Digital Autism

摘要

Autism-which affects thought, perception, attention, and human communication-is a tragic and resistant disorder that torments the lives of children, adults, and families in increasing numbers. It is not just one disorder with a well-defined set of signs and symptoms; autism is a broad spectrum of disorders that ranges from mild to severe. In the diagnostic manual used to classify disabilities-the DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994)-"autistic disorder" is listed as a category under the heading of "Pervasive Developmental Disorders." A diagnosis of autistic disorder is made when an individual displays 6 or more of 12 signs and symptoms listed across 3 major areas: social interaction, communication, and behavior. When children display similar behaviors but do not meet the criteria for autistic disorder, they may receive a diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder-NOS (PDD not otherwise specified).