Autism Spectrum Disorder

Question 1

Name at least 3 occupational performance concerns for ASD

Answer 1

• Reduced sharing of interests
• emotional reciprocity deficits in nonverbal behaviors – eye contact, lack of gestures, facial expressions
• Deficits in developing and maintaining personal relationships
• Challenges w transitions
• inflexibility
• highly fixated on interests
• hypo-/hyper reactivity to sensations

Question 2

List the diagnosis criteria according to the DSM-V

Answer 2

1. Deficits in social communication
2. Restrictive, repetitive behaviors
   
   1. Sx present in early development
   2. Sx must cause sig. impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of Fx
   3. Deficits not better explained by ID or global DD

Question 3

What were the new changes in the DSM-V and how does it relate to OT?

Answer 3

• New inclusion into the DSM-V is “unusual responses to sensations”
• This is within the OT scope of practice and is special to OT!