Since May 2013, psychologists and psychiatrists have been using the below criteria from the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) 5 when evaluating individuals for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the related diagnosis of social communication disorder (SCD).
Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder 315.39 (F80.89)
Diagnostic Criteria
A. Persistent difficulties in the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication.
B. The deficits result in functional limitations in effective communication, social participation, social relationships, academic achievement, or occupational performance, individually or in combination.
C. The onset of the symptoms is in the early developmental period (but deficits may not become fully manifest until social communication demands exceed limited capacities).
D. These disturbances are not better explained by intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder) or global developmental delay. Intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder frequently co-occur; to make comorbid diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, social communication should be below that expected for general developmental level.
In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly designated April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD). Since then, the United Nations has worked to promote the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for autistic individuals, ensuring their equal participation in society. Significant progress has been made, driven in large part by autistic advocates who have worked tirelessly to bring the lived experiences of autistic individuals to the forefront of global discussions.
Photo: United Nations