Child with intellectual disability misdiagnosed as autism: A case study

J Pak Med Assoc. 2021 Aug;71(8):2077-2079. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.365.

Abstract

Misdiagnosis has become a public health crisis and it is unavoidable in all health care systems. This case study is about a nine year old boy, referred by the special school teacher presenting with the complaints of Autism and slow learning. Contrary to his complaints, the developmental assessment showed that the child had no symptoms of Autism, whereas moderate symptoms of Intellectual Disability were made known. The brief therapeutic plan focused on enhancing his functional level of adaptive behaviour. This case report holds its implication to drift attention of stakeholders working in different health care systems towards the issue of misdiagnosis.

Keywords: Misdiagnosis, Autism, Intellectual Disability..

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Autistic Disorder* / diagnosis
  • Child
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Family
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability* / diagnosis
  • Male