To be diagnosed with autistic disorder at least one sign (each) from parts A, B and C must be present, plus at least six overall.  

Social Development :

  • Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behavior such as eye-to eye gaze, facial expression, body posture and gestures to regulate social interaction.
  • Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
  • Lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests or achievements with others \
  • Lack of socioemotional reciprocity

Communication :

  • A delay in, or total lack of the development of spoken language (not accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes of communication such as gesture or mime)
  • Marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others despite adequate speech
  • Stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language
  • Lack of varied spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level

Activities & Interests :

  • Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest abnormal either in intensity or focus
  • An apparently compulsive adherence to specific nonfunctional routines or rituals
  • Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand or finger flapping or twisting or complex whole body movements)
  • Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
  • Abnormal or impaired development prior to age three manifested by delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas:
    • Social interaction
    • Language as used in social communication or
    • Symbolic or imaginative play


 
 
 
 

au·tism   ( P )  n.

A psychiatric disorder of childhood characterized by marked deficits in communication and social interaction, preoccupation with fantasy, language impairment, and abnormal behavior, such as repetitive acts and excessive attachment to certain objects. It is usually associated with intellectual impairment.

 

 
 

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