A 3-year-old child is being seen because the daycare facility staff have suggested to the parents that the child is having difficulty interacting with other children. Additionally, the staff have observed that when the child seems to become anxious or upset, he always becomes fixated on stacking building blocks one on top of the other to the extent that he will not acknowledge anyone or anything else. 

When the parents ask if their child has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the PMHNP advises the parents that: 

A. The repetitive and predictable nature of stacking blocks is calming in children with ASD

B. Stacking blocks is a very typical activity in children at this developmental stage and is not suggestive of ASD. 

C. The child should be tested for ASD, but in any event  he should be discouraged from using building blocks as a coping mechanism. 

D. While the social dysfunction at this age may suggest ASD, the building block activity is not an abnormal finding in a 3-year-old. 

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