Overview
A neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, along with restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities.
Diagnostic criteria overview
- Criterion a: persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction, including social-emotional reciprocity, nonverbal communication, and developing or maintaining relationships
- Criterion b: restricted, repetitive behaviours, interests, or activities, including stereotyped movements, insistence on sameness, highly restricted interests, hyper- or hypo-reactivity to sensory input
- Criterion c: symptoms present in early developmental period
- Criterion d: clinically significant impairment
- Criterion e: not better explained by intellectual disability
Symptoms
- Difficulty with back-and-forth conversation, limited sharing of interests, reduced eye contact, difficulty understanding social cues
- Repetitive body movements or speech, insistence on routine, intense fixations or restricted interests, unusual responses to sensory stimuli
Impact on functioning
- Difficulty navigating unstructured social situations such as playtime or group work
- Emotional distress during changes in routine or environment
- Sensory sensitivities affecting school, play, or public settings
- Reliance on structured routines to complete activities