2. A mental disorder characterized by severely abnormal developments of social interaction and verbal and nonverbal communication skills.
3. A tendency to view life in terms of one's own needs and desires.
Affected individuals may adhere to inflexible, nonfunctional rituals or routine. They may become upset with even trivial changes in their environment. They often have a limited range of interests but may become preoccupied with a narrow range of subjects or activities. They appear unable to understand others' feelings and often have poor eye contact with others.
Unpredictable mood swings may occur. Many demonstrate stereotypical motor mannerisms; such as, hand or finger flapping, body rocking, or dipping. The disorder is probably caused by organically based central nervous system dysfunction, especially in the ability to process social or emotional information or language.
Information about autism and autistic symptoms.
Exactly how these changes cause symptoms; social impairment, repetitive behaviors, poor language skills, is uncertain, although the frontal lobe is known to regulate behavior and the amygdala, anxiety.
Researchers believe that autism has both genetic and environmental causes.
Autism afflicts one in 150 kids by age eight. Diagnoses are on the rise, although whether because of better recognition or a growing frequency is unclear.