Autism Spectrum Disorder
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- Characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction across multiple
contexts
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), formerly referred to as autism, is a disorder of neural
development characterized by a broad spectrum of social, communication, and behavior
symptoms, evident in early childhood.
- ASD affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and synapses
connect and organize. How or why this occurs is not well understood, but it is thought that
ASD has a strong genetic basis.
● Deficits in social reciprocity
● Nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction
● Skills in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships
Criteria
A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts
a) Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social
approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of
interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.
b) Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging,
for example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to
abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use
of gestures: to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication.
c) Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging, for
example, from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to
difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in
peers.
Severity
- is based on social communication impairments and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior.
Level 3 – Requiring very substantial support
Level 2 – Requiring substantial support
Level 1 – Requiring support
B. Social communication impairments
● Social impairments in children with autism can be characterized by a distinctive lack
of intuition about others.
● Unusual social development becomes apparent early in childhood. Infants with ASD
show less attention to social stimuli, smile and look at others less often, and respond
less to their own name.
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- Characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction across multiple
contexts
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), formerly referred to as autism, is a disorder of neural
development characterized by a broad spectrum of social, communication, and behavior
symptoms, evident in early childhood.
- ASD affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and synapses
connect and organize. How or why this occurs is not well understood, but it is thought that
ASD has a strong genetic basis.
● Deficits in social reciprocity
● Nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction
● Skills in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships
Criteria
A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts
a) Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social
approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of
interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.
b) Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging,
for example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to
abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use
of gestures: to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication.
c) Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging, for
example, from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to
difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in
peers.
Severity
- is based on social communication impairments and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior.
Level 3 – Requiring very substantial support
Level 2 – Requiring substantial support
Level 1 – Requiring support
B. Social communication impairments
● Social impairments in children with autism can be characterized by a distinctive lack
of intuition about others.
● Unusual social development becomes apparent early in childhood. Infants with ASD
show less attention to social stimuli, smile and look at others less often, and respond
less to their own name.
