What behavioral characteristic is associated with ASD?

The behavioral characteristic associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the presence of restricted and stereotypical patterns of behavior. Individuals with ASD often exhibit repetitive movements or speech patterns, have intense interests in specific topics, and may engage in routines or rituals. These behaviors can manifest as hand-flapping, rocking, or focusing heavily on certain subjects to the exclusion of others, all of which are indicative of the unique cognitive and sensory processing experiences found in those on the autism spectrum.

In contrast, phonological acquisition issues pertain more specifically to speech sound development, which is not a hallmark of ASD. Similarly, while some individuals with ASD may have a rich vocabulary, they often struggle with abstract language use rather than excel in it. Lastly, joint attention skills, which involve sharing focus on an object or event with another person, are typically impaired in individuals with ASD, making the statement about excellent joint attention skills inaccurate.