What is autism?

Licensed Psychologist and Autism Specialist Ronald Leaf, PhD, explains the definition of autism. Learn important tips and information about autism spectrum disorders.

Transcript

00:00

That deficit again ranges from children that are rejecting of all social contact to those children that have very good social skills.

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But again, there's oddities to those skills. [MUSIC PLAYING]

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Autism is a childhood disorder. The onset of the disorder is before the age of three. Doesn't mean you have to be diagnosed

00:22

before the age of three, but the presence of the features are before three. There are three features. One is a deficit in language communication,

00:31

with a large range within that spectrum from children that are mute to children that have good language, but don't use it appropriately.

00:38

They may-- in their language, they may not have reciprocity of language. They may talk about specific things, topics,

00:46

and only on those topics. They have good language. They use it in a different way. The second feature is a social deficit

00:53

that deficit, again, ranges from children that are rejecting of all social contact To. Those children that have very good social skills.

01:00

But again, there's oddities to those skills that may be-- that socially they play with younger children only

01:07

or older children only. Their relationships may not be reciprocal. As long as you play their way, they're really happy.

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But if they want to play-- if the other child wants to play in a different way, not so happy. The third feature is repetitive behavior

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for self-stimulation with a range from children that have body self-stimulation or repetitive behavior, and they rock back and forth, and they may flap their hands.

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They spin themselves in circles. On the other end of the spectrum, you have children that are just inflexible. They may have a certain obsession, certain passions,

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and very restricted kinds of interests. [AUDIO LOGO]