What Is Autism?

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Individuals display many forms of repetitive or restricted behavior, which the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised categorizes as follows:
Stereotypy is repetitive movement, such as hand flapping, head rolling, or body rocking.
Compulsive behavior is intended and appears to follow rules, such as arranging objects in stacks or lines.
Sameness is resistance to change; for example, insisting that the furniture not be moved or refusing to be interrupted.
Ritualistic behavior involves an unvarying pattern of daily activities, such as an unchanging menu or a dressing ritual.
Restricted behavior is limited in focus, interest, or activity, such as preoccupation with a single television program, toy or game.
Self-injury includes movements that injure or can injure the person, such as eye-poking, skin-picking, hand-biting and head-banging.