Misleading cues in the diagnosis of mental retardation and infantile autism in the preschool child.

The diagnosis of behavioral and cognitive disorders in preschool children is difficult. Infantile austism is more likely to be diagnosed than is mental retardation. Yet most children with infantile autism are also mentally retarded, and many of those with severe and profound mental retardation show autistic behavior. Factors misleading professionals into overlooking mental retardation when assessing preschool children were discussed, and essential components in the management of preschool children with behavioral, developmental, or cognitive deviations were examined.