ABSTRACT
Within the last decade, researchers and clinicians have reported an increase in the
incidence and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Various factors have been
proposed for this apparent change including broader diagnostic criteria, greater public
awareness, biological and environmental interactions, and earlier detection. However,
it has been observed in a certain percentage of children, during the toddler and preschool
years and before intervention is introduced, that severe language deficits distort
social and self-regulatory behavior to such a degree that they mimic the characteristics
of ASD. Professional caution is vital in this regard to describe early functioning
and to defer diagnosis until the effects of intervention and treatment can be monitored
over time. The case of Nicole, a preschooler with developmental delays and social
communication oddities, illustrates what I believe is the most professionally responsible,
cautious, family-centered, and data-based diagnostic process that links assessment,
intervention, and evaluation for young children with early developmental difficulties.
KEY WORDS
autism - pervasive developmental disorders - social communication - atypical behaviors
- regulatory disorders
