5. ASD Flashcards
behavioural features of ASD often present
before 3YO
co-occuring conditions
language and learning difficutlies
medical conditions
anxiety, depression, ADHD
neurodiversity affirming perspective
views brain-based and behavioural differences in autistic people as reflective of natural human variation
Cognitive mechanisms
weak central coherence/local processing bias: impairments in ability to integrate material into context, explains stregnths and cognitive deficits
theory of mind: representing and reasoning about other’s minds to understand and predict others behaviours; addresses social/language impairments
executive functioning: impairments in planning, changing set, flexibility of thought; addresses non social aspects
central coherence
focusing on details rather than big picture
unable to filter out unwanted informaiton
explains strengths- good rote learning, local processing bias
explains challenges-difficulty with comprehension or understanding a theme due to having a stregnth in local processing, alongside a deficit in global processing
ASD assessment
General developmental assessment
language
social development
ASD screening
medical review, SLP, adaptive behaviour, audiological assessment, vision assessment
Vineland 3
9 core and 4 optional subdomains
core domains: communication, daily living skills, socialisation, motor skills, maladaptive behaviour. limited measures of motor skills and maladaptive behaviour
consistent with AAIDD and DSM-V crieria for IDD
most common
ABAS-III
11 skill areas in 3 domains: conceptual, social, practical
consistent with AAIDD and DSM-V criteria for IDD
less widely used
Scales of independent behaviour revised (SIB-R)
14 subscales, 4 clusters: motor skills, personal living skills, social interaction and communication skills, community living skills and problem behaviour skills
adaptive and maladaptive behaviour
ASD screening tools
M-CHAT (16-30MO)
DBC-ASA (4-18YO)
SCQ >4YO
SRS .2.5Y
ASSQ 6-17 YO
CAST 4-11 YO
ASAS 5-18 YO
AQ-10 16YO+
When to screen adults for ASD
one or more of:
- persistent difficulties in social interaction, social communication or stereotypic behaviours/resistance to change/restricted interests
AND
one or more of:
- problems in obtaining or sustaining employment or education, difficulty intiiating or sustaining social relationship, previoous/current contact with metnal health or learning disability services, history of NDC or MI
When to screen infants for ASD
current diagnostic tools designed for children >24 MO and diagnosis tends to be more stable from 2-3YO
Characteristics of ASD may be evident from 12-18MO
Who can diagnose for NDIS access
MDT
lead medical practitioner (paed, psychiatrist, med prac with 6 y experience)
clin psych/neuropsych/ed and dev psych
assessed using DSM-V-TR diagnostic criteria as level 2 or 3
Who can diagnose for Qld education
EAP verification form
EAP or diagnostic report/letter signed by a registered paediatrician, psychiatrist, neurologist or psychologist with a practice endorsement in clinical, education and developmental or neuropsychology
Who can diagnose for disability pension
clinical psych only ok
best practice assessment
more comprehensive and using tools validated by research (clinical interview using ADI-R and direct assessment using ADOS-2), but not required for diagnosis by Australian guidelines
additional assessment: LSP, dev assessment, assessment of MH, informants across settings
social skill questionnaires
SRS
SSRS
VABS, ABAS (social skill section of adaptive measures)
social communication questionnaires
CCC-2
CCAdults
repetitive behaviours/interests questionnaires
sensory profile
repetitive behaviour questionnaire
repetitive behaviour scale revised
adult repetitive behaviours questionnaire - 2
direct assessment
gold standard ADOS-2
Creates structured enviornment where ASD behaviours can be observed
30-60min
module chosen based on language level/age