Joseph, a ten-year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder, likes to walk through the halls of his home touching all the doorknobs.One day, a visiting relative is standing in front of one of the doors, preventing Joseph from touching the doorknob.What will most likely occur?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The scenario provided suggests that Joseph has a fixation on touching doorknobs, and if he is prevented from doing so, he may become upset or have a tantrum. This is a common behavior in individuals with autism spectrum disorder who have fixations or obsessions. Therefore, it is most likely that Joseph will have a tantrum in this situation. While it is possible that he may ignore the relative and carry on to the next door, that is less likely given his fixation. Similarly, while he may engage in echolalia speech, there is no indication that this is his typical way of communicating or that he would use it in this situation. Finally, there is no reason to believe that Joseph would stop and participate in a different activity, as his fixation on doorknobs appears to be a constant and preferred activity for him.

Joseph, a Ten-Year-Old Boy with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Likes to Walk