Which of Following Exemplifies Symptom of Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Which of the following exemplifies a symptom of autism spectrum disorder?

A. Gemma is very impulsive—as soon as an idea enters her head, she acts upon it.

B. Gemma exhibits deficits in social interaction by not initiating conversations with other children, and she turns her head away when spoken to.

C. Gemma is submissive and physically clings to the people around her.

D. Gemma is quick to anger and is incapable of dealing with a situation in which she is not the centre of attention.

Ans. B. Gemma exhibits deficits in social interaction by not initiating conversations with other children, and she turns her head away when spoken to.

This option clearly identifies a core symptom of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which is the persistent impairment in social communication and interaction. People with ASD are likely to have social-emotional reciprocity issues, such as social interaction initiation and response. They can also have poor eye contact and nonverbal communication issues, such as body language or facial expressions. This is one that aligns with Gemma's behavior of never initiating conversation and having poor eye contact, which are typical signs of social interaction issues with individuals on the autism spectrum.