DSM-IV CRITERIA FOR AUTISTIC DISORDER
:
1). Deficits in reciprocal social interaction-
a). Difficulty using nonverbal behaviors to regulate social interaction.
- Trouble looking others in the eye
- Little use of gestures while speaking
- Few or "unusual’ facial expressions
- Trouble knowing how close to stand to others
- Unusual intonation or voice quality
b). Failure to develop age-appropriate peer relationships
- Few or no friends
- Relationships only with those much older or
younger than the child or with family members
- Relationships based primarily on special interests
- Trouble interacting in groups and following
cooperative rules of games
c). Little sharing of pleasure, achievements, or interests with others
- Enjoys favorite activities, television shows, toys alone,
without trying to "involve other people"
- Does not try to call others’ attention to activities, interests,
or accomplishments
- Little interest in or reaction to praise
d). Lack of social or emotional reciprocity
- Does not "respond" to others, "appears deaf"
- Not aware of others; "oblivious" to their presence
- Strongly prefers "solitary activities"
- Does not notice when others are hurt or upset;
does not offer comfort
2). Deficits in Communication
a). Delay in or total lack of development of language
- No use of words to communicate by age 2
- No simple phrases by age 3
- After speech develops, immature grammar or repeated errors
b). Difficulty holding conversations
- Has trouble knowing how to start, keep going, and/or end
a conversation
- Little back-and-forth; may talk on and on in a monologue
- Fails to respond to the comments of others; responds only
to direct questions
- Difficulty talking about topics not of special interest
c). Unusual or repetitive language
- Repeating what others say to them (echolalia)
- Repeating from videos, books, or commercials at
inappropriate times or out of context
- Using words or phrases that the child has made up
or that have special meaning only to him/her
- Overly formal, pedantic style of speaking (sounds like a
"Little Professor")
d). Play that is not appropriate to developmental level
- Little "acting-out" scenarios with toys
- Rarely pretends an object is something else
- Prefers to use toys/objects in a concrete manner,
rather than pretending with them
- When young, little interest in social games
3). Restricted, repetitive behaviors, interests or activities
a). Interests that are narrow in focus, overly intense, and/or unusual
- Very strong focus on particular topics to the exclusion
of other topics
- Difficulty "letting go" of special topics or activities
- Interference with other activities
- Interest in topics that are unusual for age
- Excellent memory for details of special interest.
b). Unreasonable insistence on sameness and following familiar routines
- Wants to perform certain activities in exact order
- Easily upset by minor changes in routine
- Need for advance warning of any changes
- Becomes highly anxious or upset if rituals or routines
are not followed
c). Repetitive motor mannerisms
- Flapping hands when excited or upset
- Flicking fingers in front of eyes
- Odd hand postures or other hand movements
- Spinning or rocking for long periods of time
- Walking or running on tiptoe
d). Preoccupation with parts of objects
- Uses objects in unusual ways, rather than as intended
- Interest in sensory qualities of objects
- Likes objects that move
- "Attachment" to unusual objects
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