Autism Flashcards
What is autism?
Pervasive developmental disorder characterised by:
- impaired social interaction
- impaired communication
- repetitive behaviours
What are risk factors for autism?
Male Genetics Increasing parental age Parental psychiatric disorders Prematurity Maternal medication use
What are the clinical features of autism?
Asocial
Behaviour restricted
Communication impaired
What are the features of being asocial?
Few social getures Lack of social response - eye contact - social smiling - responding to name
What are the features of being behaviour restricted?
Restricted, repetitive behaviours
Upset in change of daily routine
What are the features of being communication impaired?
Distorted/delayed speech
Echolalia
What is echolalia?
Repeating words
What are the ICD-10 criteria for autism?
Presence of abnormal impaired development before 3
Abnormalities in social interaction
Abnormalities in communication
Restrictive, repetitive, stereotyped pattersn of behaviour
Not attributable to any other disorder
What age is diagnosis typically made before?
3 years
What is the name for a diagnosis made after 3 years?
Atypical autism
What is Asperger’s syndrome?
Similar to autism - abnormalities in social interaction - repetitive restrictive behaviours No impairement in language, cognition or intelligence - IQ normal
What is Rett’s syndrome?
Severe progressive disorder resulting in
- language impairment
- repeptitive stereotypal hand movements
- loss of fine motor skills
- laboured breathing
- seizures
What is Heller’s syndrome?
2 years of normal development followed by loss of previously learnt skills
What is Heller’s syndrome also known as?
Childhood disintergrative disorder
How is autism managed biologically?
Treat co-existing disorders
