Individuals with ASD often have difficulty with which of the following?

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often experience challenges in understanding and interpreting social cues, which can make it difficult for them to grasp other people's feelings and emotions. This difficulty in social understanding stems from a broader set of social communication challenges frequently associated with ASD.

People on the spectrum may struggle to read facial expressions, tone of voice, and other non-verbal cues that are crucial for empathizing with others. This impairs their ability to recognize when someone is happy, sad, upset, or in need of support, which can impact their interactions and relationships.

The other options, while they may present challenges for some individuals with ASD, are not as universally prominent or defining as the difficulty in understanding feelings. Maintaining eye contact is often a characteristic behavior associated with ASD, and while many individuals may find it challenging, the core issue lies more in social interpretation. Playing sports might be tough for some due to motor skills or social dynamics but isn’t a hallmark of ASD itself. Learning new skills can also be challenging for varying reasons, but it is not as directly tied to the social understanding deficits indicative of ASD.