What does autism spectrum disorder mean?
Autism is a medical/mental health term in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition with Text Revisions) (DSM-IV-TR) of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), which describes a set of developmental symptoms, rather than any singular cause or specific physical condition. In the first chapter of this text, “Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood, or Adolescence.” there is a description of the behavioral symptoms of the overall spectrum and various subtypes of Autism, and related disorders as well. A person’s childhood behavioral symptoms must then meet a specific set and degree of neurologically related features from the standardized criteria for what is a larger category (but not a diagnosis of) Pervasive Developmental Disorders. This means, that as a group, people within the whole Autism Spectrum do share certain atypical developmental characteristic features, but with highly varied presentations that create unique sensorimotor, com
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the name for a range of conditions that affect the way a person sees the world, processes information and interacts with other people. People with an ASD typically find it difficult to develop social relationships, communicate with others and think in the abstract. Often the condition is almost unnoticeable, and people can go through life without ever being diagnosed with the condition until they are in their twenties, thirties or forties. ASDs are called pervasive developmental disorders, which affect every part of a person’s life. In the workplace, even when their qualifications and skill levels are ideally suited to the work concerned, a person with an ASD may difficulties interacting with colleagues, and this can affect their ability to hold down a job. ASD is a spectrum condition, which means it can range from scarcely perceptible difficulties to severe disability. Diagnoses on the autism spectrum are varied, and include: • Classic autism: some pe
