Autism Meaning

/ˈɔːtɪzəm/
C1

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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nounA pervasive neurological condition that is observable in early childhood and persists throughout the lifespan, characterised by atypical communication patterns (e.g., differences in body language or eye contact), delayed language development, and sensory processing sensitivities.

nounA pervasive neurological condition that is observable in early childhood and persists throughout the lifespan, characterised by atypical communication patterns (e.g., differences in body language or eye contact), delayed language development, and sensory processing sensitivities., Synonym of autism spectrum; a range of disorders.

Children that live in homes with vinyl floors are more likely to have autism.
Both boys have autism.
Tom was diagnosed with autism when he was three years old.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Early therapy can greatly help a child with ____ improve communication skills.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
____ is a developmental disorder that affects communication and social skills.

Borrowed from German Autismus, coined by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler, first usage dated to 1907 attributed by Carl Jung as an alternative of his for "auto-erotism", although Bleuler himself differentiates the terms in his book Dementia Praecox, first published 1911. From Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós, “self”) + -ισμός (-ismós, “-ism”).

"Mostly, the microbiome is beneficial. It helps with digestion and enables people to extract a lot more calories from their food than would otherwise be possible. Research over the past few years, however, has implicated it in diseases from atherosclerosis to asthma to autism." — 2013 June 29, “A punch in the gut”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, London: The Economist Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Jul 2023, pages 72–3:

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CEFR Practice Quiz
Early therapy can greatly help a child with ____ improve communication skills.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
____ is a developmental disorder that affects communication and social skills.

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