Showing evidence of autism, e.g., a disturbance in psychological development in which use of language, reaction to stimuli, interpretation of the world, and the formation of relationships are not fully established and follow unusual patterns.

A severe pervasive developmental disorder with onset usually before three years of age and a biological basis related to neurologic or neurophysiologic factors.

It is characterized by qualitative impairment in reciprocal social interaction (e.g., lack of awareness of the existence of feelings of others, failure to seek comfort at times of distress, lack of imitation), in verbal and nonverbal communication, and in capacity for symbolic play, and by restricted and unusual repertoire of activities and interests.

Other characteristics sometimes include cognitive impairment, hyperactivitiy or hyporeactivity to certain stimuli, stereotypic behaviors, neurological abnormalities; such as, seizures or altered muscle tone, sleeping or eating pattern abnormalities, and severe behavioral problems. It is associated with several genetic conditions and prenatal and perinatal risk factors.

1. An individual with autism who has an extraordinary talent or skill not produced by most people.
2. Someone who expresses extraordinary mental abilities, often in the fields of numerical calculation, but also in art or music.

Information about Autistic Savants and their special skills.

Self-absorption; preoccupation with inner thoughts, drives, and idiosyncratic logic; egocentric, subjective thinking lacking objectivity and preferring a narcissistic, inner, private reality to that which is externally validated.