AUTISM: SIGNS, SUPPORT LEVELS AND DIAGNOSIS-A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF RECENT STUDIES

Abstract

This article sought to discuss the symptoms, the diagnostic methods and the levels of support for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), according to the classification based on the scale of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5, 2013) and new possibilities for diagnosing this disorder. neurodevelopment, which presents itself in the first years of life and is characterized by deficits in communication and social interaction and by repetitive and restricted patterns of behavior and lack of empathy.According to published in the Weekly Morbidity and Mortality Report (MMWR), from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on March 23, 2023, one in every 36 8-year-old children (2.8%) were identified with autism. With such high numbers, it is necessary to search for increasingly precise diagnostic methods so that this can be done as early as possible, thus enabling the introduction of therapies early.The search sources were restricted to digital materials, available on the University of São Paulo (USP) website; on the Academia.edu website, as well as on the SCIELO website. The material collection periods were between 2015 and 2024, and these limitations were respected for the materials reviewed. A screening was carried out, selecting only materials directly related to the symptoms, support levels and diagnostic methods of the disorder and that met the established objective.