Bio-neurological disorder that is observable in early childhood with symptoms of abnormal self-absorption, characterised by lack of response to other humans and by limited ability or disinclination to communicate and socialize
Pervasive developmental disorder of the brain, characterized by lack of normal social interaction, impaired communication and imagination, and repetitive, obsessive behaviors Pervasive developmental disorder of the brain, characterized by lack of normal social interaction, impaired communication and imagination, and repetitive, obsessive behaviors
brain disorder that begins in early childhood and persists throughout adulthood; affects three crucial areas of development: communication, social interaction, and creative or imaginative play
Autism is a mental disorder that affects children, particularly their ability to relate to other people. a mental disorder (=problem) that makes people unable to communicate properly, or to form relationships (autos; AUTO-). Neurobiological disorder that affects physical, social, and language skills. First described by Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger in the 1940s, the syndrome usually appears before 2 1 2 years of age. Autistic infants appear indifferent or averse to affection and physical contact. They may be slow in learning to speak and suffer episodes of rage or panic; they may also appear deaf and display an almost hypnotized fascination with certain objects. Autism is often characterized by rhythmic body movements such as rocking or hand-clapping and by an obsessive desire to prevent change in daily routines. Autistic individuals may be hypersensitive to some stimuli (e.g., high-pitched sounds) and abnormally slow to react to others (e.g., physical pain). The disorder is three to four times more common in males. Though postnatal factors such as lack of parental attention were once blamed, it is now known that autism is the result of abnormalities in the brain structure. About 15-20% of autistic adults live and work independently; "high-functioning" autistic people may have special gifts based on their unusual ability for visual thinking. See also idiot savant
A form of brain disorder affecting the child's ability to relate to people, things, and events
(psychiatry) an abnormal absorption with the self; marked by communication disorders and short attention span and inability to treat others as people
A developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communications and social interaction, generally evident before age three, that adversely affects a child's educational performance Other characteristics often associated with autism are: engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences
A rare syndrome, appearing in childhood, characterised by a withdrawn state, a lack of social responsiveness or interest in others, serious communicative and linguistic impairments, and a failure to develop normal attachments, all frequently accompanied by a variety of bizarre ways of responding to the enviroment, usually including a fascination with inanimate objects and an insistence on routine, order, and sameness Onset prior to 30 months of age Sometimes the term is only used to refer to autistic disorder but more often it refers to all of the autistic spectrum or as a general term for developmental disorders in the pervasive developmental disorders category of the DSM-IV
A lifelong, nonprogressive neurological disorder typically appearing before the age of three yeas It is characterized by language and communication deficits, withdrawal from social contacts, and extreme reactions to changes in the immediate environment
Autism is a severely incapacitating, lifelong developmental disability which typically appears during the first three years of life It occurs in approximately 15 out of every 10,000 births and is four times more prevalent in males than females It occurs throughout the world in families of all racial, ethnic, and social backgrounds Factors in the psychological environments of a child have not been found to cause autism "Autism" means a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and non-verbal communication and social interaction, that adversely affects educational performance Other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences
a broad spectrum of disorders affecting thought, perception, attention, and communication
is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life The result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, autism and its associated behaviors have been estimated to occur in as many as 1 in 500 individuals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1997) Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls and knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries Family income, lifestyle, and educational levels do not affect the chance of autism's occurrence
developmental disorder affecting communication and social skills; characteristics may include delayed language, insistence on preservation of sameness and stereotypes
A developmental disorder that appears before the age of 3 Children with Autism have difficulties with social interaction, communication and a repetitive pattern of behaviors
A developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age 3, that adversely affects a child's educational performance Other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences The term does not apply if a child's educational performance is adversely affected primarily because the child has a serious emotional disturbance as defined below Autism was added as a separate category of disability in 1990 under P L 101-476 This was not a change in the law so much as it is a clarification Students with autism were covered by the law previously, but now the law identifies them as a separate and distinct class entitled to the law's benefits
A developmental brain disorder that typically appears during the first three years of life It affects brain areas controlling language, social interaction and abstract thought Children and adults with autism typically have deficiencies in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions
Developmental disability that affects communication and social interaction, adversely affects educational performance, is generally evident before age 3 Children with autism often engage in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resist environmental change or change in daily routines, and have unusual responses to sensory experiences
A disability characterized by developmental delays, which significantly affects verbal and nonverbal communication, social interaction, and educational performance Included as a disability category in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
From early childhood there is severe impairment in communication and social interactions, and actions are often repetitive and unchanging