Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Study

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of developmental disorders that can cause significant social, communication and behavioural challenges. ASD are spectrum disorders and they affect each person in different ways, and can range from very mild to severe. People with ASDs share some similar symptoms, such as problems with social interaction but, there are differences in when the symptoms start, how severe they are, and the exact nature of the symptoms. Differential diagnosis is the process of distinguishing disorders from other similar disorders; the diagnosis is often established by ruling out other disorders. Some ASD symptoms can overlap with symptoms of other mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study focuses on differentially diagnosing Autism spectrum disorder from other similar disorders and other mental health disorders by analyzing one case in detail.