Please verify your email address to receive email notifications.

Enter your email address

We have sent you a verification email. Please check your inbox and spam folder.

Unable to send verification, please refresh and try again later.

  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What is autism?

    Related Topics
    Autism Spectrum Disorder Children's Health
    • 1 answer
    • Amaze
    answer this question

  • Find a professional to answer your question

  • 2

    Thanks

    Amaze

    Autism Victoria, trading as Amaze, is a member-based not-for-profit organisation and is the peak body for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) in the state of Victoria. View Profile

    The word “autism” can be used to refer to two related concepts – Autistic Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorders.

    Autism in the context of Autism Spectrum Disorder is a family of disorders, characterised by a triad of impairments in the areas of 1) social interaction, 2) communication and, 3) behaviour. How these impairments manifest varies greatly between the disorders on the spectrum and within the disorders themselves, so that two people with autism may be very different from each other, but features of the triad are always present in some form.

    Autism in the context of Autistic Disorder is one of the conditions on the spectrum. Sometimes it is called “classic autism”. It is characterised by delays in developing language, as well as difficulties with non-verbal communication, repetitive, restrictive patterns of behaviour, stereotyped interests, and sensory issues. Some people with Autistic Disorder have intellectual disabilities, but not all.

    Reply to this post
     · 
    Report
answer this question

You must be a Health Professional to answer this question. Log in or Sign up .

You may also like these related questions

Related Fact Sheets
Related Questions

Empowering Australians to make better health choices