INTRODUCTION FOR THE LIONHEART SCHOOL AUTISM AND ASPERGER’S

QUESTIONS Define Autism. How would someone diagnosed with Autism act?

PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS Autism and Asperger’s are both types of PDDs Disorders concerning delays in the development of socialization and communication Autism is more severe than Asperger’s Autism: “disorder of neural development, social interaction, and communication” Asperger’s: “disorder in cognitive development and language” Diagnosis in early childhood Symptoms become apparent before a child is 3 years old Early intervention is crucial for improvement

SOME SYMPTOMS Impairments in social interaction, and communication Restricted interests and repetitive behavior Lack of eye contact (in some cases) Dependent on routines Trouble in making and maintaining friends

ASPERGER’S

DIAGNOSIS CRITERIA Recent changes in diagnosis criteria because of the increase in diagnosis Change from DMS-IV criteria to DSM-5 criteria

THE LIONHEART SCHOOL

THE LIONHEART GARDENS

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