Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction, accompanied by restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.
The term “spectrum” is crucial to understanding autism, because of the wide range of intensity, symptoms and behaviors, and considerable individual variation. Children with ASD may be non-verbal and asocial, as in the case of many with “classic” autism. On the other end of the spectrum are children with a high-functioning form of autism characterized by idiosyncratic social skills and play.