What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by differences in social communication and interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities.
Definition according to DSM-5-TR and ICD-11
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), autism is defined by two core domains:
1. Persistent differences in social communication and interaction
Difficulties in social-emotional reciprocity, nonverbal communication behaviors and the ability to develop, maintain and understand relationships.
2. Restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities
Stereotyped motor movements, insistence on sameness, highly restricted interests and atypical sensory reactivity, including hyper- or hyporeactivity.
Reference: American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., text rev.). | WHO. (2022). ICD-11 — International Classification of Diseases.
Support Levels
DSM-5-TR describes three support levels. The level reflects support needs at that point in time and may change across development.
Level 1 — Requires support
Without support, social communication differences cause noticeable difficulties. There may be difficulty initiating social interactions and atypical responses to social approaches. Behavioral inflexibility can significantly interfere with functioning in one or more settings, including difficulty switching activities.
Level 2 — Requires substantial support
Marked differences in verbal and nonverbal social communication, with noticeable social difficulties even with support. Social initiation may be limited. Restricted or repetitive behaviors are frequent enough to be noticeable and interfere across settings, with distress or difficulty changing focus or action.
Level 3 — Requires very substantial support
Severe differences in verbal and nonverbal social communication that cause major functional difficulties. Social initiation may be very limited, with minimal response to social approaches. Restricted or repetitive behaviors can strongly interfere with functioning across settings, with substantial distress or difficulty changing focus or action.
Referência: American Psychiatric Association. (2022). DSM-5-TR.
Early Signs
Autism-related characteristics may appear in the first years of life, but vary in intensity, combination and timing. Examples that may prompt a developmental discussion include:
Important: No single sign confirms or rules out autism. If there are developmental concerns, seek a pediatrician or another health service. Diagnostic assessment considers developmental history, functioning and multiple information sources; the team involved varies according to need and service setting.
Referências: Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria (2021). Manual de Orientação — Transtorno do Espectro Autista. | Zwaigenbaum, L. et al. (2015). Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pediatrics, 136(Suppl 1), S10-S40.
Autism Across the Lifespan
👶 Early childhood
An important period for monitoring development and identifying support needs. When there are delays, difficulties or relevant barriers, it is not necessary to wait for a definitive diagnosis before seeking appropriate guidance and support.
🧒 Childhood
School, play, communication, autonomy and peer relationships may bring different needs. Educational, health or accessibility supports should be based on the child’s individual profile, not only on the diagnosis.
🧑 Adolescence
A period of physical, emotional and social changes. Topics such as identity, privacy, sexuality, bullying, friendships and transitions may require dialogue and support. Psychological care may be helpful when needed, but it is not a universal requirement.
👨 Adulthood
Employment, independent living, relationships and continuity of care may become important topics. Every autistic adult has unique needs and strengths.
👴 Aging
This remains an emerging area of research. Older autistic people may face specific challenges related to physical health, cognition and support networks. Research on aging and autism is growing.
Autistic Women and Girls
For a long time, autism was thought to be much more common in boys. Today, many autistic girls and women are known to remain undiagnosed or receive a late diagnosis. This may happen because:
- Many girls develop social camouflaging strategies, sometimes called masking, by copying social behaviors to adapt.
- Their restricted interests may resemble interests commonly seen in neurotypical girls, such as animals, books or celebrities, and therefore go unnoticed.
- Assessment tools were historically developed largely from male samples.
Giftedness and Twice-Exceptionality
Some autistic people have gifted abilities in specific areas such as mathematics, music, memory or the arts. When autism coexists with giftedness, this may be described as twice-exceptionality (2e). Careful assessment is important because strengths can mask difficulties and vice versa.
Referência: Reis, S. M., Baum, S. M., & Burke, E. (2014). An Operational Definition of Twice-Exceptional Learners. Gifted Child Quarterly, 58(3), 217-230.
Important notice: This content is strictly educational and informational. It does not replace assessment, diagnosis or follow-up by qualified health professionals.
Clinical and editorial review: August 18, 2026
O que é autismo?
Uma introdução ao Transtorno do Espectro Autista e às suas diferentes formas de manifestação.
Conteúdo externo selecionado como complemento educativo. As informações e opiniões apresentadas no vídeo são de responsabilidade do canal que o publicou.
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