ABSTRACT
Autism is a neurodevelopmental syndrome that is defined by deficits in social reciprocity and communication, and by unusual restricted, repetitive behaviors (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Autism is a disorder that usually begins in infancy, at the latest, in the first three years of life. Parents often first become concerned because their child is not using words to communicate, even though he or she recites passages from videotapes or says the alphabet. Though social deficits may not be immediately obvious in early years, they become gradually more evident as a child becomes more mobile and as other children become more socially sophisticated. Young children with autism often do not seek out others when they are happy, show or point to objects of interest, or call their parents by name. In preschool years, repetitive behaviors, such as using peripheral vision to look at lines or wheels, or specific hand and finger movements, begin to develop.
