Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex, lifelong developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges. There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less.
A diagnosis of ASD now includes several conditions that used to be diagnosed separately: autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger's Syndrome. The Diagnostic Criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Diagnostic Criteria for Social (Pragmatic) Communication from the 2013 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition™ (DS-5™) is included below.
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