Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to many different conditions characterized by challenges with aspects such as social skills, repetitive behaviors, verbal and nonverbal communication, and strengths and unique differences. There are many different types of autism and it is a lifelong condition that spans all socioeconomic levels. Autism is caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The essential clinical features in the diagnosis of autism are impaired communication/social interaction and repetitive and restrictive behavior patterns. Characteristics such as loneliness, stereotyped behavior, and language/communication problems are associated with autism spectrum disorder. Children diagnosed with ASD can also be mute. If any language is present, they may be characterized by a peculiar usage, i.e. parroting what they have heard in a high pitch, using “he” instead of “I”, using words that have meaning only to those who know the child, and the tendency to raise one's voice at the end of sentences. Children with ASD cannot maintain eye contact or show any expression. Even if they do not respond, these children are capable of showing strong negative emotions such as anger, sadness and fear. A primary feature of ASD is repetitive stereotyped movements such as twirling, flapping, or rocking back and forth. Some children with ASD may self-harm even if they cry out in pain. These children exhibit self-injurious behavior by banging their head, slapping their face, biting their arms, or pulling their hair. These children may also have frequent meltdowns. Consistency is important when dealing with children with ASD. Children with ASD may insist on having the same food every day and are bound by rituals. Children who develop ASD appear to have failed to develop a differentiated sense of self. Despite their unusual behavior, children with ASD can be high functioning. However, their intellectual development tends to remain below normal. Children functioning at an average intelligence level still show difficulty in activities that require symbolism, such as recognizing emotions, engaging in symbolic play, and problem solving. Individuals with ASD also show difficulty performing tasks that involve interacting with other people. Early views of autism spectrum disorder focused on pathological family relationships. It has been suggested that children with this disorder were raised by cold and detached parents. It was believed that parents raised the child in an emotionally and socially unhappy atmosphere in which the child's efforts to develop language and social skills were not met. The child gives up efforts to develop mastery of the external world and withdraws. The pathological insistence on keeping things the same represents the child's defensive efforts to maintain order and predictability. Although it has not been confirmed that parents of children with ASD are cold, it is true that children with ASDr and their parents do not relate to each other very well. Instead of rejecting their children, parents may become a little tired because their efforts to relate to their children usually end in failure. Children with ASD have some difficulties that limit them to processing only one stimulus at a time. From a learning theory perspective, children become attached to their primary caregivers because they are associated with reinforcers.