ABSTRACT
A utism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of severe developmental disordersthat are characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication as well asrestricted or repetitive patterns of behaviors or interests (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). There are five specific diagnoses within the autism spectrum disorders (see Table 3.1). Two of the disorders-Rett’s disorder and childhood disintegrative disorder-are defined by a regression in skills (Corsello, 2005). The remaining three autism spectrum disorders include autism, Asperger’s disorder (AD) and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). PDD-NOS is sometimes referred to as “atypical autism” (Towbin, 1997). There is considerable overlap in the diagnostic criteria for the categories of autism, AD and PDD-NOS.
