Hello and welcome to the Zero to Finals podcast.

My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be talking to you about Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

And you can find written notes on this topic at zero.com slash autistic spectrum disorder or in the

psychiatry section of the 0 to Finals more medicine book. And you can find questions to train

your knowledge on this content and help you remember it for longer at members.0tofin5.com. So let's get straight into it.

Autistic spectrum disorder or ASD involves a range of impairments in social interaction,

communication and behavior. Autistic spectrum disorder is defined in the DSM-5. The DSM-5 takes previously recognized

diagnoses, specifically Asperger's Syndrome, Autistic Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder,

and groups them into one spectrum.

On one end of the autistic spectrum, patients have normal intelligence and the ability to function

in everyday life, but display difficulties with reading emotions and responding to others.

This was previously known as Asperger's Disorder.

On the other end, patients can be severely affected and unable to function in typical environments.

Let's go through the features.

The features of autistic spectrum disorder vary significantly between individuals along the spectrum.

They can be categorized into deficits in social interaction, communication and behavior.

The features are usually observable before the age of three years.

Deficits in social interaction include a lack of eye contact, delay in smiling,

avoiding physical contact, being unable to read non-verbal cues, difficulty in establishing friendships,

and not displaying a desire to share attention.

For example, not playing with others.

Deficits in communication include a delay,

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