ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) Flashcards
What are some basic characteristics of ASD?
- neurodevelopmental disorder with complex etiology (cause)
- genetic factors play a central role and so does interaction with non-genetic factors
- clinical and etiologic diversity
- characterized by impairments in reciprocal social interaction, verbal and non verbal communication and a preference for repetitive activity
- it is on a spectrum
what is the prevalence of ASD?
1 in 68 and a recurrence risk estimated at 8-18%
How common is ASD in Canada?
1 in 135 kids in K to grade 11 in montreal
1 in 150 in 3 to 10 yo in alberta
1 in 95 across 6 regions
1 in 94 in gr 1 to 12 in calgary
What is the epidemiololgy of ASD?
- more common in boys than girls (4:1 sex ratio)
- genetic and environmental factors play a big role in biological vulnerability
- rates of ASD are consistant across international studies and ethnic and socioeconomic groups (except in the US diagnosis is less in minorities because theres not much access to healthcare)
- prevalence estimates steadily increasing over past 40 years
What is ASD?
it is a developmental disorder like autism
- it changes with development in terms of clinical expression and it affects development like affects social experience, learning/cognition..etc..
it is heterogenous (clinically and etiologically diverse in terms of clinical and biological ways)
According to the DSM-5 what are the requirements to be diagnosed with ASD? copy in notes
- persistent deficits in social communication and interactions (need 3 out of 3 on that list)
- restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests and activities (need 2/4 on the list)
therefore a total of 5/7 and higher is needed to be diagnosed with ASD
How do people with ASD show deficits in social-emotional reciprocity?
- One of the deficits in social communication and interaction across multiple contexts in DSM-5
it ranges from abnormal social approach to failure of normal back and forth conversation, to reduced sharing interestes, emotions or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions
difficulty reading people and their motivations and intentions in a conversation and show either disengagement or TOO much engagement in their own topics and ideas
How do individuals with ASD show nonverbal communicative behaviors?
- One of the deficits in social communication and interaction across multiple contexts in DSM-5
- used for social interaction ranging for example:
- from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities making eye contact and body language; to deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communications
in little kids it shows as lacking joint attention skills like looking at something when they want it and then looking at the adult and then looking back at the object
How do individuals with ASD show deficits in developing, maintaining and understanding relationships?
- One of the deficits in social communication and interaction across multiple contexts in DSM-5
- ranges from:
- difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or making friends; to absence of interest in peers
- ranges bascially from completely disengaged to somewhat having friends but in a very small circle
How are restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities shown in ASD according to DSM-5?
- sterotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects or speech shown in ASD –> for example: simple motor stereoypes include lining up toys or flipping objects, echolalia (echoing what u say) and idisyncratic phases (innapropriate word use)
- insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns of verbal/nonverbal behavior (i.e. showing extreme distress at small changes, difficulty transitioning, ridgid thinking patterns, greeting rituals, need to take same route or eat same food everyday) do not feel comfortable with unpredictability
- highly restricted and fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus (i.e. strong attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or preservative interest) [i.e. public transportation]
- Hyper- or hypo-sensitivity to sensory input or unusual interests in sensory aspects of the environment (i.e. apparent indifference to pain/temperature, adverse response to specific sounds or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects, visual fascination with lights or movement)
What are 6 major differences between DSM-5 and DSM-4 in defining ASD?
- in DSM-5 theres two rather than 3 symptom domains
- fewer permutations of symptoms for diagnosis (fewer ordering of the symptoms) therefore more on a spectrum
- diagnostic qualifiers rather than subtypes
- severity in each symptom domain relates to level of support required
- age of onset is early but may not be evident until demands overwhelm capacity (in adult diagnosis)
- boundaries are recast –> if you are diagnosed w ASD in DSM - 4 then u for sure are in DSM-5)
What is the early signs of ASD findings in high risk infants?
- social communication
- play interests and behavior
- motor skills and behavior
How does social communication deficits manifest in high-risk infants?
manifests through:
- delayed words and gestures
- atypical eye gaze
- reduced social smiling
- reduced joint attention behaviors
- reduced expression of positive affect (lack of ability to enagage even with familiar people) and lack of showing positive emotions
How does Play deficit manifest in high risk infants?
- reduced imitation of actions
- reduced interest in social play
- repetititive actions with toys like spinning and rolling
- prolonged/intense visual examination of toys and other objects
How does atypical motor skills and behavior manifest in high risk infants?
- delayed fine and gross motor skills
- reduced motor control
- repetitive/atypical motor behaviors and postures (waving arms up and down)