characterized by frequent deficits in communication and social interaction, a lack of trust in others, and, in general, poor social skills. However, a promising new treatment is emerging in the form of the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin is a hormone found in mammals that performs a variety of functions. One of the effects of oxytocin is that it appears to increase confidence in social interactions. There are very few studies that have tested the effect of oxytocin on increasing people's confidence and social skills. Additional testing is therefore necessary. Although there are not enough long-term studies, the short-term response to oxytocin is positive. Recent research indicates that oxytocin treatments for autistic patients correlate with improved facial recognition and recognizing the emotions of others. Therefore, the use of oxytocin represents a promising new approach to treating autism. Background Because autism symptoms vary in degree and severity, autism is considered a spectrum disorder; Each individual falls somewhere on the spectrum based on their specific symptoms. Although autism affects a small percentage of children, the number of affected people is increasing. There are different types of autism, including Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism in which the affected individual becomes obsessed with their interests, and Rett syndrome which mainly affects women and is characterized by a loss of communication skills. Asperger's syndrome is at the high end of the functioning spectrum, because you can't identify his disability by looking at him, and you often have an average level of...... middle of paper .... .. relieved. Oxytocin is a promising treatment for autism. because it improves facial and emotional recognition. Several studies have proven that oxytocin increases confidence and reactions in social areas of the brain that do not normally cause strong reactions when exposed to social stimulation. There is no known cure for autism, and while people with high-functioning autism may not need one, it is important that a remedy as promising as oxytocin does. subject of further research. Longer-term studies need to be done to determine the effectiveness of oxytocin over the lifespan, but short-term studies suggest that oxytocin treatment is incredibly helpful for people with autism. It is hypothesized that because autistic people have lower amounts of oxytocin receptors, flooding them with a higher than normal amount of the hormone ensures that more receptors will be activated..