True regarding autism is: September 2009

Ans. C: Impaired reciprocal social and interpersonal interaction Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize It is one of three recognized disorders in the autism spectrum, the other two being Asperger syndrome, which lacks delays in cognitive development and language, and pervasive developmental Disorder-not otherwise specified (commonly abbreted as PDD-NOS), which is diagnosed when the full set of criteria for autism or Asperger syndrome are not met.