Autism Explained

What is autism? Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and the presence of restricted interests and repetitive behaviors ( Hodges et al., 2020 ). It typically emerges in early childhood, although the symptoms may change over time ( Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2025 ). The specific expressions and severity of symptoms are not homogenous and vary in between individuals. A