Did you know?
The diagnostic criteria for autism agreed upon by most authorities are:
- Severe abnormality of reciprocal social relatedness;
- Severe abnormality of communication development (including language);
- Restricted, repetitive behaviour and patterns of behaviour, interests, activities and imagination.
Various medical professionals and clinicians have noted that children regress into autism after a period of normal development and behaviour.
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disorders ranging from full-fledged Autism to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). PDD is a catch-all diagnosis that children get when they do not meet developmental milestones and exhibit autistic symptoms, yet still retain at least some ability to speak and communicate. Children with Asperger’s Syndrome use and understand a large vocabulary but have very narrow interests and exhibit many social deficits.
Autism Questionnaire: Social Interaction:
- Does the child exhibit appropriate eye contact, facial expressions, body postures, and social gestures?
- Does the child have peer relationships appropriate to his or her developmental level?
- Does the child spontaneously seek to share enjoyment, interests or achievements?
- Does the child show social or emotional reciprocity?
Communication:
- Does the child exhibit age – appropriate language skills (i.e. no delay)?
- Does the child initiate or sustain a conversation with others?
- Does the child present with repetitive and/or idiosyncratic language?
- Does the child speak with abnormal tone, intonation, rate or rhythm?
- Does the child show varied make-believe play or social imitative play that is appropriate for developmental level?
Stereotypy
- Does the child have an intense preoccupation with one area of interest or activity?
- Does the child adhere to specific non-functional routines or rituals?
- Does the child present with repetitive motor mannerisms?
- Does the child exhibit a persistent preoccupation with parts of objects?