Question:
A 6 year old child has a history of birth asphyxia. The child does not communicate well, shows slow mental and physical growth, does not mix with other people, has limited interests, and gets wildly agitated if disturbed. What is the diagnosis?
A 6 year old child has a history of birth asphyxia. The child does not communicate well, shows slow mental and physical growth, does not mix with other people, has limited interests, and gets wildly agitated if disturbed. What is the diagnosis?
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Look for the three core features of autism: poor social interaction, poor communication, and repetitive or restricted behavior with resistance to change.
Updated On: Jul 8, 2026
- Autistic disorder
- Histrionic personality
- ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder)
- Schizophrenia
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
A 6 year old boy has a history of birth asphyxia. He does not communicate well, shows slow mental and physical growth, avoids mixing with other people, has a narrow set of interests, and becomes very agitated if his routine is disturbed. We need to name this pattern.
Step 2: Key Concept:
Autism spectrum disorder is marked by three core features that begin early in childhood: poor social interaction, delayed or poor communication, and repetitive, restricted behavior with a strong need for sameness. Birth asphyxia is a known risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The child's poor communication and reluctance to mix with people point to a social and language deficit. His limited interests and extreme agitation when his routine is disturbed show the repetitive behavior and resistance to change seen in autism. Slow mental and physical growth fits the developmental delay often seen alongside autism.
Histrionic personality shows up as excessive emotion seeking and attention seeking behavior in older children or adults, not as a failure to communicate or mix with people, so it does not fit here.
ADHD centers on inattention, overactivity, and impulsiveness, not on a core failure of social bonding and communication, so this child's picture does not match ADHD either.
Schizophrenia needs psychotic features such as hallucinations or delusions, and it is rare to diagnose it in a 6 year old; nothing here points to psychosis.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The pattern of poor communication, social withdrawal, restricted interests, and agitation on disruption of routine, starting in early childhood, points to autistic disorder.
A 6 year old boy has a history of birth asphyxia. He does not communicate well, shows slow mental and physical growth, avoids mixing with other people, has a narrow set of interests, and becomes very agitated if his routine is disturbed. We need to name this pattern.
Step 2: Key Concept:
Autism spectrum disorder is marked by three core features that begin early in childhood: poor social interaction, delayed or poor communication, and repetitive, restricted behavior with a strong need for sameness. Birth asphyxia is a known risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The child's poor communication and reluctance to mix with people point to a social and language deficit. His limited interests and extreme agitation when his routine is disturbed show the repetitive behavior and resistance to change seen in autism. Slow mental and physical growth fits the developmental delay often seen alongside autism.
Histrionic personality shows up as excessive emotion seeking and attention seeking behavior in older children or adults, not as a failure to communicate or mix with people, so it does not fit here.
ADHD centers on inattention, overactivity, and impulsiveness, not on a core failure of social bonding and communication, so this child's picture does not match ADHD either.
Schizophrenia needs psychotic features such as hallucinations or delusions, and it is rare to diagnose it in a 6 year old; nothing here points to psychosis.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The pattern of poor communication, social withdrawal, restricted interests, and agitation on disruption of routine, starting in early childhood, points to autistic disorder.
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