Autism Ch 30 Flashcards
Is a neurologic disorder.
•Most common in males.
•Symptoms cluster in
➢Social interaction
➢Repetitive and restrictive behaviors
ASD
Prevalence of ASD
•Has risen over time.
•Cause is still unclear.
•Currently reported as 1 in 59 (but 1 in 37 boys).
•Large public health burden as ASD is now quite common and an expensive disorder for the country.
Social participation — social interaction and friendships
Difficulty w/ Nonverbal communication
Social isolation and limited romantic relationships
Occupational Performance impact on Social Skills
Occupational performance impact on play
Play is atypical in type, quality, and complexity.
•Often pretense is lacking.
•Uncommon use of objects.
•Sensory seeking.
•Limited ideation and creativity.
Occupational performance impact on sleep
Difficulty falling asleep.
•Difficulty staying asleep.
•These difficulties are very common in ASD and impact parental sleep as well.
Occupational performance impact on education
Wide ranges of educational performance
•Some children are fully included and perform well academically but may struggle socially.
•Others have difficulty with behavior in the classroom and have difficulty learning academic content.
Some children are placed in special educational placements.
•Determining the proper educational placement can be difficult for parents.
PERFORMANCE patterns w/ in ASD
•Many children with ASD struggle with changes to routines.
•Prefer structure and predictability.
•Often hinders family flexibility.
•Families often revolve their activities around the needs of the child with ASD.
PERFORMANCE skills and client factors w/ ASD
Sensory—Motor difficulties common but highly variable across individuals
➢Sensory over responsiveness
➢Sensory under responsiveness
➢Sensory seeking
➢Difficulties with praxis
➢Linked with difficulties in many occupations
ASD impact on family have difficulty
➢finding appropriate services.
➢managing problem behaviors.
➢maintaining employment for both parents.
➢being involved in the community with their child.
➢knowing how to best parent multiple children with different needs, fairly.
Role of OT in ASD
➢to manage ADLs and family routines.
➢to deal with sensory concerns and the impact on occupations and behavior.
➢to improve child’s ability to participate in the community and in daily family life.
OT evaluation in ASD
•Must be comprehensive, strengths based, and family focused
•Must include education about the role of OT and what we are able to help with
•Must include consideration of social interaction, friendships, and engagement
•Must ask about unusual behaviors, safety concerns, and escapism
•Should consider the sensory environments the child is in and how they impact performance
Interventions in OT w/ ASD
•Multiple interventions may be appropriate for those with ASD.
•Many have been designed specifically for this population.
Evidence based practice is CRITICAL.
•Consider the focus of the intervention
➢Adult directed and structured
➢Child directed, playful, and naturalistic
TYPEs of interventions for ASD
•Modeling and teaching of skills
•Social supports
•Environmental and task modifications
•Sensory supports
•Behavioral supports and strategies
•Visual, auditory, and technology supports
•Use of structure and routine
•Altering preferred and nonpreferred tasks
•Using highly motivating objects or activities
Intervention for families w/ children w/ ASD
•Improving coping and self efficacy through supports and coaching
•Parental education and sharing of expertise
•Cognitive-behavioral interventions
•Optimistic parenting
Specific interventions used in ASD
•Applied behavioral analysis
•Floortime/DIR
•Reciprocal imitation training
•TEACCH
•Early start Denver
•Relationship development intervention (RDI)
Pivotal response training
•SCERTS model
•Miller method
•Son-rise program
•Animal-assisted therapy
