Autism occurs mostly in:

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2023

Explanation

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is defined as a neurodevelopmental disorder, meaning it originates during the developmental period.
Symptoms are typically evident in early childhood, often becoming noticeable during the second year of life (between 12 and 24 months).
Diagnostic criteria (DSM-5) require that difficulties in social communication and restricted interests be present from the early developmental period.
Even in milder cases where diagnosis occurs later, the underlying traits have been present since childhood.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option B: Autism does not have its onset in adulthood. It is a lifelong condition that begins in childhood.
Option C: Autism is a condition of the child, not the mother during pregnancy. While risk factors may be present prenatally, the clinical syndrome manifests after birth.
Option D: Autism is a developmental disorder, not a neurodegenerative disease associated with aging.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Onset and typical age of diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses, particularly in pediatrics and community health, are at the forefront of developmental screening and can be the first to identify red flags for ASD.
Early identification and referral for intervention services are critical for improving communication, social skills, and long-term outcomes for children with ASD.
What if? If a 4-year-old child has significant, persistent trouble with the pragmatic (social) use of language but no repetitive behaviors or restricted interests, the nurse should consider Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder as a differential diagnosis, rather than ASD.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which asks about the typical time of onset for autism.
Recall the definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The term 'neurodevelopmental' is a key clue, pointing towards the period of brain development in childhood.
Evaluate the given options based on this understanding. 'Childhood' directly aligns with the definition of a developmental disorder.
Systematically eliminate the other options. 'Adulthood' and 'Old age' are incorrect because ASD is not an acquired or degenerative condition. 'Pregnancy' is the period of fetal development, not when the clinical syndrome manifests in the child.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Onset and typical age of diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Stem keywords: Autism, occurs mostly in
Lead-in keywords: MOST
Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QDFNJPfunL6TpszyXMqbMN

Reference Book

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) pp. 391-393, 402-404

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 12070-12072

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