preautistic

English

Etymology

From pre- +‎ autistic.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

preautistic (not comparable)

1. (psychology, autism) Before the readily apparent onset of autism.
   • 1989, Johnny L. Matson, Chronic schizophrenia and adult autism:

     Bettelheim's (1967) theory of autism proposes that for several possible reasons (e.g., pain or discomfort, misperception) the preautistic child perceives that his mother has rejected him/her and begins to withdraw from him/her […]