Penny, a 4-year-old, has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). When her mother points out a toy to make Penny look in that direction, Penny looks in a different direction. Which of the following is an ability that Penny most likely lacks?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Joint attention is the shared focus of two individuals on an object. It is achieved when one person alerts another to an object via eye-gazing, pointing, or other verbal or non-verbal indications. Children with autism spectrum disorder often have difficulty with joint attention, which can affect their social interactions and language development. Penny's difficulty in following her mother's direction to look at a toy is indicative of a challenge with joint attention.

Penny, a 4-Year-Old, Has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)