ASD Flashcards
What are the 5 diff. disorders under ASD?
- Asperge’s $
- Rett’s $
- Childhood Autism
- Pervasive Developm/ Disorder
- pervasive develop. disorder NOS
What is common in the ASD d.os?
- the difficulties in SOCIAL interaction and social COMMUNICATION
What are the CORE fts of AUTISM?
- impaired social interaxn
- impaired COMM.
- restricted interests
- —-in the middle (non social skills/ repetitive behaviour)
What do autistic individuals struggle with in Language?
- good language
- can’t GRASP ABSTRACT conversations/concepts
- monotonous
- pedantic
- KNOWS everything about one topic
What do they struggle with in social interaction?
- can’t pick up on NON-VERBAL cues
- appears self-focused; when actually trying to figure out social situation
- struggles with personal/social interaxns
Comment about the social imagination of the Autistic individuals.
- diff. in thinking in abstract ways
- takes things LITERALLY
- can’t think about their future
- can;t apply skills across diff. settings (saying thank you at diff. cashcounters)
What form of repetitive behaviours exist?
- repetitive MOTOR movements
- fixated interests
(abnormal intensity of focus—-interest in a NARROW topic) - HYPER- or HYPO-reactivity to sensory input
- ritualised behaviour
Which gender group is predisposed? Why?
Males
5: 1
- -some relation to TESTOSTERONE levels —-sex hormones receptors are widely DISTRIBUTED in the brain; therefore influences neural signaling
- girls with CAH (exposed to high testosterone)—show more traits of ASD
How heritable is ASD?
- 30% of siblings with BROADER autism phenotype
- 90% in MZ twins
- 30-90% heretability
What medical conditions predisposes one to ASD?
- Rubella in the pregnant mother
- Tuberous Sclerosis
- Fragile X $
- Encephalitis
- Untreated Phenylketonuria
Which parts of the brain is pathological in Autism?
- amygdala
- cerebellum
What occurs as a result of increased size of the AMYGDALA?
- ANXIETY, social and communication skills become MORE pronounced
- in boys the amygdala is said to increase by 13-16%
What NTs are implicated in AUTISM?
glutamate —neuronal dmage with disreg.
GABA
Serotonin
How to dx Autism in children?
- lack interest in other children
- can’t initiate and sustain friendships
- gravitate to YOUNGER or OLDERR children
- Lang. problems (repeat words/phrases spoken to others….can’t maintain eye contact)
DDx of AUTISM in ADULTS?
- SOCIAL ANXIETY d.o
- —same lack of eye contact
- –avoids social contact
- —few friendships
What emotional co-morbidities exist with ASD?
- depression and anxiety (40-60%)
- eating disorders (20%)
How must of an affect does ASD have on IQ?
- 70% of children have non verbal IQ <70
- 35% have non-verbal IQ <50
When is medication prescribed for Autism?
- managing AGGRESSION and SELF-INJURY (Risperidone)
How come gender has a play in the predisposition to autism?
- Sex hormones play a role in the organisation of BRAIN circuits during EARLY developm.
- sex hormone receptors are WIDELY distributed in the brain
What is the extent of heretidability when born to an autistic parent? And in MZ twins?
35%-90%
—->90%
Briefly outline the areas said to cause social impairment.
- frontal cortex incl: Orbitofrontal Cortex, Poster. parietal cortex
Which NTs are said to be implicated in ASD?
- serotonin and GABA (important for Neurodevelopment)
- Glutamate
How different does an ASD patient take in sensory input?
—OVERLY sensitive to NOISE (magnified, distorted), TASTE (some OVERPOWERING) , SOUND, touch (poor depth perception)
How is SIGHT perception affected in an ASD pt?
- clumsiness and trouble with CATCHING or THROWING items
- difficulty getting sleep d/t sensitivity to light
