autism

American  

[aw-tiz-uhm] / ˈɔ tɪz əm /

noun

Psychiatry.

1. a developmental disability of highly variable presentation, commonly characterized by social and communication differences, repetitive behaviors, intense specialized interests, and differences in sensory processing; autism spectrum disorder.

2. Sometimes classic autism (no longer in clinical use) a developmental disability that commonly manifests in early childhood, characterized by repetitive or restricted behaviors, differences in understanding social interactions, and delayed development of linguistic and cognitive abilities: formerly contrasted with Asperger syndrome.

---

autism British  

/ ˈɔːtɪzəm /

noun

1. psychiatry a developmental disorder whose symptoms include difficulty in responding conventionally to people and actions and limited use of communication

---

Usage

Rather than talking about an autistic or autistics , it is better to use phrases such as a person with autism and people with autism

Other Word Forms

• autist noun
• autistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of autism

First recorded in 1910–15, for an earlier sense; coined in 1944 by Austrian-American psychiatrist Leo Kanner (1894–1981), for the current sense (in the phrase infantile autism ); from German Autismus (in the earlier sense), from New Latin; aut- + -ism

Example Sentences

For years, Indiana reimbursed autism therapy providers 40% of whatever list prices they set, effectively allowing them to determine their rates.

From The Wall Street Journal

Spence works for Positive Futures, a charity dedicated to supporting children, young people and adults with learning disabilities, acquired brain injuries and autism.

From BBC

Sweet adds: "At Field Lane I have met the most amazing children who are developing empathy, understanding and acceptance - they are learning about autism and physical disability."

From BBC

Islas, who said he has been diagnosed with autism, maintained he wasn’t doing anything combative that night.

From Los Angeles Times

She says she has autism and "other issues" which weren't appreciated or supported at the time.

From BBC