Which developmental disability is characterized by stereotypic repetitive behavior, resistance to environmental change, and unusual sensory responses?

Which developmental disability is characterized by stereotypic repetitive behavior, resistance to environmental change, and unusual sensory responses?

• A. Autism
• B. ADHD
• C. Down Syndrome
• D. Fragile X Syndrome

Answer: (A)

Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, insistence on sameness with resistance to environmental change, and unusual sensory responses. These features often appear in early childhood and accompany differences in social communication and interaction. The need for predictable routines leads to discomfort with changes in the environment, while sensory differences—being overly sensitive or under-responsive to sounds, textures, or lights—shape how a person experiences the world. ADHD centers on inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity rather than a primary pattern of repetitive behaviors and sensory processing. Down syndrome involves intellectual disability with a distinct developmental profile, not the specific combination described. Fragile X syndrome can include autism-like features but the described trio is most directly associated with autism. Thus, the description aligns with autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, insistence on sameness with resistance to environmental change, and unusual sensory responses. These features often appear in early childhood and accompany differences in social communication and interaction. The need for predictable routines leads to discomfort with changes in the environment, while sensory differences—being overly sensitive or under-responsive to sounds, textures, or lights—shape how a person experiences the world. ADHD centers on inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity rather than a primary pattern of repetitive behaviors and sensory processing. Down syndrome involves intellectual disability with a distinct developmental profile, not the specific combination described. Fragile X syndrome can include autism-like features but the described trio is most directly associated with autism. Thus, the description aligns with autism spectrum disorder.