Autism

Question 1

What is autism?

Answer 1

Problems in the area of social communication and interaction and restricted patterns of thinking

Question 2

What is the classic triad in autism?

Answer 2

• Qualitative impairments in reciprocal social interaction
• Language and impairment deficits
• Thought and behavior (restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities)

Question 3

What is another symptom of autism?

Answer 3

Sometimes, sensory differences as well (ie. The patient finds certain sounds exceptionally loud – compared to ‘normal’)

Question 4

What is the pathology of autism?

Answer 4

Unknown

Pos genetic

Question 5

What conditions is autism associated with?

Answer 5

Learning disability 
Depression
Social anxiety 
Obsessive compulsive disorder
ADHD
Dyspraxia

Question 6

How do you diagnose autism?

Answer 6

Semi-structured interviews

Standardized assessment tools (autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS))

Question 7

How do you treat autism?

Answer 7

Fish oils

Pharma

Question 8

What can fish oils help with in autism?

Answer 8

Help tantrums and self harm

Question 9

What pharma treatment can be given for autism?

Answer 9

Risperidone
Methylphenidate
Melatonin
Atomextine

Question 10

What can risperidone help with in autism?

Answer 10

Short term for significant aggression, tantrums or self-injury

Question 11

What is methylphenidate used for in autism?

Answer 11

ADHD symptoms

Question 12

What is melatonin used for in autism?

Answer 12

Sleep difficulties

Question 13

What is atomextine used for in autism?

Answer 13

Hyperactivity

Question 14

What five disorders make up autism spectra?

Answer 14

Asperge’s Syndrome
Rett’s Syndrome 
Childhood Autism
Pervasive Developmental Disorder
Pervasive Developmental Disorder NOS

Question 15

What is social communication usually like in ASD?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What is social interaction usually like with ASD?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What is social imagination usually like with ASD?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What are some potential causes for autism?

Answer 18

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)

Question 19

What is the main organ for emotional regulation?

Answer 19

Amygdala

Question 20

What parts of the brain are affected in autism?

Answer 20

Frontal lobe
Amygdala
Cerebellum

Question 21

How does the amygdala change with autism?

Answer 21

Gets bigger

Question 22

What is always the right answer in the exam?

Answer 22

Serotonin

Question 23

What neurotransmitters are implicated in ASD?

Answer 23

Glutamate
GABA
Serotonin

Question 24

What speech and language difficulties can be present in children with autism?

Answer 24

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 .

Question 25

WHat behaviours are often seen in children with ASD?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

What communication abnormalities are often seen in adults with ASD?

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

What are some social abnormalities often seen in adults with ASD?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

What are the essential diagnostic criteria for ASD?

Answer 28

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

Question 29

WHat medical disorders are often associated with ASD?

Answer 29

Fragile X syndrome
Tuberous sclerosis
Seizure disorders (epilepsy)
Hearing and visual impairments

Question 30

What are some non-pharma treatments of ASD?

Answer 30

Psychoeducation
Behavioural analysis
Speech and language therapy

Question 31

What should you give for tic disorders?

Answer 31

Antipsychotics

Question 32

What is used for social anxiety in ASD?

Answer 32

SSRI/SNRI