Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent deficits in areas of communication skills and social interaction which may include a lack of social-emotional reciprocity, non-verbal communication deficits (e.g., maintaining eye contact, awkward gestures or body language), difficulty in maintaining interpersonal relationships and understanding social cues. Individuals with ASD also engage in repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior and activities which may include preoccupation with parts of objects, repetitive motor behaviors (e.g., flapping, twisting), and inflexible adherence to nonfunctional routines and rituals. Inflexibility and rigid thinking patterns are also common. Some individuals with ASD have sensory integration issues where they may be very sensitive to certain sounds, textures, etc. ASD can range in severity, and severity indicators are classified by level of intellectual functioning and language impairment. Mild ASD (e.g., absent or mild intellectual and language impairment) was previously diagnosed as Asperger’s Disorder.

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