| Autism | |
|---|---|
| Other names |
|
| Specialty | Psychiatry (neuropsychiatry), clinical psychology, pediatrics |
| Characteristics | Differences and difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication; need for predictability and routines; focused interests; stimming; differences in sensory processing |
| Societal barriers | Sensory overwhelm, unpredictable environments, lack of acceptance, reciprocal communication difficulties between autistic and non-autistic people |
| Common challenges | Anxiety, depression, social isolation, difficulties in educational and employment settings, stress, bullying, self-harm, suicidality, burnout, meltdown |
| Onset | Early childhood |
| Duration | Lifelong |
| Causes | Precise causes mostly unknown, highly heritable and polygenic, in some cases the result of a genetic condition, environmental factors also play a role |
| Diagnostic method | Based on combination of clinical observation of behavior and comprehensive diagnostic testing by professionals. For adults, the person's history of autistic traits becomes more important. |
| Differential diagnosis | Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disability, language disorders, social (pragmatic) communication disorder, selective mutism, stereotypic movement disorder, Rett syndrome, anxiety disorders, obsessive–compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders[1] |
| Supports | Autism-friendly environments, positive behavior support,[2] applied behavior analysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, augmentative and alternative communication, speech–language therapy, inclusive education |
| Frequency | One in 100 people (1%) worldwide[3][4] |
| Autism | |
|---|---|
| Other names |
|
| Specialty | Psychiatry (neuropsychiatry), clinical psychology, pediatrics |
| Characteristics | Differences and difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication; need for predictability and routines; focused interests; stimming; differences in sensory processing |
| Societal barriers | Sensory overwhelm, unpredictable environments, lack of acceptance, reciprocal communication difficulties between autistic and non-autistic people |
| Common challenges | Anxiety, depression, social isolation, difficulties in educational and employment settings, stress, bullying, self-harm, suicidality, burnout, meltdown |
| Onset | Early childhood |
| Duration | Lifelong |
| Causes | Precise causes mostly unknown, highly heritable and polygenic, in some cases the result of a genetic condition, environmental factors also play a role |
| Diagnostic method | Based on combination of clinical observation of behavior and comprehensive diagnostic testing by professionals. For adults, the person's history of autistic traits becomes more important. |
| Differential diagnosis | Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disability, language disorders, social (pragmatic) communication disorder, selective mutism, stereotypic movement disorder, Rett syndrome, anxiety disorders, obsessive–compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders[1] |
| Supports | Autism-friendly environments, positive behavior support,[2] applied behavior analysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, augmentative and alternative communication, speech–language therapy, inclusive education |
| Frequency | One in 100 people (1%) worldwide[3][4] |
