What is autism

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of mental development disorders, which are called autism in short. Autism is not only “one”. It is a group of disorders, which have different symptoms and consequences. Experts define it in various ways:

AUTISM IS A MENTAL IMPAIRMENT, which

  • causes a problem to select and understand information to an individual
  • affects individual’s communication with others and their perception of the world and other people
  • impairs child’s mental development in communication, social interaction and imagination

 

  • What types of autism do we know?


    Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are also referred to as pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). The collocation PERVASIVE DISORDER means that mental abnormalities pervade into all areas of thinking and to a different extent they are a pervasive feature of behaviour in all situations.

    The classification of the types of the autism spectrum disorders is based on several points of view. The first examines the disorders according to social behaviour and recognizes the following 3 types:

  • According to the diagnostic criteria of the International Health Organization the autism spectrum disorders are classified as follows: