Question 1

Candy is a two-year-old with a moderate intellectual disability.She appears to have extra skin at the inner corners of her eyelids, slanted eyes, a protruding tongue, and a single crease across the palm of her hand.What diagnosis would Candy most likely be given?

Accepted Answer

The physical characteristics described in the scenario are consistent with the features of Down syndrome, which is a genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. People with Down syndrome often have intellectual disabilities and developmental delays.

Question 2

Looking at the concordance rates for autism found in twin studies and family studies, Newschaffer and colleagues (2007)believe that autism is ____.

Accepted Answer

The concordance rates for autism found in twin studies and family studies suggest that autism is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, the best choice is B, as it acknowledges both factors as playing a role in autism's development.

Question 3

Nicole interacted with her parents in a normal manner until she was one year old.Then, at one, she stopped and became increasingly alone and bizarre.There was no medical reason for this change.What is an appropriate diagnosis for Nicole?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are consistent with an autism spectrum disorder, which is characterized by deficits in social communication and interaction, as well as the presence of repetitive behaviors or restricted interests. Separation anxiety disorder is marked by excessive distress when separated from a primary caregiver, Tourette's syndrome involves involuntary motor or vocal tics, and pediatric bipolar disorder is characterized by significant mood swings and changes in energy levels. None of these diagnoses are necessarily consistent with the symptoms described for Nicole.

Question 4

Two children are thought to have intellectual disabilities, but one is suspected of being autistic, too.Which of the following situations would best help to identify the child with autistic disorder?

Accepted Answer

Splinter skills are skills that are highly developed in a specific area despite overall intellectual deficits. This is a common trait in children with autism, so observing splinter skills would be the best indicator of autism in one of the children. The other answer choices do not necessarily indicate autism.

Question 5

Susan refuses to have her daughter Zoe vaccinated against any of the common childhood diseases because Susan is afraid that vaccines can cause autism.As stated in the text, ____.

Accepted Answer

Susan's concerns about vaccines causing autism are unfounded because the research study that suggested a link has been proven to be fraudulent. There is no documented controversy regarding vaccinations and the development of autism spectrum disorder, and while the research on this matter has not been entirely conclusive, the FDA considers vaccines to be safe.

Question 6

Bobbie Jo appeared to develop normally for the first year of her life, but then she began to exhibit severe isolation and communication difficulties as well as repetitive behaviors.Her head size, however, was normal.The most likely diagnosis would be ____.

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are consistent with autism spectrum disorder, which is characterized by difficulties with communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors. Bobbie Jo's normal head size indicates that there is likely not a related neurological disorder causing her symptoms. Asperger's syndrome is no longer technically diagnosed as a separate condition from autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability or learning disability would not explain the specific symptoms described.

Question 7

A splinter skill is said to exist when a ____.

Accepted Answer

A splinter skill is a specific ability that is significantly better than the individual's overall abilities in other areas. In this case, the child does well on specific tasks related to spatial and rote memory but struggles with language tasks. Option A, C, and D do not describe a splinter skill.

Question 8

Natalie has many of the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder but speaks normally and does not have intellectual disability.Since she seems to have a "mild" case of autistic disorder, another DSM-IV diagnosis she might get is ____.

Accepted Answer

Asperger's syndrome is characterized by some of the same symptoms as autism spectrum disorder, but individuals with this disorder typically have normal language development and intelligence. It is often considered a milder form of autism. Encopresis, Tourette's syndrome, and conduct disorder do not have the same symptoms as autism and would not be appropriate diagnoses for someone with a mild case of autism spectrum disorder.

Question 9

A syndrome characterized by average to above-average cognitive skills, intense focus on narrow interests, and one-sided social interactions is ____.

Accepted Answer

The description matches the symptoms of Asperger's disorder, which is now considered to be part of the autism spectrum disorder. People with Asperger's have normal to high intelligence, but they struggle with social communication and tend to fixate on specific interests.

Question 10

Audrey, an autistic child, would be expected to respond best to ____.

Accepted Answer

Autistic children often find comfort and are more responsive to inanimate objects due to their predictability and the control they can exert over them, unlike the unpredictability of human interactions.

Question 11

In approaching the biological etiology of autism, there are a variety biological perspectives.All of these approaches have identified boimarkers in the development of autism spectrum disorder and have confirmed ____.

Accepted Answer

All of the biological perspectives (including neurobiological, immunological, and metabolic perspectives) have identified genetic risk factors, environmental risk factors, and gene x environmental interactions as contributing to the development of autism spectrum disorder.

Question 12

Which of the following points is one that poses problems in diagnosing autism spectrum disorder?

Accepted Answer

There are no medical tests that can definitively diagnose autism spectrum disorder. Diagnosis is typically based on observation of behavior and developmental milestones. This can make it more difficult to diagnose compared to other conditions that have clear diagnostic tests available.

Question 13

Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder is difficult because ____.

Accepted Answer

Currently, there are no medical tests to confirm autism, and diagnosis relies on observing symptoms and behaviors. Additionally, intellectual impairment can further complicate diagnosis. Many other disorders can also show similar symptoms or splinter skills, making it difficult to differentiate autism from other conditions.

Question 14

Research suggests that which neurotransmitter is particularly important in the development of autism?

Accepted Answer

Serotonin has been identified as a key neurotransmitter in the development of autism. Studies have shown that individuals with autism have abnormalities in their serotonin system, and drugs targeting serotonin receptors have been shown to improve some symptoms of autism.

Question 15

The communication skill level associated with a severe impairment of autism spectrum disorder would be ____.

Accepted Answer

Severe impairment in autism spectrum disorder is characterized by minimal or absent social communication, including non-verbal cues, and difficulties in initiating and maintaining social relationships. This can lead to significant social isolation and communication deficits.

Question 16

Which of the following is a neurodevelopmental disorder?

Accepted Answer

Oppositional defiant disorder, pediatric bipolar disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder are all mental health disorders but are not specifically classified as neurodevelopmental disorders. Intellectual disability, on the other hand, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects cognitive functioning and adaptive behavior.

Question 17

Which childhood disorder has the latest onset?

Accepted Answer

Pediatric bipolar disorder often has a later onset compared to other disorders listed. While autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are typically identified in early childhood, and enuresis (bedwetting) is also recognized in the early years, pediatric bipolar disorder may not be diagnosed until late childhood or adolescence, making its onset generally later than the others.

Question 18

Which childhood disorder has the lowest prevalence?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which childhood disorder has the lowest prevalence?
...

Question 19

Which of the following statements concerning the etiology of autism is correct?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements concerning the...

Question 20

Children who develop autism spectrum disorder have an innate vulnerability that is triggered by ____.

Accepted Answer

While genetics play a role in the development of autism spectrum disorder, research suggests that environmental factors may trigger the innate vulnerability in some children. These factors can include exposure to environmental toxins, such as air pollution or pesticides. Stress and social isolation may worsen symptoms, but are not considered the underlying trigger for autism. Down syndrome is a separate genetic disorder that is not directly related to autism spectrum disorder.

Quiz 16: Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence