autism spectrum disorder

Question 1

Criterion A - ASD

Answer 1

Deficits in social communication and social interaction across MULTIPLE contexts
EX - Problems with reciprocity/nonverbal communication, understanding of social relationships

Question 2

Criterion B - ASD

Answer 2

Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. 2+ of:
- Repetitive motor movements
- Inflexible adherence to routine
- Restricted/fixated interests
- Hyper or hypo-reactivity to sensory input

Question 3

ASD Prevalence

Answer 3

1.88
some evidence for recent increase but may be due to increased societal attention

Question 4

ASD gender ratio

Answer 4

4:1 males to females
questions of referral bias

Question 5

DISCREDITED ASD theories

Answer 5

“refrigerator mother”
Vaccines - thimerosal/MMR

Question 6

Heritability of ASD, twin study

Answer 6

Heritability >.90 from twin and sibling studies (but still some differences)

Question 7

MZ concordance ASD

Answer 7

60%

Question 8

DZ concordance ASD

Answer 8

5% (strict autism)

Question 9

Sibling risk ASD

Answer 9

2-5% (SHARP drop-off from MZ to DZ to SR)

Question 10

ASD chromosome 7

Answer 10

some evidence, connections to SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENT – mechanism of influence is still largely unknown

Question 11

Etiological factors ASD

Answer 11

Maternal infection
Maternal and paternal age
25% of children experience seizures/epilepsy of some sort
Exposure to toxins

Question 12

Toxins ASD

Answer 12

Lead, Flint Michigan
Poor regulation of household chemicals

Question 13

Brain structure ASD

Answer 13

face processing areas: FUSIFORM GYRUS
smaller AMYGDALA

Question 14

Brain development ASD - Growth dysregulation hypothesis

Answer 14

initial overproduction of neurons
no “pruning” (apoptosis, programmed cell death)
impaired synapse formation

Question 15

ASD intellectual disability

Answer 15

75% ASD children have IQ below 70

Question 16

What are ASD children strong in?

Answer 16

Block design

Question 17

What are ASD children weak in?

Answer 17

Picture arrangement/comprehension

Question 18

First birthday party study

Answer 18

for autism, intellectual disability (and a “normal” control)
Retrospective blinded-coding
Autism looked less at others and oriented less to their names

Question 19

Family studies ASD

Answer 19

• Differences in personality traits - aloofness, shyness. But aloofness could be CAUSED by having a child with autism, stress.
• Higher rates of math/physics/engineering occupations.

Question 20

Dawson et al., Dimensional traits

Answer 20

• trouble w. face processing
• not motivated by social reward
• language pragmatics - social usage
• Executive functioning in PLANNING

Question 21

Deficit theories

Answer 21

1. Theory of mind
2. Weak central coherence

Question 22

Theory of Mind

Answer 22

knowledge that others have different beliefs from one another. ASD lacks but can be trained.

Question 23

Weak Central Coherence

Answer 23

ASD children better at processing small details

Question 24

ASD Interventions: APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA)

Answer 24

rewarding targeted behavior, hours of intervention. be careful if you’re rewarding with candy.

initial claims of effectiveness may have been overstated.

Question 25

ASD Interventions: Project TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communications Handicapped Children)

Answer 25

Build on strengths, behavioral
Classroom-based

Question 26

Ideal outcome research ASD NEEDS

Answer 26

• Random assignment
• Assessment of multiple outcomes w multiple methods - not just parent/teacher
• Decent sample size
• Treatment fidelity ratings

Question 27

Common components of potentially effective interventions (Dawson and Osterling, 1997) ASD

Answer 27

• teach selective attention and language skills

• Supportive teaching environment focusing on generalization of skills

• Emphasis on PREDICTABLE ROUTINE

•Parental involvement - VERY IMPORTANT

Question 28

Core deficit debates

Answer 28

Theory of mind vs. weak central coherence

Question 29

ASD Treatment Options

Answer 29

Applied Behavior Analysis
Project TEACCH