Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. It includes a wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of disability.
A type of pervasive developmental disorder which is defined by significant difficulties in social interaction along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS): This was one of the several previously separate subtypes of autism that were folded into the single diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with the publication of the DSM-5 diagnostic manual in 2013.
Social Communication Disorder: A condition that affects an individual's ability to communicate effectively with others. It involves difficulty using verbal and nonverbal language for social purposes.