autism

n. developmental disturbance characterized by lack of interaction with the environment (Psychology)

Autism is a brain development disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior, all exhibited before a child is three years old. These characteristics distinguish autism from milder autism spectrum disorders (ASD).Heritability contributes a large fraction of the risk of a child's developing the disorder, although the genetics of autism are complex, and it is generally unclear which genes are responsible. In rare cases, autism is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects. Other proposed causes, such as the exposure of children to vaccines, are controversial and the vaccine hypotheses are unsupported by convincing scientific evidence. Most recent reviews estimate a prevalence of one to two cases per 1,000 people for autism, and about six per 1,000 for ASD, with ASD averaging a 4.3:1 male-to-female ratio. The number of people known to have autism has increased dramatically since the 1980s, at least partly due to changes in diagnostic practice; the question of whether prevalence has increased is unresolved.
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Autism is a severe disorder of brain function marked by problems with social contact, intelligence and language, together with [more]Autism - Community and Resources

Noun
1. (psychiatry) an abnormal absorption with the self; marked by communication disorders and short attention span and inability to treat others as people
(hypernym) syndrome
(hyponym) infantile autism
(classification) psychiatry, psychopathology, psychological medicine

noun
condition of children and adolescents where the patient is completely absorbed in himself, pays no attention to others and does not communicate with anyone