What is Autism?

What is Autism?
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication and by restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behaviour. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that the overall prevalence of autism is 1 in 88.

Symptoms typically are apparent before a child reaches an age of 3 years. Due to the wide spectrum of the disorder and varying diagnostic methods and approaches, it’s difficult to comprehensively formalize all of its symptoms.

Here's an overview of the most common characteristics of autism:


 * Difficulty with social interactions,  impaired social relationships and an inability to relate to others in a meaningful way


 * impairment of social communication skills (e.g. understanding gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice)


 * significantly reduced repertoire of activities and interests (stereotypical behaviour, fixation to stable environments).

How is Autism Diagnosed?
The APA (American Psychiatric Association) is currently revising the  medical definition of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in ways that are expected to change its diagnostic characteristics. This change is expected to be finalized and put into practice in 2013.

The new DSM-5 ( Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders) is expected to eliminate autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder (not otherwise specified) by dissolving them into one diagnosis called autism spectrum disorder. According to the APA, this represents an effort to more accurately diagnose all individuals showing the signs of autism.

Until DSM-5 is put into practice, psychologists and therapists currently ise the DSM-4 criteria for a diagnosis of autism. Its criteria for autism include the following:

I. A total of six (or more) items from heading (A), (B) and (C) with at least two from (A) and one each from (B) and (C):

(A) Qualitative impairment in social interaction as manifested by at least two of the following:


 * Marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors 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.


 * A lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests or achievements with other people, (e.g. a lack of showing, bringing or pointing out objects of interest to other people).


 * A lack of social or emotional reciprocity.

(B) Qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by at least one of the following:


 * 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).


 * In individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others.


 * Stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language.


 * Lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level.

(C) Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities as manifested by at least two of the following:


 * Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus


 * Apparently inflexible 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

II. Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset prior to age 3 years:

(A) Social interaction (B) Language used in social communication (C) Symbolic or imaginative play

 More Resources

If you need more information on current definitions of ASDs or diagnoses criteria, the following websites should help:

http://www.apa.org/topics/autism/index.aspx http://www.autismspeaks.org/ http://www.autism-society.org/