MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Autistic behavior

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Autistic behavior

Contents of this page:
Definition Considerations Common Causes	Home Care Call your health care provider if

Definition

Autistic behavior describes behavioral patterns similar to those seen in autism.

Considerations

Autistic behavior includes:

Absent or poorly-developed verbal and nonverbal communication skills
Abnormal socialization (lack of need for socialization)
Social withdrawal
Inability to make friends
Repetitive body movements
Ritualistic behavior
Lack of eye contact
Various speech pattern abnormalities

Several infectious and neurological diseases can produce symptoms mimicking autism.

Common Causes

Infantile autism
Deafness
Mental retardation
Metabolic degenerative CNS (central nervous system) disorders
Schizophrenia

Home Care

Home care depends on the cause of the behavior. The child's safety needs must always be considered.

Call your health care provider if

Call your provider if your child exhibits autistic behavior but is not known to be autistic.

Update Date: 5/11/2004

Updated by: Samuel Blackman, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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