ABSTRACT

The use of the umbrella term “neurodevelopmental disorders” (NDs) in the latest version of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM), DSM-5, which is a categorical classification system, marks an important change in the diagnostic perspective. It is known that all psychiatric disorders under this category have neurobiological basis and occur in the early stages of development. Moreover, the co-occurrence of NDs is the rule rather than the exception in clinical practice. In this article, a male case diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, speech sound disorder (phonological disorder), and fluency disorder (stuttering) was presented. In this case with multiple NDs, the diagnostic approach, diagnostic transitions across development, reasons for the delay in the diagnostic process and medical treatment options were discussed. This case report emphasizes the importance of transdiagnostic approach rather than defining classifications of psychiatric disorders consisting of many different clinical diagnoses as well as the concept of “diagnostic transition” and the evaluation of cognitive, social and linguistic functioning in the follow-up process.