Autism (ASD)

Question 1

Etiological Theories of mirror neurons

Answer 1

lights up when excited when we see people doing things

this is less dense in autism

Question 2

Etiological theory of amygdala

Answer 2

amygdala area is very dense in kids with autism, toxically overloaded

• these kids don’t recognize emotions
• same with people with amygdala damage
• trouble recognizing faces and making eye contact

Question 3

Etiological theory of Fusiform Gyrus

Answer 3

facial recognition area that lies under the temporal lobe

facial recognition and even general recognition

Question 4

Etiological theory of the Basal Ganglia

Answer 4

• repetitive behavior
  interest or passion that they are excited about

the obsessive quality is higher, possibly more activity here
(egodystonic vs egosyntonic)

Question 5

Facial Inversion Effect ( and fusiform gyrus )

Answer 5

lying down you see faces equally well when a baby

but after 6 months of age, when you sit up you recognize faces better while sitting up

people with autism don’t develop this ( look at mouths instead of eyes too)

Question 6

Etiological theories of diet and vaccines

Answer 6

not proven to have any effect
- all data proves false as of 2013

• small studies with diet cutting out gluten and casein

Question 7

Common Comorbidies

Answer 7

ADHD
Anxiety/Depression
OCD
Fragile X symptoms
GI (gastrointestional issues) 
egodistonic vs egosyntonic

Question 8

Diagnostic Criteria

Answer 8

DSM used to have 3 categories- now 2:

1. social and emotional communication
   - eye contact, body language, speech patterns
2. Repetitive or restrictive behaviors, interests or activities
   - OCD type interests, focus on parts of objects but not whole objects, use their mouths to explore things, walk on their toes, turn lights off and on

Question 9

Changing epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders and possible explanations

Answer 9

We are seeing more and more autism today

why?

• better at diagnosing and identifying criteria
• diagnosis swapping (autism intsead of something else)
• expanded into a spectrum

Question 10

Methods to clinically evaluate autism

Answer 10

Autism Diagnostic Observation System (ADOS)
- done directly with the child

Autism Diagnostic Interview
-done with parent

Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT)

• for PCPs or parent
• recommended at 18 months evaluation

Other (Gilliam, CARS, Wing, Atwood, Ornitz)

important to: 
history and physical
growth milestones
imaging 
eeg
psychoeducational testing
lab asseesments (urine test, ASO titer and DNAse, Molecular Screening)

Question 11

Alternative diagnostic concepts for Asperger’s

Answer 11

• Nonverbal Learning Disorders*
• visual- spatial perceptual problems
• social communication
• reading and math

Schizoid Personality Disorder
Developmental Learning Disability of the Right Hemisphere
Semantic-Pragmatic Disorder

Question 12

Predictors of good outcome (prognostic indicators) for ASDs

Answer 12

• early intervention
• communication skills
• high intelligence

Question 13

Theory of Mind

Answer 13

• Empathize and understand the beliefs of others, desires, and interests

Question 14

The role of neuropsychological testing for kids with ASD

Answer 14

no specific tests used for ASD