Which of the following is most characteristic of a student who has a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?

• A. Janet is shy in class and often asks the teacher to work by herself rather than in groups.
• B. Riley often defies behavioral instructions from his teachers and is easily angered.
• C. Luis has difficulty staying focused in class and requests to take frequent breaks.
• D. Tina continuously rocks back and forth in her chair and avoids eye contact with her teachers and peers.

Answer: (D)

Autism spectrum disorder is often marked by differences in social communication and interaction, along with restricted, repetitive behaviors. The description about Tina fits this pattern: she repeatedly rocks back and forth, which is a common repetitive behavior, and she avoids eye contact with teachers and peers, which reflects social-communication challenges typical of ASD. These features together point to ASD more than other possibilities.

Other descriptions highlight traits that can occur for reasons other than ASD—for example, shyness or preferring to work alone can be a personality style; frequent defiance or anger with instructions suggests conduct-related issues; and needing to take frequent breaks could indicate ADHD or other factors.