Lesson 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder (Differential Diagnosis)

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

To differentiate ASD from ________, restricted, repetitive behaviors, and unusual interests are absent in ________. Mental age must also be considered if it were a concurrent diagnosis.

Intellectual Developmental Disorder

To differentiate ASD from ________, the only appropriate and applicable diagnosis for an individual with ASD is if social communication and interaction are significantly impaired relative to the developmental level of the individual’s nonverbal skills (e.g., fine motor skills, nonverbal problem solving)

Language Disorder and Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder

To differentiate ASD from ________, Specific Language Disorder is not usually associated with abnormal nonverbal communication, nor with the presence of restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities.

Selective Mutism

To differentiate ASD from ________, early development is not typically disturbed. A child who has _______ can usually exhibit appropriate communication skills in certain contexts and settings.

Stereotypic Movement Disorder

To differentiate ASD from ________, this diagnosis is no longer given if the child has been diagnosed with ASD, since ASD provides a clearer, more evident explanation

Rett Syndrome

To differentiate ASD from ________, social communication skills improve over time after the regressive phase of ________, which is typically between the ages of 1 to 4

Symptoms Associated with Anxiety Disorders

To differentiate ASD from ________, the common worrying symptom people with ASD may have are specific phobias, which is up to 30% of cases

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

To differentiate ASD from ________, repetitive behaviors for ASD are perceived as pleasurable and reinforcing, while people with ______ have intrusive thoughts (often related to contamination, organization, or sexual or religious themes) and perform necessary actions to relieve the anxiety that stemmed from those thoughts.

Schizophrenia

To differentiate ASD from ________, hallucinations and delusions are present in patients with _______, ASD does not have these features, but these two disorders can co-occur in separate diagnosis

Personality Disorder/s

To differentiate ASD from ________, early developmental course of ASD (lack of imaginative play, restricted/repetitive behavior, sensory activities) is the most distinctive factor to consider before diagnosing someone with schizotypal or schizoids.