Identifying Autism: What You Need to Know

The diagnostic criteria for autism are outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). This manual provides a set of specific criteria that must be met for an individual to receive a diagnosis of autism. These criteria include persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. The DSM-5 also emphasizes that symptoms must be present in the early developmental period, although they may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities, or may be masked by learned strategies later in life.