autism
n. uncountablen. a condition that affects how a person's brain works. It can change how someone talks to others, how they experience the world, and how they learn.
n. a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by differences in social communication and interaction, alongside restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests.
Many people with autism have very focused interests.
The school provides extra support for students with autism to help them navigate the social challenges of the playground.
Understanding autism as a spectrum allows for a more nuanced appreciation of the diverse ways in which neurodivergent individuals process sensory information and engage with their environment.
Borrowed from German Autismus, coined by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler, first usage dated to 1907 attributed by Carl Jung as an alternative of his for "auto-erotism", although Bleuler himself differentiates the terms in his book Dementia Praecox, first published 1911. From Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós, “self”) + -ισμός (-ismós, “-ism”).
Typically used without an article when referring to the condition generally; often follows the preposition 'with' in person-first phrasing.