What is the most likely diagnosis for a child showing impaired social interaction and repetitive behaviors?

The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by specific patterns of behavior and challenges in social interactions. Children with ASD often exhibit impaired social communication skills, which may include difficulty understanding social cues, forming relationships, or engaging in reciprocal conversations. In addition, they frequently demonstrate repetitive behaviors, such as repeated movements, routines, or intense focus on specific interests.

The combination of these symptoms—impaired social interaction and repetitive behaviors—aligns closely with the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder. This disorder encompasses a range of developmental conditions that affect how individuals perceive the world and interact with others, emphasizing the importance of both social and behavioral characteristics in forming a diagnosis.

While other conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may involve difficulties in social settings, they do not typically include the specific repetitive behaviors associated with ASD. Similarly, expressive speech delay and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have different clinical presentations that do not align as directly with the core features of autism.

Understanding these distinctions clarifies why autism spectrum disorder is the most appropriate diagnosis in this case.