It is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication.
The causes of this disorder are unknown.
Symptoms include difficulty understanding social norms, communicating with others, understanding spoken language and social cues such as gestures or eye contact. They may have trouble initiating and maintaining conversations and understanding the feelings and emotions of others. These symptoms should be present since childhood and significantly affect the person's daily functioning.
Diagnosis is made with a complete medical history, neurological examination, and language and social skills testing.
Treatment is based on a multidisciplinary approach that may include speech and communication therapy, psychotherapy and educational support. The goal of treatment is to maximize the person's ability to acquire the social skills necessary to function in the social setting and to improve non-verbal language skills (gestures, tone of voice).
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