“Why does my child repeat me?”: A case study on assessing autism spectrum disorder in a child with Echolalia and Auditory Hypersensitivity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37134/esss.vol6.1.1.2025Keywords:
psychological assessment , preschooler, Autism Spectrum Disorder, echolalia, auditory hypersensitivityAbstract
This case report presents the psychological assessment of JH, a 6-year-old preschooler with delayed language development, a short attention span, and disruptive behaviour in school. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted using parent interviews, classroom observations, and standardized measures, including the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS-3), NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment (Parent & Teacher), Bender-Gestalt Test (BGT), Seguin Form Board Test (SFBT), Wechsler Nonverbal Scale of Ability (WNV), and Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (Vineland-II). Results indicated that JH met the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and exhibited symptoms associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Key findings included attentional challenges, auditory hypersensitivity, and difficulties with peer interactions. Additionally, echolalia went unnoticed as an ASD symptom due to JH’s limited speech. This case highlights the importance of a multi-method assessment approach in identifying co-occurring ASD and ADHD, guiding targeted intervention to improve social communication, attention, and classroom engagement.
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