Autism is a developmental disorder that appears early in life. Autism involves impairments in the development of:

• Non-verbal and verbal communication
• Social interaction or play
• Normal behaviour patterns (such as the tendency to repeat certain behaviours or interests)

What are common behaviours associated with Autism? 
Communication

• Echoing speech made by others
• Repetitive language
• Unusual use of language

Social interaction

• Easily distracted
• Difficulties interacting with peers
• Difficulties understanding or emphasizing with others’ point of views

Sameness

• Narrow range of interests
• Unusual interest in particular objects
• Repetitive/self stimulatory behaviour

Reactivity

• Highly reactive to sensory stimulation (i.e. sight, smell, sounds, touch or taste)

Intelligence

• 70 – 80% of people who are diagnosed with autism also have developmental delays

How is Autism Diagnosed?
A psychologist or physician with experience and understanding of autism can make a clinical diagnosis of autism, based on assessments of the child’s abilities in several areas of development.

自閉症是一種早期出現的發育障礙。自閉症包括以下方面的障礙：

• 非語言和語言交流
• 社交或玩遊戲
• 正常的行為模式（例如重複某些行為或興趣的傾向）

什麼是與自閉症有關的常見行為？

溝通

• 回應他人的講話
• 重複性語言
• 不尋常的語言使用
• 社交

容易分心

• 與同伴交往的困難
• 難以理解或強調與他人的觀點
• 千篇一律

範圍狹窄的興趣

• 對感官刺激（即視覺，氣味，聲音，觸覺或味覺
• 對特定對象的不尋常興趣
• 重複/自我刺激行為

反應

• 對感官刺激（即視覺，氣味，聲音，觸覺或味覺）

智力

70-80％被診斷患有自閉症的人也有發育遲緩

自閉症如何診斷？

對自閉症有經驗和理解的心理學家或醫生,可以基於孩子在幾個發展領域的能力評估,來做出自閉症的臨床診斷。