DSSSB October 2024
Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)
Easy
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an autistic child?
Appeared in: DSSSB October 2024
Explanation
- This option is correct because children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) characteristically struggle with social interactions, including group and cooperative play.
- A core diagnostic criterion for ASD is a deficit in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships and reciprocal social interactions.
- Due to difficulties in understanding social cues, sharing imaginative play, and engaging in back-and-forth interactions, children with ASD typically prefer solitary or parallel play rather than group activities.
- Their play may appear more rigid, repetitive, and monotonous compared to their peers (SRC_18642).
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: This is a characteristic of ASD. Children with autism may display atypical attachment behaviors and may not show typical separation anxiety, failing to differentiate between caregivers and strangers (SRC_18643).
- Option C: This is a hallmark characteristic of ASD. An absent or delayed social smile in infancy and a marked impairment in making friends during childhood are key indicators of the social deficits in autism (SRC_18643).
- Option D: This is a core diagnostic feature of ASD. Deficits in nonverbal communication like poor eye contact, and an impaired ability to understand the feelings and perspectives of others ('theory of mind') are central to the disorder (SRC_18642, SRC_18644).
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Nurses play a crucial role in the early identification of ASD by observing for developmental delays and social-communication deficits during routine check-ups.
- Educating parents about the signs of ASD and the importance of early intervention services is a key nursing responsibility.
- When caring for a hospitalized child with ASD, nurses must adapt their approach by providing a structured, low-stimulus environment and using clear, concrete communication to reduce anxiety and promote cooperation.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the characteristics of an autistic child.
- Note the negative keyword 'NOT'. This means you are looking for the option that is inconsistent with a diagnosis of autism.
- Evaluate each option against the known diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
- Option A: Lack of attachment/separation anxiety. Recall that atypical attachment is a feature of ASD. This is likely a characteristic.
- Option B: Preference for group play. Recall that social deficits are a core feature of ASD, making group play difficult. This is likely NOT a characteristic.
- Option C: Absent social smile/difficulty with friends. Recall that social deficits are a core feature. This is likely a characteristic.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Stem keywords: autistic child, characteristic
- Lead-in keywords: NOT
- Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
- Negative lead-in flag: Question asks to identify the option that is NOT a characteristic of autism.
Question ID
Q6Q3pp3mnGPa_7Mu9jz3M4
Reference Book
E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) pp. 395-397, 392-394
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 15507-15510
Practise the full DSSSB October 2024
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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