ASD Flashcards
What is ASD?
Autism Spectrum Disorder
What is autism?
Problems in the area of social communication and interaction and restricted/repetitive patterns of thinking
How common is autism?
1 in 68
Boys>Girls
What is the triad of impairments in autism?
Qualitative impairments in reciprocal social interaction
Language impairment
Thought and behaviour changes
What impairments in reciprocal social interaction occur in autism?
Relationships may be difficult to establish
May not be motivated by need for social approval
May show little interest in need for/feelings of others
What language impairments may be seen in autism?
No speech
Difficulty using pronouns
Stress, pitch, rhythm and intonation of speech may be off, echolalia
Difficulty interpreting non-verbal communication
Difficulty with similies and metaphors
May have peculiar stiff eye gaze or no eye contact
May be unresponsive to non-verbal feedback
What thought and behaviour changes can occur in autism?
Restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests and activities
Resistance to change
Lack of social imagination/theory of mind
Concrete and inflexible thinking
Ritualistic behaviours/ stereotypies (coping mechanisms)
What sensory differences may occur in autism?
Differences in: Sound Tactile, pain and temperature Taste and texture of food Visual Smell
What co-morbid conditions are associated with autism?
LD Depression Social anxiety OCD- overlaps with stereotypies ADHD- symptom overlap Dyspraxia
How is autism assessed and diagnosed?
No biological markers
Screeners (Social responsiveness scale)
Semi-structured interviews (3di)
Standardised assessment tools (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS))
How is autism defined by DSM IV?
Exhibiting at least six symptoms total, including at least two symptoms of qualitative impairment in social interaction, at least one symptom of qualitative impairment in communication, and at least one symptom of restricted and repetitive behaviour
Early onset, longstanding
What causes ASD?
Heritable (commonly relatives affected, but no single gene explanation)
Global Inherent Deficit
Synaptogenesis, under/overconnectedness/both possibly
Disorder or mirror neuron system possibly
What is the non-pharmacological management of ASD?
Aim to lessen associated deficits and family distress, and to increase quality of life and functional independence
Family and school based
Applied behaviour analysis, speech and language therapy, social skills training all have some limited success
What is the pharmacological management of ASD?
General principles – agree target symptoms, monitoring side effects, duration
Risperidone – short term for significant aggression, tantrums or self-injury
Methylphenidate - ADHD symptoms
Melatonin – may be considered for difficult sleep problems
Endogenous hormone secreted by the pineal
