Diagnostic Parameter, Austic Disorder

Autistic Disorder

Autism is a developmental disorder that typically appears during the first three years of life and may be the result of a neurological disorder that affects the brain. Autism is classified by the American Psychiatric Association as a Pervasive Development Disorder (APA, 1994). It is defined by symptoms that appear before the age of three which reflect delayed or abnormal development in Language, Social Skills and Behavioral Repertoire.

Autistic disorder symptoms manifest themselves as follows:

The person fulfills a total of at least 6 criteria from the following 3 lists, distributed as indicated:

Impaired social interaction (at least 2):

Markedly deficient regulation of social interaction by using multiple non-verbal behaviors such as eye contact, facial expression, body posture and gestures.

Lack of peer relationships that are appropriate to the developmental level.

Doesn't seek to share achievements, interests or pleasure with others.

Lacks social or emotional reciprocity.

Impaired communication (at least 1):

Delayed or absent development of spoken language for which the patient doesn't try to compensate with gestures.

In person's who can speak, inadequate attempts to begin or sustain a conversation.

Language that is repetitive, stereotyped or idiosyncratic.

Appropriate to developmental stage, absence of social imitative play or spontaneous, make-believe play.

Activities, behavior and interests that are repetitive, restricted and stereotyped (at least 1 of):

Preoccupation with abnormal (in focus or intensity) interests that are restricted and stereotyped (such as spinning things).

Rigidly sticks to routines or rituals that don't appear to have a function.

Has stereotyped, repetitive motor mannerisms, such as hand flapping.

Persistently preoccupied with parts of objects.

Before age three, the person shows delayed or abnormal functioning in 1 or more of these areas:

Social interaction.

Language used in social communication.

Imaginative or symbolic play.

These symptoms are not better explained by Childhood Disintegrative Disorder or Rett's Disorder.