Autism Flashcards
Screening tools
Autism Disorder Observation Scale (ADOS)
Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT)
Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT)
DSM IV Diagnostic Criteria
Autistic Disorder
Impaired development of social interaction and communication
Markedly restricted repertoire of interests and activities
Symptoms before age 3
DSM IV Diagnostic Criteria
Asperger Syndrome
Delays in social interaction
Repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities
No delays in language, speech, cognition, or curiosity
DSM IV Diagnostic Criteria
Pervasive Developmental Disorders - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)
Does not meet specific criteria for Autism
Differential dx
Rhett Disorder
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
Fragile X Syndrome
Rhett Disorder
Genetic
Females with typical development
Brain growth decelerates, skills lost starting around 5 mos
Stereotypical arm movements
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
Typical development
Sudden loss of language, bowel, and bladder control after 2 years or older
No genetic reason
If they develop typically and it drops off, it’s CDD
Fragile X Syndrome
Genetic
Males
Presentation very similar to ASD
Hearing and visual impairments
DSM V
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Disorder
Asperger’s Syndrome
PDD-NOS
DSM V
Social Communication Disorder
Limitations in the social use of language
Absence of restricted interests and repetitive behaviors
DSM V Levels of Severity
Level 3 - Requires Very Substantial Support
Level 2 - Requires Substantial Support
Level 1 - Requires Support
Level 3 - Requires Very Substantial Support
Severe deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills cause severe impairments in functioning, very limited initiation of social interactions, and minimal response to social overtures from others
Level 2 - Requires Substantial Support
Marked deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills; social impairments apparent even with supports in place; limited initiation of social interactions; and reduced or abnormal responses to social overtures from others
Level 1 - Requires Support
Without supports in place, deficits in social communication cause noticeable impairments. Difficulty initiating social interactions, and clear examples of atypical or unsuccessful response to social overtures of others. May appear to have decreased interest in social interactions
Typical dx ages
May be diagnosed as early as 2 years, typically closer to 4
ASD - 4 years
PDD-NOS - 4 years 2 mos
Asperger’s - 6 years 2 mos
Signs noticed within 1st year
Vision and hearing
Social and communication
Fine motor
Potential Risk Factors
Weak link to genetic syndromes (10%)
Identical twins and siblings
46% of children with ASD have above average intellectual ability
Children born to older parents have a higher risk of being diagnosed with ASD
Exposure to prescription meds
Vaccination risk factor
NO CONNECTION
Mercury no longer used to bind medications
Prevalence in boys vs girls
Significantly more common in boys than girls
Boys 1 in 42
Girls 1 in 189
Neuropathology
Typical head circumference at birth, increases in the first 2 years
Overgrowth in frontal and temporal lobes, amygdala
…
Overconnection of “short range” neurons, underconnection of “long range”
Poor integration of areas
Ability to complete “simple” tasks is uninhibited
Attention and ASD
Preoccupations
Difficulty shifting focus
Lack of or delayed response to name
Executive functioning and ASD
Difficulty inhibiting repetitive movements
Inflexibility in patterns
Social/communication and ASD
Difficult developing social relationships
Solitary play
Lack of eye contact
Language…
Lack of language
Echolalia
Pragmatic language
Echolalia
Parent says something and the child repeats it right back to you
