The core social-communication deficits and restricted/repetitive behaviors are associated with which disorder?

• A. Autism Spectrum Disorder
• B. ADHD
• C. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• D. Social Anxiety Disorder

Answer: (A)

This item tests recognizing a disorder defined by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, paired with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. The best answer is Autism Spectrum Disorder because it uniquely combines these two clusters of symptoms. Children with autism often have difficulties with back-and-forth conversation, nonverbal communication like eye contact and facial expressions, and forming relationships appropriate to their developmental level. They also show restricted and repetitive patterns such as repetitive movements, insistence on sameness, inflexible routines, highly restricted interests, and sensory sensitivities. These features typically appear in early development and lead to significant impairment in social, academic, or other areas of functioning.

In contrast, ADHD focuses on inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity, generalized anxiety involves pervasive worry across many domains with physical symptoms, and social anxiety disorder centers on intense fear of social situations due to potential judgment, without the broad pattern of restricted/repetitive behaviors seen in autism.