A boy with poor preschool performance and lack of eye contact is most likely diagnosed with what condition?

The most fitting diagnosis for a boy exhibiting poor preschool performance and a lack of eye contact is autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This condition is characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication difficulties, and restricted or repetitive behaviors. A lack of eye contact is a commonly recognized symptom of ASD, indicating difficulties in social engagement and communication.

Children with ASD often struggle with understanding social cues, which can manifest in academic settings as poor performance due to their inability to engage effectively with peers and teachers. Early indicators of ASD often include issues such as delayed speech development, impaired social skills, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining relationships, which align with the symptoms presented.

The other conditions listed do not typically present with the same combination of symptoms. Conduct disorder, for instance, primarily involves a pattern of disruptive and antisocial behavior rather than issues with communication or social interaction. Oppositional defiant disorder is marked by an enduring pattern of uncooperative and defiant behavior, which again does not directly correlate with poor performance in preschool or lack of eye contact. Social communication disorder, while related to challenges in communication, does not encapsulate the broader behavioral and social deficits characteristic of autism spectrum disorder. Thus, due to the specific symptoms described, autism spectrum disorder stands out as the