A Life With Autism

Regarding your review of “The Innocent” (“Autistic Boy’s Skill Fingers the Killers,” Sept. 24):

I am the aunt of a 7-year-old autistic child, and must strongly object to the statement, “Under the protective custody of (Kelsey) Grammer . . . the youngster gradually emerges from his private hell.” This “youngster,” Gregory, never intrinsically changes from his level of high-functioning (seemingly retarded) autism.

Autism is a biogenic and neurological syndrome. It is a severely incapacitating lifelong developmental disability that occurs in about 15 out of 10,000 births.

A program of behavioral modification at an early age has proven to have the best results. For more information, please contact: The Autism Research Center, 4182 Adams Ave., San Diego, Calif. 92116.

SHELLY HEBER

Los Angeles