A 5-year-old boy with normal motor skills has severe language delay,
shows no interest in interacting with other children or with adults, and
spends a lot of time spinning around. The most likely diagnosis for
this child is
A. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
B. Rett syndrome
C. Conduct disorder
D. Infantile autism
A. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
B. Rett syndrome
C. Conduct disorder
D. Infantile autism
Ans. D.
The most likely diagnosis for this 5-year-old boy with
normal motor skills, severe language delay, and stereo typical spinning movements who shows no interest in interacting with
others is infantile autism, a pervasive
developmental disorder of childhood. In contrast, children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) show problems paying
attention or with excessive activity but not language delay. Children with conduct disorder show behaviors
like stealing, truancy, and setting fires.Mentally
retarded children may have language delay but interact with
others in a relatively normal fashion. Rettsyndrome, which involves some behavioral features of infantile autism
such as stereotypical movements, is seen only in girls.
