What is Autism?
Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurological disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and social interactions as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. So what might that look like?
Deficits in Social Communication and Social Interactions
- Difficulty engaging in back-and-forth conversation
- Abnormalities in eye contact and body language
- Deficits in understanding and use of gestures
- Failure to initiate or respond to social interactions
- Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships
Restricted, Repetitive Patterns of Behavior, Interests, or Activities
- Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech
- Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns of verbal or nonverbal behavior
- Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus
Hyper- or hypo-reactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment
