Autism Flashcards
What is autism?
Problems in the area of social communication and interaction and restricted patterns of thinking
What is the classic triad in autism?
- Qualitative impairments in reciprocal social interaction
- Language and impairment deficits
- Thought and behavior (restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities)
What is another symptom of autism?
Sometimes, sensory differences as well (ie. The patient finds certain sounds exceptionally loud – compared to ‘normal’)
What is the pathology of autism?
Unknown
Pos genetic
What conditions is autism associated with?
Learning disability Depression Social anxiety Obsessive compulsive disorder ADHD Dyspraxia
How do you diagnose autism?
Semi-structured interviews
Standardized assessment tools (autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS))
How do you treat autism?
Fish oils
Pharma
What can fish oils help with in autism?
Help tantrums and self harm
What pharma treatment can be given for autism?
Risperidone
Methylphenidate
Melatonin
Atomextine
What can risperidone help with in autism?
Short term for significant aggression, tantrums or self-injury
What is methylphenidate used for in autism?
ADHD symptoms
What is melatonin used for in autism?
Sleep difficulties
What is atomextine used for in autism?
Hyperactivity
What five disorders make up autism spectra?
Asperge’s Syndrome Rett’s Syndrome Childhood Autism Pervasive Developmental Disorder Pervasive Developmental Disorder NOS
What is social communication usually like in ASD?
Good language skills but find it hard to grasp the underlying meaning of conversation
Difficulties understanding jokes and sarcasm
Voices often sound monotonous
Language can be pedantic and idiosyncratic
They often have narrow interests which dominate their conversations (lack of reciprocity)
Difficulty sharing thoughts and feelings
What is social interaction usually like with ASD?
Difficulties picking up non-verbal cues
Appear self-focused and lacking in empathy, when in fact, they are simply trying to figure out social situations
Continually struggle to make and sustain personal and social relationships
What is social imagination usually like with ASD?
Difficulties thinking flexibly and in abstract ways
Inability to understand other people’s points of view, taking things literally
Difficulties applying knowledge and skills across settings with different people
Difficulties projecting themselves into the future or planning goals sensibly
What are some potential causes for autism?
Rubella (German measles) in the pregnant mother
Tuberous sclerosis
Fragile X syndrome (the most common inherited form of intellectual disability)
Encephalitis (brain inflammation)
Untreated phenylketonuria (PKU)
What is the main organ for emotional regulation?
Amygdala
What parts of the brain are affected in autism?
Frontal lobe
Amygdala
Cerebellum
How does the amygdala change with autism?
Gets bigger
What is always the right answer in the exam?
Serotonin
What neurotransmitters are implicated in ASD?
Glutamate
GABA
Serotonin
What speech and language difficulties can be present in children with autism?
Don’t babble or use other vocal sounds
Can repeat words or phrases spoken by others (immediate or delayed echolalia) without formulating their own language
Problems using non-verbal behaviours to interact with others .
WHat behaviours are often seen in children with ASD?
Lack awareness of and interest in other children
Struggle to initiate and sustain friendships
Gravitate to older or younger children
They tend to play alone
Difficulties understanding other people’s emotions and feelings (empathy and theory of mind)
Difficulties starting/taking part in conversations
Don’t demonstrate imaginative or pretend play; while others will continually repeat the same pretend play.
Prefer to stick to the same routine and little changes may trigger tantrums
Some may flap their hand or twist or flick their fingers when they’re excited or upset
Some may engage in repetitive activity, such watching same movie over and over, opening and closing doors, or lining toys up
What communication abnormalities are often seen in adults with ASD?
Difficulty seeing the other person’s perspective
Difficulties picking up on body and facial language cues.
Difficulty making eye contact,
Show compassion but may be confused by social signals and body language
Often repeat the same phrase or expression over and over again.
Problems starting a conversation. Also, continuing a conversation (small talk is very hard)
Difficulty making out people’s intentions.
What are some social abnormalities often seen in adults with ASD?
Appear shy or avoid initiating social contact
May have difficulty fitting in with other people due to not following social norms or ways of dressing
Very few friendships and difficulty maintaining the ones you already have.
May appear rude or unaware of bluntness
Trouble processing certain thoughts and expressing needs to others
Take things very literally
What are the essential diagnostic criteria for ASD?
Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period
Symptoms cause significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning (regardless of age)
Disturbances are not better explained by other mental health problems, intellectual disability or global developmental delay
WHat medical disorders are often associated with ASD?
Fragile X syndrome
Tuberous sclerosis
Seizure disorders (epilepsy)
Hearing and visual impairments
What are some non-pharma treatments of ASD?
Psychoeducation
Behavioural analysis
Speech and language therapy
What should you give for tic disorders?
Antipsychotics
What is used for social anxiety in ASD?
SSRI/SNRI
