What type of Neuro developmental disorder is it when children experience profound difficulties in relating to other people, to initiate social interaction and communication, have a restricted range of interests and a strong desire for routine? They display stereotypical body movements and deviant speech pattern.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Autism Spectrum Disorder
Option (1) Attention deficit Hyper activity Disorder — Incorrect. The two main features of ADHD are inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity: such children find it hard to sustain attention and are always on the go, but they do not lack the wish to relate to others.
Option (2) Separation Anxiety Disorder — Incorrect. Children with SAD are fearful and anxious about separation from attachment figures to an extent not appropriate for their age. Their problem is fear of being apart, not difficulty in social interaction.
Option (3) Oppositional Defiant Disorder — Incorrect. Children with ODD display age-inappropriate stubbornness, are irritable, defiant, disobedient and hostile. They interact, though badly, and show no stereotyped movements.
Option (4) Autism Spectrum Disorder — Correct. It is marked by widespread impairments in social interaction and communication and stereotyped patterns of behaviour. Children with it have profound difficulties in relating to other people, are unable to initiate social behaviour, have a restricted range of interests and a strong desire for routine, and may show stereotyped body movements and deviant speech, the very description in the question.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 22-06-2023 (Slot 3).
NCERT (2025-26): “Anxiety Disorders … Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is another type of anxiety disorder. Individuals with separation anxiety disorder are fearful and anxious about separation from attachment figures to an extent that is developmentally not appropriate.…” “Neurodevelopmental Disorders … The two main features of ADHD are inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity.…” “…Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterised by widespread impairments in social interaction and communication skills, and stereotyped patterns of behaviours, interests and activities. Children with autism spectrum disorder have marked difficulties in social interaction and communication across different contexts, a restricted range of interests, and strong desire for routine. About 70 per cent of children with autism spectrum disorder have intellectual disabilities. Children with autism spectrum disorder experience profound difficulties in relating to other people. They are unable to initiate social behaviour and seem unresponsive to other people’s feelings. They are unable to share experiences or emotions with others. They also show serious abnormalities in communication and language that persist over time. Many of them never develop speech and those who do, have repetitive and deviant speech patterns. Such children often show narrow patterns of interests and repetitive behaviours such as lining up objects or stereotyped body movements such as rocking.…” “Disruptive, Impulse-control and Conduct Disorders … Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) display age-inappropriate amounts of stubbornness, are irritable, defiant, disobedient, and behave in a hostile manner.…” |