Children with Autism in the 21st Century: Problems with Socialization at a Preschool Age

The issues that modern researches on autism currently explore are quite diverse: starting with studying the features of the psychophysical development and individual capabilities of children with autism spectrum disorders and ending with the development of new models of timely comprehensive correction of developmental disorders and social adaptation of people who belong to this category. The purpose of the study is to contour special educational needs of children with autism which impede their successful socialization. The study involved content analysis of modern researches conducted by leading experts in the field of autism devoted to the study of autism phenomenon, identification and refinement of diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorders, and determination of the effectiveness of integrated models of support for children with autism. The analysis helped to reveal polymorphism of views and directions in the study of the features of autism manifestations. The analysis allowed to clarify the existing knowledge concerning the three-component model of autism which includes disorders in communication and speech, behavior and socialization, as well as knowledge concerning the peculiarities of mental development of children with autism. The study explored the main tools of modern diagnostic examinations and described the variable models of education and upbringing of children with ASD. The data presented in the article make it possible to determine psychological and pedagogical conditions of socialization of children with autism.