Autism Diagnosis and Treatment Plan for a 7-Year-Old Child
This paper presents a diagnosis and treatment plan for a 7-year-old child referred by a pediatrician following developmental concerns raised during a routine examination. The child displays classic signs of autism spectrum disorder across three core domains: language, social skills, and behavior. The paper outlines the diagnostic process, including early parental detection, autism screening tools, and comprehensive evaluation by a developmental specialist. It then proposes a function-based intervention approach, specifically Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviors (DRA), as the most appropriate treatment strategy to reduce problem behaviors and develop more adaptive communication and social skills.
- Presenting Concerns and Developmental History: Overview of referral and observed developmental delays
- Diagnosis: Autism Spectrum Disorder: Rationale for autism diagnosis based on symptoms
- Early Signs and Core Symptom Domains: Language, social, and behavioral symptom mapping
- Treatment and Intervention Plan: Stepwise plan from screening to behavioral therapy
- Conclusion: Summary of diagnosis and recommended intervention
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper organizes a complex clinical picture into clearly defined symptom domains — language, social skills, and behavior — making the diagnostic rationale easy to follow.
- It moves logically from observation to diagnosis to intervention, reflecting a realistic clinical decision-making sequence.
- The use of a specific, named intervention (Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviors) grounds the treatment plan in an evidence-based strategy rather than a vague recommendation.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates applied case analysis: it links observed behaviors directly to diagnostic criteria and then maps those findings onto a structured intervention framework. Each section builds on the previous one, showing how symptom identification drives both diagnosis and treatment selection — a key skill in clinical and educational psychology writing.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a detailed case profile of the child's presenting concerns. It then moves into a diagnostic section explaining autism spectrum disorder and the rationale for that diagnosis. A third section maps observed behaviors onto core symptom domains. The treatment section describes a stepwise intervention plan: parental detection, screening, specialist referral, and DRA-based behavioral therapy. A brief conclusion ties the diagnosis and intervention together.
Presenting Concerns and Developmental History
The subject of this case study is a 7-year-old child who was referred by his pediatrician for an analysis following his 2-year developmental examination. From the beginning of his development, his mother reported observing delays consistent with the doctor's observations and shared similar concerns. One of the major concerns is that the child will not respond to his name when called, even when the speaker is less than a foot away, and does not turn his head toward the voice. He also has difficulty following simple, one-step instructions such as "come here," "sit down," or "pick up."
In addition to failing to use words to communicate or request what he wants, he only occasionally repeats a word that is modeled for him. When playing near other children in group settings, he does not acknowledge the other children, plays by himself, and does not engage in typical play behavior. Additional concerns include difficulty playing with toys appropriately, an inability to make eye contact or imitate his mother, and a stronger attachment to certain objects than to his parents or other familiar people. As a result, the child appears to exist in his own world and does not invite others into it. These observations suggest he is experiencing a condition that requires proper diagnosis and an effective treatment plan.
Diagnosis: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Based on the concerns raised by his mother and pediatrician, the child appears to be experiencing autism spectrum disorder. Generally, children with autism have difficulties in three major areas: language, behavior, and social interaction (Autism — Symptoms, n.d.). However, because the symptoms and severity of the condition vary significantly, children with the same diagnosis may behave quite differently and display strikingly different skill sets. In many cases, children with severe autism not only exhibit marked impairments but also demonstrate a complete inability to interact or communicate with others.
The symptoms of this condition are usually first noticed by parents and caregivers within the child's first three years of life. Signs associated with autism can be difficult to detect and diagnose during infancy, even though the condition is present at birth (congenital).
Early Signs and Core Symptom Domains
Some of the early signs of autism in babies and toddlers include failure to make eye contact, failure to smile when smiled at, failure to respond to one's name or to the sound of a familiar voice, not using gestures to communicate, and not playing with other individuals or sharing interest and enjoyment (Smith, Segal, & Hutman, 2013). The child in this case has displayed difficulties across all three core domains: language, social skills, and behavior.
Under social skills, he fails to respond to his name, demonstrates poor eye contact, prefers to play alone, and appears unaware of others' feelings. Under language, he does not appear to understand simple directions or instructions, does not consistently repeat modeled words, and does not speak spontaneously. Under behavior, he engages in repeated movements, develops particular routines and displays tantrums at the slightest change, and prefers solitary play. Taken together, these observed behaviors are consistent with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder as defined by current clinical standards.
Conclusion
The child's symptoms are signs of autism spectrum disorder in terms of his language, social skills, and behavior. He has demonstrated all the symptoms associated with autism as identified by his mother and the pediatrician. Therefore, his condition requires a suitable treatment and intervention plan to address it appropriately. Because his condition is associated with significant behavioral challenges, a function-based treatment approach — specifically, Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviors — is the recommended course of action.
References
Autism — Symptoms. (2010, April 12). Autism Spectrum Disorders Health Center. Retrieved December 11, 2013, from http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/autism-symptoms
Autism — Symptoms. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved December 11, 2013, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/autism/DS00348/DSECTION=symptoms
Schrader, L. (n.d.). Real-world strategies for behavior intervention plans for children with autism. Retrieved December 11, 2013, from
Smith, M., Segal, J., & Hutman, T. (2013, November). Autism symptoms & early signs. Retrieved December 11, 2013, from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/autism_signs_symptoms.htm
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