Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a diagnosis in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), for individuals who broadly display difficulties with social communication skills and who also present with a range of restricted interests and/or repetitive behaviors. As the designation implies, this diagnosis identifies a spectrum of difficulties among those with ASD. On one end of the spectrum, people with this disorder may have no verbal communication skills, may not make eye contact with others, and might spend their days repeatedly lining up toys. On the other end of this spectrum, those with ASD may be capable of engaging in sophisticated conversations but may not understand the subtleties of social interactions with others (e.g., how close to ...