Which term describes a group of developmental brain disorders that refers to a wide range of symptoms, skills and levels of impairment or disability?

• A. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• B. Cerebral Palsy
• C. Specific Learning Disorder
• D. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is how the word “spectrum” conveys variability in developmental disorders. Autism Spectrum Disorder is described as a neurodevelopmental condition that includes a wide range of presentations, from mild to more pronounced difficulties, across social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors. The term “spectrum” signals that people with ASD can differ greatly in symptoms and in their level of impairment, yet are grouped under one umbrella. The other options refer to more specific conditions with more uniform patterns of symptoms and do not emphasize this broad range of functioning in the same way.