autistic disorder

noun

: autism

Autistic disorder is classic autism, one of the more severe disorders on the spectrum. Persons with autistic disorder have substantial impairment in social skills, verbal communication, and cognitive and behavioral flexibility.

—Isabelle Rapin

Examples of autistic disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, the four separate diagnoses related to autism -- autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified -- would now be referred to as autism spectrum disorders [Los Angeles Times] . —Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 10 Feb. 2010

That seems the most natural reading: Another example taken from Pierre Delion’s practice as a therapist for children with autistic disorder is the ‘‘packing’’ technique (Goeb et al., 2008). —Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 7 Oct. 2011

Some scientists and doctors wanted more time to study the disorder and distinguish it from autistic disorder. —Korin Miller, Health.com, 10 May 2021

Now a new study shows that the roots of autistic disorders are detectable so early in life that, other than genes, any parental contribution to the disorder is probably nil. —Susan Pinker, WSJ, 5 Oct. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

autistic disorder

noun

: a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by severely impaired social interaction, repetitive patterns of behavior, and restricted interests, that is typically accompanied by speech or cognitive impairments, and that is now diagnosed as autism spectrum disorder

Note: In 2013, the American Psychological Association removed the diagnoses of autistic disorder and related conditions (such as Asperger's syndrome) and replaced them with the single diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

More severe cases of ASD were previously classified as autistic disorder. … While the old system of classification may seem a little more cut-and-dried, the subtle differences that often distinguished one from the other left room for a lot of confusion and much was open to interpretation.

—Lane Regional Medical Center

In the DSM-5, the umbrella category of PDD [=pervasive developmental disorder] was removed and Asperger's disorder … and autistic disorder were collapsed into one dimension of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

—Lindsay Katz et al., Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders