title: Attention, monotropism and the diagnostic criteria for autism.
abstract: The authors conclude from a range of literature relevant to the autistic condition that atypical strategies for the allocation of attention are central to the condition. This assertion is examined in the context of recent research, the diagnostic criteria for autism in DSM-IV and ICD-10, and the personal experiences of individuals with autism including one of the authors of the article. The first two diagnostic criteria are shown to follow from the 'restricted range of interests' referred to in the third criterion. Implications for practice are indicated.
authors.affiliation: Autism & Computing, www.autismandcomputing.org.uk, London, UK. dinahmurray@beeb.net
authors.forename: Dinah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lesser
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lawson
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D038801:International Classification of Diseases / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior