ASD_Flashcards
Who are part of the MDT for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)?
Paediatrician/adolescent psychiatrist, psychologist, occupational therapist
What are the aims of psychosocial interventions for ASD?
Increase attention, engagement and reciprocal communication, adjust to the child’s developmental level, increase understanding of patient’s communication patterns, expand communication, interactive play and social routines, therapist modeling and video-interaction feedback
When should CBT be considered for ASD?
If patient has anxiety and has the verbal and cognitive ability to engage in therapy
What is included in Speech and Language Therapy for ASD?
Social skills training
What pharmacological treatments are not recommended for core features of autism?
Antipsychotics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or exclusion diets
When should antipsychotic medication be considered for ASD?
If behavioral issues make psychosocial interventions ineffective, review at 3-4 weeks, stop at 6 weeks if no clinical indication
How should comorbidities in ASD be treated?
Treat according to the specific condition, refer to the ADHD management section if comorbid with ADHD
What support should be offered to families and carers of children with ASD?
Personal, social and emotional support, practical support in caring role (respite breaks and emergency plans), plan for future care, offer carer’s needs assessment
What educational support should be considered for children with ASD?
Assess for learning disability, discuss EHC plan if needing extra support
What should be explained to parents about ADHD?
Explain the diagnosis, management, and that manifestation will change as the child gets older, some may grow out of it
What should be explained about ADHD medication?
Explain it is a 6-week trial, side-effects (loss of appetite, mood changes, palpitations, tics), requires 6 monthly height and 3 monthly weight monitoring if continued
What is Becker muscular dystrophy?
Similar to Duchene muscular dystrophy but slower progression, loss of independent ambulation in late 20s, life expectancy middle to old age
What are Breath Holding Attacks?
Attacks resolve spontaneously, children tend to grow out of these by 4-5 years old, behavior modification therapy with distraction, consider Iron deficiency anemia as cause and investigate with bloods
What are the risk factors for Cerebral Palsy?
Antenatal: Chorioamnionitis, maternal respiratory or GU infection. Perinatal: Preterm birth, LBW, neonatal encephalopathy, neonatal sepsis, maternal infection. Postnatal: Meningitis, head trauma prior to 3 years
What should be noted about MRI for assessing Cerebral Palsy?
MRI may assist to assess the cause, cannot establish timing of injury, general anaesthesia or sedation is usually needed for a young child
What are possible early motor features of Cerebral Palsy?
Unusual fidgety movements or abnormality of movement, abnormalities of tone, abnormal motor developing, feeding difficulties
What are the delayed motor milestones indicating Cerebral Palsy?
Not sitting by 8 months, not walking by 18 months, hand preference before 1 year
What are the RED FLAGS for other neurological disorders in Cerebral Palsy?
Absence of risk factors, family history of progressive neurological disorder, loss of already attained cognitive or developmental abilities, development of unexpected focal neurological signs
What should be explained about autism?
Autism is a spectrum, difficult to predict the impact on the child’s life, characterized by difficulties in social interaction, language impairment and ritualistic behavioural tendencies
What are the key points in the management of autism?
Psychological interventions to reduce ritualistic behaviors, speech and language therapy with a focus on social skills, educational assessment and plan
What support resources should be provided to carers of children with autism?
Carer’s needs will be attended to, link to support websites such as the National Autistic Society
