112k views
5 votes
As a clinical psychologist, you need to identify at least two of four restricted/repetitive behaviors to give a child a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Which of the following would count as a restricted/repetitive behavior?

User Aeseir
by
6.6k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Answer:

It seems you forgot to write down the answer options. However, according to the DSM-5, the criteria for an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis includes the presence of restricted of repetitive behaviors, currently or by history. The DSM-5 lists the following as restrictive or repetitive behaviors:

- Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech (e.g., simple motor stereotypies, lining up toys or flipping objects, echolalia, idiosyncratic phrases).

This implies repetitive behaviors that do not fit the context in which they are exhibited, like repetitive phrases.

- Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns or verbal nonverbal behavior (e.g., extreme distress at small changes, difficulties with transitions, rigid thinking patterns, greeting rituals, need to take same route or eat food every day).

This includes children who react badly to strangers or to trying new things like food or activities

- Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus (e.g, strong attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or perseverative interest).

For example, children with autism spectrum disorder often fixate on one object or concept way over others, this could be an animal, a person, a toy.

- Hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interests in sensory aspects of the environment (e.g., apparent indifference to pain/temperature, adverse response to specific sounds or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects, visual fascination with lights or movement).

This could go both ways, some people react very strongly to loud noises for example, needing noise cancelling headphones for social gatherings. Others are fascinated by music or colors and develop some artistic interests.

User Jsturtevant
by
7.2k points