There are five disorders that fall under the Autism Spectrum Disorders umbrella and are defined by deficits in three core areas: social skills, communication, and restrictive and repetitive behaviors.

They are:

• Autistic Disorder – occurs in males four times more than females and involves moderate to severe disturbances in communication, socialization and behavior.
• Asperger SYNDROME - sometimes considered a milder form of autism, Asperger’s is typically diagnosed later in life than other disorders on the spectrum, person with Asperger syndrome usually function in the average to above average intelligence range and have no delays in language skills. Deficits appear most OFTEN in the areas of social skills, concentration and coordination.
• RETT Syndrome – diagnosed primarily in females who exhibit typical development until approximately 18 months when children with Rett syndrome begin to regress, especially in terms of motor skills and loss of abilities in other areas. A key indicator of Rett syndrome is the APPEARANCE of repetitive meaningless movements or gestures.
• Childhood Disintegrative Disorder – involves a clear regression in multiple areas of functioning including motor skills, bladder control and social skills following two years of normal development.
• Pervasive DEVELOPMENTAL Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PPD-NOS)– includes children that do not fully meet the criteria for the other specific disorders or those that do not have the degree of impairment associated with those disorders.

There are five disorders that fall under the Autism Spectrum Disorders umbrella and are defined by deficits in three core areas: social skills, communication, and restrictive and repetitive behaviors.

They are: