Could periodically lying down flat on the floor with hands at sides be a symptom of autism spectrum disorder?

Answer 1

The person might have an autism spectrum disorder or might not. That symptom would not prompt a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder. For a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder, the person will have a set of symptoms, not just one.

To use this behavior to help diagnose an autism spectrum disorder as opposed to another condition, more information would be necessary. I know of a child who did something similar for the purpose of getting attention, rather than having an autism spectrum disorder. I know of a child who would periodically lie on the floor, motionless, pretending to be dead, apparently as a response to having heard a discussion about someone having died. It would be useful to know the context of the behavior. Does the person seem to find it stress-reducing? Does a certain event trigger this behavior? Does it happen several times per day or only a couple times per week? Does the person become agitated if interrupted during this process? Is this a behavior the person might have learned in kindergarten and has made part of his or her daily routine? These questions are examples of additional information that could be helpful to the person's doctor in diagnosing whatever condition it is.