Which statement best describes autism spectrum disorder?

Which statement best describes autism spectrum disorder?

• A. Rapid mood swings with psychosis
• B. Excessive eye contact and pretend play
• C. Difficulties with social interaction & communication; restricted & repetitive behavior
• D. Superior social skills

Answer: (C)

Autism spectrum disorder is defined by persistent difficulties in social communication and interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Social communication challenges include trouble with back-and-forth conversation, reduced sharing of emotions or interests, difficulty understanding others’ perspectives, and reliance on nonverbal cues that may be limited or atypical. Restricted and repetitive behaviors can involve repetitive movements or speech, insistence on sameness and routines, highly focused interests, and heightened or diminished responses to sensory input. These features typically appear in early development and cause significant impairment in daily functioning, with a wide range of presentations—the spectrum. The other descriptions don’t capture this combination: mood swings with psychosis point to a mood or psychotic disorder; unusually high eye contact and pretend play aren’t typical of autism; and having superior social skills contradicts the social-communication deficits that characterize the condition.

Autism spectrum disorder is defined by persistent difficulties in social communication and interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Social communication challenges include trouble with back-and-forth conversation, reduced sharing of emotions or interests, difficulty understanding others’ perspectives, and reliance on nonverbal cues that may be limited or atypical. Restricted and repetitive behaviors can involve repetitive movements or speech, insistence on sameness and routines, highly focused interests, and heightened or diminished responses to sensory input. These features typically appear in early development and cause significant impairment in daily functioning, with a wide range of presentations—the spectrum. The other descriptions don’t capture this combination: mood swings with psychosis point to a mood or psychotic disorder; unusually high eye contact and pretend play aren’t typical of autism; and having superior social skills contradicts the social-communication deficits that characterize the condition.