Autism Spectrum Disorder- (Part One)Its Diagnosis, Co-Morbidity & Differential Diagnosis

“I might hit developmental and societal milestones in a different order than my peers, but I am able to accomplish these small victories on my own time.” Haley Moss

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of neuro-developmental disabilities that impacts development in two core domains:

1. Social Communication

2. Repetitive patterns of Behaviors/Interests

1. Social Communication

In the area of social communication, individuals impacted by autism have deficits in:

i) Social & Emotional Reciprocity

· Failure of back and forth conversation

· Reduced sharing of interests

· Failure to initiate or respond to social interaction

ii) Deficit in Non-Verbal Communicative Behaviors

· Poor integrated verbal or non-verbal communication

· Abnormalities with eye-contact and body language

· Deficit in the use of non-verbal communication

· Total lack of facial expressions or use of gestures

iii) Developing and maintaining relationship with others