Target population
CTSA’s interventions are aimed at children and young people between the ages of 0 and 18 years who have a medical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to the DSM-5 criteria, or the equivalent diagnosis of previous international medical classifications.
Their parents and professionals caring for them can also call upon our services.
Since 2013 (publication year of the Diagnostic and Statistical Book of Mental health – 5th edition, DSM-V), the term “autism spectrum disorder” (ASD) has replaced the previous term of “pervasive development disorder”, the term formerly used. ASD encompasses disorders previously qualified as early infantile autism, childhood autism, Kanner autism, high-functioning autism, atypical autism, pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified, childhood disintegrative disorder and Asperger’s syndrome (DSM‑4).
ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, that is to say, theat they are caused by differences in the brain and visible at a very early age. They are principally characterised by the following dyad of signs:
- significant and persistent deficits in social communication and interaction;
- restricted and repetitive nature of the person’s behaviour, activities and interests.
The nature and severity of these different symptoms vary greatly from one person to another and, within one person with ASD symptoms can vary depending on the context and evolve over time (DSM-5).