Which statement about Autism best describes its characteristics?

• A. A mood disorder appearing in adolescence.
• B. A visual impairment.
• C. A disorder appearing in childhood with deficits in communication, social interaction, and understanding of others' states of mind.
• D. A learning disability in reading.

Answer: (C)

Autism is a developmental condition that typically appears in early childhood and centers on persistent differences in social communication and interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior or interests. The statement highlights deficits in communication and social interaction, plus the difficulty in understanding others’ states of mind—often described as challenges with theory of mind. This combination explains why it best describes autism: it starts in childhood and involves both how a person communicates and how they interpret others’ thoughts and intentions. It’s not a mood disorder that emerges in adolescence, not a visual impairment, and not a reading disability, which is why those options don’t fit.