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Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Forum References FAQ's Quiz Lecture Introduction Welcome to the module on the characteristics of autism spectrum disorders (ASD)! The purpose of this module is to introduce you to ASD and the major characteristics of the primary disorders that are included in the spectrum. This module serves as a foundation for the intervention modules that are included in this site and includes basic information about ASD and characteristics specific to each category, a quiz, and related resources.

What Is ASD?

The term autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is used to describe a collection of disabilities that share similar characteristics. There has been some controversy regarding terminology. While ASD is not commonly used as a diagnostic category, it is currently used in the professional literature. Generally, ASD is interchangeable with the term pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), a category of disorders defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000).

Several distinct disorders are included under the PDD umbrella: (a) autistic disorder, (b) Asperger disorder, (c) Rett’s disorder, (d) childhood disintegrative disorder, and (e) pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Specifically, individuals with ASD display varying degrees of deficits in social interaction as well as repetitive, restricted, and stereotyped behavior (APA, 2000). Those who are most impacted by ASD also have deficits in communication. In this module, autism, Asperger syndrome, and PDD-NOS will be discussed.

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