Associated and Co-Morbid Conditions:
1. Hearing impairment
2. Semantic-Pragmatic Disorder (SPD) / Pragmatic Language Impairment (PLI)
3. Mental retardation (75% of those with autistic disorder)
4. Seizure disorders (adolescent onset in many)
5. Genetic disorders (e.g., tuberous sclerosis, fragile X syndrome); Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD)

Individuals with autism often have symptoms of:
1. ADHD 
2. Obsessive compulsive disorder
3. Anxiety and mood disorders

Conditions that may be confused with autism:
1. Selective mutism
2. Deafness
3. Severe social phobia
4. Reactive attachment disorders

The DSM-PC (Primary Care) is a tool for primary care pediatricians to aid in the evaluation of children who present with various developmental and behavioral concerns. One use of the DSM-PC is to identify and code behavioral traits that a child may have, if a child does not meet criteria for diagnosis of a specific disorder. Accordingly the DSM-IV defines traits that might be seen in autism, but which may be seen with lesser frequency or intensity than in a child who meets the diagnostic criteria for an autism spectrum disorder. The designations relevant to children who might be suspected of having an ASD are:

DSM-IV PC variants:

1. Repetitive Behaviors Variation V65.49
Sporadic repetitive movements such as rocking, head banging, or hair twisting that are of limited duration, cause no physical harm, and do not impair normal development or activities (Presentations described for Infancy, Early Childhood, Middle Childhood and Adolescence)

2. Repetitive Behaviors Problem V40.3
Repetitive behaviors can cause some social disruption and/or dysfunction that results from the behavior itself and from the responses of others to that behavior but is not sufficiently intense to qualify for a diagnosis of the repetitive behaviors disorder. (Presentations described for Infancy, Early Childhood, Middle Childhood and Adolescence)

3. Social Interaction Variation V65.49
Because of constitutional and/or psychological factors, children and adolescents will vary in their ability and desire to interact with other people. Less socially adept or desirous children do not have a problem as long as it does not interfere with their normal development and activities. (Presentations described for Infancy, Early Childhood, Middle Childhood and Adolescence)
 
4. Social Withdrawal Problem V40.3
The child’s inability and/or desire to interact with people is limited enough to begin to interfere with the child’s development and activities. (Presentations described for Infancy, Early Childhood, Middle Childhood and Adolescence)

Additional Child and Adolescent Mental Health Information