Question 1

Which statement about attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is accurate?

Accepted Answer

ADHD is considered a neurodevelopmental disorder, which means it affects the development of the nervous system and brain.

Question 2

Which statement about the diagnosis of childhood disorders using the DSM-5 is accurate?

Accepted Answer

Clinicians use the DSM-5 to assess a child's age, developmental level, environmental factors, and symptoms that cause significant impairment in daily functioning over an extended period to diagnose childhood disorders.

Question 3

What is one difficulty in diagnosing ADHD in preschool children?

Accepted Answer

Preschool children naturally exhibit a wide range of attentional skills and energy levels, making it challenging to distinguish between typical behavior and symptoms of ADHD.

Question 4

What social communication skills would be consistent with a diagnosis of severe autism spectrum disorder?

Accepted Answer

Individuals with severe autism spectrum disorder often have minimal or completely absent social communication skills, as they may struggle significantly with verbal and non-verbal communication.

Question 5

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 DSM-5 diagnosis would be ____.

Accepted Answer

Bobbie Jo's symptoms, including severe isolation, communication difficulties, and repetitive behaviors, align with autism spectrum disorder, which can manifest after a period of normal development. Asperger's syndrome is no longer a separate diagnosis in DSM-5.

Question 6

Which statement concerning the etiology of autism is correct?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement concerning the etiology of autism...

Question 7

Dr. Hamm says, "All children with attention problems are also hyperactive. They are more frequently girls and have more difficulty in unstructured situations. Fortunately most cases, the disorder and symptoms abate in adolescence." Which portion of this statement is accurate?

Accepted Answer

While some children with attention problems may also be hyperactive, not all are, so statement A is inaccurate. Statement B is accurate as children with attention problems often struggle with unstructured situations. Statement C is partially accurate as some children may still experience symptoms of attention problems in adolescence. Statement D is inaccurate as attention problems are more frequent in boys.

Question 8

Research suggests abnormalities in ____ are particularly likely in males with mild autism spectrum disorders.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research suggests abnormalities in ____ are particularly...

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

Newschaffer and colleagues (2007) suggest that autism results from both genetic and environmental factors, as indicated by the concordance rates in twin and family studies. These studies show that while genetics play a significant role, environmental factors also contribute to the development of autism.

Question 10

Which of these disorders has the poorest prognosis?

Accepted Answer

Conduct disorder is considered to have the poorest prognosis of the four options. It is characterized by aggressive and antisocial behavior and often co-occurs with substance abuse and other mental health disorders. It has been linked to a higher risk of criminal behavior and incarceration in adulthood.

Question 11

Kendall, a popular first grader, is continuously in the principal's office. His teacher complains that he does not listen to instructions, he fails to finish his schoolwork, he fidgets and squirms in his seat, he often leaves his seat without permission, and he cannot seem to wait his turn during class activities. Whenever the principal calls Kendall's mother, she seems baffled by his behavior because Kendall does not have any problems at home, at church, shopping, or at daycare. What diagnosis is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Kendall's behaviors, which include difficulty listening to instructions, not finishing schoolwork, fidgeting, leaving his seat without permission, and inability to wait his turn, are indicative of ADHD. However, the fact that these behaviors only occur in one setting (school) and not in others (home, church, shopping, daycare) suggests that his behavior might be situation-specific rather than indicative of ADHD. ADHD symptoms typically present across multiple settings.

Question 12

Natalie is socially awkward and sometimes has difficulty responding to people. She has a few odd rituals and interests that only interfere with her daily life on occasion. She does not have an intellectual disability. Under the DSM-5, Natalie would most likely be diagnosed with ____.

Accepted Answer

Under the DSM-5, Asperger's syndrome is no longer a separate diagnosis and is included under autism spectrum disorder, which can include social difficulties and restricted interests without intellectual disability.

Question 13

Candy is a two-year-old with a moderate intellectual disability. She has a single crease across the palm of her hand, slanted eyes, and a harsh voice. What diagnosis would Candy most likely be given?

Accepted Answer

Candy's symptoms, including a single crease across the palm, slanted eyes, and a harsh voice, are characteristic of Down syndrome.

Question 14

Susan refuses to have her daughter Zoe vaccinated against any of the common childhood diseases because Susan is afraid that vaccines can cause autism. What is the position of most researchers and experts on autism?

Accepted Answer

Most researchers and experts agree that the study suggesting a link between vaccines and autism was fraudulent, and extensive research has shown no connection between vaccines and autism.

Question 15

There are a number of hypotheses about the biologic causes of autism spectrum disorders. Most researchers would agree that ____ play a role.

Accepted Answer

Most researchers agree that autism spectrum disorders are caused by a combination of genetic risk factors, environmental risk factors, and gene-environment interactions, rather than any single factor alone.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

The sudden and significant change in behavior after a year of normal interaction is indicative of autism spectrum disorder. The other options do not fit the profile described.

Question 17

Which of the following has been shown to help children with ADHD?

Accepted Answer

Giving more structure to their day has been shown to be helpful for children with ADHD. This can include setting a regular routine, providing clear expectations and schedules, and breaking down tasks into manageable steps. Giving more freedom or ignoring inappropriate behavior can actually worsen symptoms of ADHD. Using harsh punishment can also be counterproductive and can lead to feelings of shame and low self-esteem for the child.

Question 18

LuAnne is described by her teacher as "a shy and anxious daydreamer who cannot keep on task and fails to pay attention to details. It takes LuAnne twice as long to complete worksheets as other students." If LuAnne has a childhood disorder, it is probably ____.

Accepted Answer

LuAnne's symptoms align with those of ADHD, predominantly inattentive type, which is characterized by difficulty paying attention to details, being easily distracted or forgetful, appearing to daydream and struggling to follow instructions or complete tasks. LuAnne's behavior does not fit the criteria for oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder, which involve more aggressive or disruptive behavior.

Question 19

Jed has been diagnosed with ADHD, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type. As he matures into adulthood, ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jed has been diagnosed with ADHD, predominantly...

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

Environmental toxins are considered one of the potential triggers for autism spectrum disorder in children with an innate vulnerability.

Quiz 15: Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence