Autism

Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences or difficulties in social communication and interaction, a preference for predictability and routine, sensory processing... Wikipedia

• Symptoms:  Difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, inflexible routines, focused interests, repetitive body movements, unusual sensory responses
• Complications:  Social isolation, educational and employment problems, anxiety, stress, bullying, depression, self-harm, suicidality
• Usual onset:  Early childhood
• Duration:  Lifelong
• Causes:  Multifactorial, with many uncertain factors
• Risk factors:  Family history, certain genetic conditions, having older parents, certain prescribed drugs, perinatal and neonatal health issues
• Diagnostic method:  Based on combination of clinical observation of behavior and development and comprehensive diagnostic testing completed by a team of qualified professionals. For adults, the use of a patient's written and oral 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
• Management:  Applied behavior analysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, speech–language pathology
• Data source:  DuckDuckGo