Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Clinical features
ASD is characterized by a combination of two core symptom domains that impair daily functioning:
- Persistent deficits in social communication and interaction:
- Social-emotional reciprocity: Difficulty with back-and-forth conversation, initiating social interaction, and sharing interests.
- Nonverbal communication: Poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal cues, abnormal eye contact, and difficulty understanding gestures or facial expressions.
- Developing & maintaining relationships: Trouble making friends or adjusting behavior to social contexts.
- Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities (at least 2 of the following):
- Stereotyped movements or speech: Repetitive motor movements (e.g., hand-flapping), lining up toys, or echolalia (repeating words/phrases).
- Insistence on sameness: Extreme distress at minor changes, inflexible adherence to routines, and ritualized behaviors.
- Highly restricted, fixated interests: Abnormal intensity or focus on particular subjects or objects.
- Sensory issues: Hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input like pain, temperature, or specific sounds/textures.
Diagnostics
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Treatment
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