Autism Spectrum Disorder

Question 1

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Answer 1

A neurodevelopmental condition with a wide spectrum of possible presentations in an individual, involving difficulties in:

• Social Interaction
• Communication
• Behavior

Question 2

Problems in Social Interaction
.eye?
.facial?
.posture?
.emotions?
.reciprocity?
.shared enjoyment?

Answer 2

• great difficulty making & maintaining eye contact
• Reading facial expressions and their facial expressions can also be flat or not expressive
• Body posture: Knowing how to move their body, or moving their bodies in ways that are socially acceptable to peers
• Emotional Signals: Knowing when emotions are triggering certain responses or being aware of their own emotional status
• Reciprocity: Difficulty in the give and take of social interactions
• Interest in Shared Enjoyment: No shared enjoyment/interest with others. More introspective/solo enjoyment

Question 3

Problems in Communication
.which domains?
.turns?
.engaged in?
.stereotyped?
.listener's?

Answer 3

• Diffficulty in both verbal and non-verbal domains
• Difficulty taking turns
• Difficulty remaining engaged in conversations
• Stereotyped communication: repeat a phrase or sound, repeat a word
• Difficulty taking the listener’s perspective

Question 4

Problems in Behavior

• Preoccupations? comm but…
• Sam?
• Tr?
• R/F?
• Hyper?

Answer 4

• Preoccupations: Preoccupied with certain objects, like toothbrushes. Common but intense, or specific and unusual.
• High need for sameness and routines, transitions can be difficult for them
• Rocking: Back and forth of whole body
• Flapping: Arms, legs, or both
• Hypersensitivity: To certain textures, food or clothing

Question 5

Comorbidities

• sl?
• ad
• an or mo

Answer 5

Sleep problems

• ADHD
• Anxiety or other mood disorders, depression

Question 6

Early red flags (6)
.bab
.si or tw
.name
.pointing
.loss of?
.eye?
.sh enj?

Answer 6

• No babbling
• No single words or combining two words by certain age
• Not responding to one’s name
• Not pointing or gesturing
• Loss of language
• Poor eye contact
• No shared enjoyment or joint attention, pointing things out to people, checking that they’re looking at what you’re interested in..

Question 7

Describe spectrum

Describe spectrum of socialization.

Answer 7

Can have varying levels of skills and abilities, and some need more support than others!
-Socialization: close meaningful relationships, a spouse or is a parent, to being in one’s own world