Appropriate to developmental stage, absence of social imitative play or spontaneous, make-believe play. Rigidly sticks to routines or rituals that don't appear to have a function. Language used in social communication. Imaginative or symbolic play. These symptoms are not better explained by Childhood Disintegrative Disorder or Rett's Disorder.
Some disorders have similar symptoms.
The clinician, therefore, in his diagnostic attempt has to differentiate against the following disorders which need to be ruled out to establish a precise diagnosis. It is also evident from research that autism is associated with a variety of conditions affecting brain development which occur before, during, or very soon after birth. Parents, teachers, and therapists work together in coordinated efforts to encourage social adjustment and speech development in the child. Positive reinforcement techniques such as offering food for appropriate behavior or language responses have been successful in promoting skills. Treatment may be in an institution, specialized school, day-care setting, or in the home.