Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

Term 1st used 1906 by Eugen Bleuler to refer to type of thinking found in Schizophrenics

Thinking: Tendency to view oneself as the center of the universe, external events refer to oneself.

Leo Kanner (1943): “Early Infantile Autism” applied to children who seemed unable to relate to others as if they lived in their own private worlds.

Question 2

DSM-5

Answer 2

a common set of behaviors representing persistent deficits in communication and social interactions and restricted of fixated interests and repetitive behaviors.

Clinicians need to rate severity as severe, moderate, or mild

Asberger’s and Childhood Deinitegrative Disorder now part of Autism spectrum, previously separate disorders

Question 3

Prevalence

Answer 3

2007: 1 in 86 diagnosed
2013: 1 in 50 diagnosed

Reasons for Increase in Diagnosis:

1. better diagnostic practices/greater awareness
2. Increase in #s of Asperger’s and other mild versions of disorders

Parents of children with Asperger’s worry child might not qualify for DSM-5 criteria and not receive treatment then need

Question 4

Causes

Answer 4

Link between Older Age of Father and Autism - random mutations in older sperm

possible neurological basis involving brain abnormalities, possibly involving prenatal influences leading to abnormalities in developing brain.

Most likely combination of genetic factors and environmental influences

parts of brain responsible for language & social behavior grow more slowly than other children

Question 5

Signs of Autism

Answer 5

More common in boys than girls - 5x more likely

can be first observed at 12 - 18 months

“good babies” in infancy but as they develop they reject physical affection, speech development falls behind, signs of social detachment

Reliably diagnosed by 2 or 3 but average kid diagnosed at 6

Question 6

Features of Autism

Answer 6

Common Features: aloneness, deficits of social skills, language, communication, ritualistic/stereotyped behavior.

Repetitive, purposeless, stereotyped movements (i.e. flapping of hands)

Preservation of Sameness: aversion of environmental change

Lack of differentiated self concept

Difficulty recognizing emotions, engaging in symbolic play, solving problems conceptually

Speech: may be mute, language characterized by peculiar usage

1. echolalia - parroting back work in high-pitched monotone
2. pronoun reversals - “you” “he” instead of “I”
3. words with meanings only known to child or those close to child
4. raise voice at end of sentence - California Speak

Question 7

Theoretical Perspectives

Answer 7

Cognitive Learning Perspective: O. Ivar Lovaas - perceptual deficits that limit them to processing only one stimulus at a time

Learning Theory: autistic kids attend to food or cuddling but do not connect either reinforcer with parent

Question 8

Treatment of Autism

Answer 8

Early intensive behavior programs (Applied Behavior Analysis [ABA]) significantly improve learning and language skills and socially adaptive behavior

The earlier and more intensive the treatment the better the results: i.e. early training on building imitation skills helps lay foundation for later social interactions

Lovaas UCLA - behavior program in which kids receive more than 40 hours of one-on-one behavioral treatments each week for 2 years

Biomedical Treatment: Antipsychotic drugs control disruptive behaviors - works best when in combo with behavioral therapy