What is Autism?
WHAT
IS AUTISM?
Autism
is a pervasive disorder characterized by deficits in language, social behavior
and abstract thinking. It is a disorder that affects individuals for the
duration of their lifetime. At present, there no known cause to autism.
According
to the DSM-IV, Autism is defined as noted below. The Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) is a compilation of a comprehensive list of
disorders put together by the American Psychiatric Association. Psychiatrists,
Psychologists, and other clinical professionals use this manual to diagnose
disorders including autism. This widely used, well-respected manual is used
by medical professionals throughout the country as the industry standard
used to diagnose mental disorders.
DSM-IV CRITERIA FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM
A. A total of
six (or more) items from (1), (2), and (3), with at least two from (1), and
o要e each from (2) and (3):
1. Qualitative
impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
a. Marked impairment
in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial
expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction
b. Failure to
develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
c. A lack of spontaneous
seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people
(e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest)
2. Qualitative
impairments in communication as manifested by at least o要e of the following:
a. 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)
b. In individuals
with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain
a conversation with others
c. Stereotyped
and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language
d. Lack of varied,
spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental
level
3. Restricted
repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities,
as manifested by at least o要e of the following:
a. Encompassing
preoccupation with o要e or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest
that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
b. Apparently
inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
c. Stereotyped
and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting,
or complex whole-body movements)
d. Persistent
preoccupation with parts of objects
B. Delays or abnormal
functioning in at least o要e of the following areas, with o要set prior to
age 3 years: (1) social interaction, (2) language as used in social communication,
or (3) symbolic or imaginative play.
The disturbance
is not better accounted for by Rett's Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative
Disorder.
|
|
This article comes from California Institute of Behavior Analysis, Inc.
http://www.cibainc.org/
|