Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Vignette

Principal Diagnosis

The principal diagnosis or the reason for the client’s visit is an autism spectrum disorder. Autism spectrum disorder is a brain development problem that impacts how people perceive and socialize with others, thus causing problems in communication and social interactions (“Autism spectrum disorder,” 2021). The client present meets all four disorder criteria as shown by various symptoms. Thomas reveals a deficit in social interactions and communication across different contexts (“DSM­5 autism spectrum disorder,” 2018). Other criteria are that he shows repetitive behaviors and interests, symptoms are shown in early childhood, and that symptoms impair or limit his daily functioning.

Prevailing Pattern

The prevailing pattern entails several symptoms that fall under various criteria. The client shows reduced social interactions and minimal communication as one of the current patterns. He also has repetitive behavior of aggressiveness, resistance to change, and long temper tantrums. According to CDC, at least 1 in 44 children suffer from autism spectrum disorder in the U.S. (“Autism spectrum disorder,” 2021). Some of the risk factors that increase the chances of autism include preterm babies, a family history of autism, and the presence of other disorders. According to Morinaga et al. (2020), children of mothers from low-income countries are more prone to show signs of autism spectrum disorders, which shows that socioeconomic factors directly influence the probability of an ASD.

Differential Assessment

There is no medical test to diagnose autism, so the differential assessment used looks at the child’s behavior and developmental history for diagnosis. Autism spectrum disorder can be confused with several other disorders. Some of the disorders include Angelman syndrome NHS, antisocial personality disorder, dyspraxia, fragile X Syndrome, and Fontal alcoholic spectrum disorder (Hisle-Gorman et al., 2018). It was possible to differentiate ASD from the rest of the disorders because the client has the required number of symptoms to meet various criteria for the disease. Psychological examination shows delayed non-language-dependent skills, which alongside other prevalent patterns, indicate a high possibility of ASD.

Assessment Summary

The assessment summary is that the client has autism spectrum disorder. Thomas meets ASD criteria because he shows several symptoms assigned to different criteria. The first criterion is persistent deficits in social interactions and communication, which are not accounted for by general growth delay but manifested by three symptoms (“DSM­5 autism spectrum disorder,” 2018). The first category of this criterion is the deficit in social-emotional reciprocity, where the child cannot have a normal back and form conversation (“DSM­5 autism spectrum disorder,” 2018). In this case, Thomas does not initiate conversations, and his parents say he does not greet them in the morning or afternoon.

Another category in the same criterion is the deficit in nonverbal communicative habits during social interactions. According to the case, Thomas does not use various gestures and facial expressions such as pointing or nodding. The last category of this criterion is that there is a deficit in creating and marinating relationships that build development levels (“DSM­5 autism spectrum disorder,” 2018). The client is said to be self-absorbed and aloof from others, ignores his younger sibling, and screams at the babysitter.

The second criterion entails restricted, repetitive patterns of interests, behavior, or activities as shown by at least 2 of the 4 symptom categories. The first category of symptoms is repetitive motor movement, speech, and use of objects (“DSM­5 autism spectrum disorder,” 2018). Thomas is strongly attached to a miniature train and holds it day and night. He also has a way of arranging his motor toys but lacks an imaginative way of playing with toys. The next category of symptoms is excessive adherence to routine, verbal or nonverbal behavior (Hisle-Gorman et al., 2018). The client is resistant to change and gets temper tantrums should his motor arrangement be altered. The DSM-5 diagnosis or code or specifiers for the client is 6A02.3.

References

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). (2021). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web.

DSM­5 autism spectrum disorder. (2018). Web.

Hisle-Gorman, E., Susi, A., Stokes, T., Gorman, G., Erdie-Lalena, C., & Nylund, C. M. (2018). Prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal risk factors of autism spectrum disorder. Pediatric Research, 84(2), 190-198. Web.

Morinaga, M., Rai, D., Hollander, A.C., Petros, N., Dalman, C., Magnusson, C. (2020). Migration or ethnic minority status and risk of autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability: Systematic review. European Journal of Public Health, 31(2), 304–312, Web.

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