What Are Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, and Nonverbal Learning Disorder?
Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Nonverbal Learning Disorder are all neurological disorders, which means they are dysfunctions in the way that the brain processes information. Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome are both classified as Pervasive Developmental Disorders. This means that children’s behavior is characterized by severe and pervasive impairments in social interaction skills, communication skills, and by stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities. Nonverbal Learning Disorder sharesmany of the same characteristics, but generally to a lesser degree of severity. It is important for parents to keep in mind, however, that a related and much less severe type of problem, dysemia, shares many characteristics in common with these more serious disorders.
