Lack of eye contact sufficient to assign the ASD/Autism criterion A2 Deflicts in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction?

[Psychology2021]

Hi,

For my study:

I am wondering if lack of eye contact across multiple contexts (for example on school, when talking with friends and when talking with parents.) is sufficient to assign the following DSM-5 criterion :

A2 Deflicts in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction; ranging from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; through abnormalities in eye contact and body language; or deficits in understand and use of nonverbal communication; to total lack of facial expression or gestures.

My thoughts:
- If someone struggles with eye contact he/she should also struggle with understanding nonverbal communication, because he/she doesn’t pick up other non-verbal cues well either, so just lack of eye contract is not sufficient to assign the DSM -5 A2 criterion ?

Lack of eye contract across multiple contexts cannot satisfy the example: abnormalities in eye contact and body language, because the abnormalities in body language are not present ?

DSM 4: marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors. This suggests that only lack of eye contact across multiple contexts is not sufficient to assign the A2 criterion, but this is a quote from DSM-4..... Am I allowed to take an example from DSM-4 under DSM-5 ?

So to conclude, lack of eye contact is not sufficient to assign above DSM - 5 A2 criterion, because the client must be present other problems as well with nonverbal communication, for example with understand nonverbal communication. Am I correct ?

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Edited August 10, 2021 by Psychology2021

[PsyDuck90]

I would recommend you speak with the psychologist supervising your research, as no one on here is qualified to help you make diagnoses. 

[Psychology2021]

19 hours ago, PsyDuck90 said:

I would recommend you speak with the psychologist supervising your research, as no one on here is qualified to help you make diagnoses. 

Yes, I understand, but maybe you can give me some guidelines ? It seems not reasonable (to me) that every client with lack of eye contact  pass above criterion.

[PsyDuck90]

38 minutes ago, Psychology2021 said:

Yes, I understand, but maybe you can give me some guidelines ? It seems not reasonable (to me) that every client with lack of eye contact  pass above criterion.

Is there a reason you cannot ask your supervisor thus question? This is a forum for grad students and prospective grad students. No one here has the qualifications (i.e. licensure) to provide you a specific answer to your question.