•Lack of understanding of purpose of language ie. Conveying information to others
•Understanding and use of words tends to be concrete and literal
•Severity ranges from no communication at all to spontaneous use of speech and gesture, but repetitive and one-sided
Impairment of social relationships
--Specifically a failure of social empathy
Behaviours seen on a continuum from 1-4, the most to the least severely affected:
1.Aloof and indifferent
2.Approaches for physical needs only
3.Passively accepts approaches
4.Makes bizarre one-sided approaches
Impairment of imagination:
•Inability to play imaginatively
•Tendency select details and not understand the meaning of the whole scene
•May be able to copy routines mechanically, but will be pursued repetitively and rigidly – not able to be influenced by others
•Lack of creativity – makes literature, particularly fiction and poetry, unattainable
•Ranges from no imagination at all to repetitive, mechanical action act of themes eg. Batman
Common but not essential features:
•Visual inspection eg. peripheral vision
•Motor control eg. flapping, rocking
•Abnormal responses to sensory experiences e.g. sound, pain
•Inappropriate emotional reactions
Variable features
1.A lack of conceptual skills
•Focus on detail
•Poor organisation
•Sequencing problems
2. Sensory problems
•Inconsistencies
•Modulation problems
•Overstimulation
3. Behaviour problems
•Difficulty dealing with change
•Compulses and impulses
•Difficulty with generalisation
4.Difference between work and leisure not understood
5.Anxiety
