Autism Spectrum Disorder

Question 1

Early signs of social communicative language impariment

Answer 1

Avoid eye contact
Appearing to be deaf
Lack of facial responsive and socially directed smiling
Starting language development then stopping
Not being able to ask for something to indicate an interest
Failrue to engage in oretend games

Question 2

DSM 5 criteria

Answer 2

Communication and social interaction

Restricted, repetitive, patterns of behavior, interests or activities

Question 3

Social communucation and social intieraction

Answer 3

Defcitis in social-emotional reciprocity
Deficits in nonverbals
Deficits in developing, maintaing, and udnerstnading relationships

Question 4

Repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities

Answer 4

Stereotyped or repetivie motor movements, use of objects or speech

Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines

Fixed interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus

Hyper or hyporeactivitiy to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of environment

Question 5

Early detection

Answer 5

Nearly half in 1st hear
90% in 1st 2 years

Mean diagnosis is 4.5-5.5

Screen at 18 and 24 months

Question 6

Medical eval

Answer 6

Brith history 
Early development (motor and lagnuage)
General grwoth (metabolic dz)
Sleep (apnea, seizure)
GI

Question 7

Family hx

Answer 7

Autism - twin sibling high
ID - 2/3 of patients with with ASD
Genetic syndrome

Question 8

Predicotrs of outcome

Answer 8

Presence of comm speech by 5
Overall cog ability
Early detection with early intervention

Question 9

Vaccines

Answer 9

No increased risk of ASD associated with prenatal and early life exposure to ethylmercury

Question 10

ASD tx beahviroal

Answer 10

EIBI - Early intensive behaviorla intervention…highly individualized

Specific problem behaviors, academic tasks ,etc.

Question 11

Communication tx

Answer 11

Individualized edu plan to include speech therapy
Non-verbal youht- sign language, comm boards, visual supports, pic exchange
Fluent speecg - pragmatic language and skills training

Question 12

Education tx

Answer 12

Structure teaching and family involvement promotes generalization of skills

Goals to enahnce verbal/nonverbal comm

Question 13

Child psych SOC

Answer 13

Assessment of all kids should include ASD questions

Posivitie screens through diagnositc eval

Multi-disciplinary assment

Should assist families

Ask about use of CAM

Question 14

Tx guideines

Answer 14

Pharm if specific target or comorbid illness

Long term planning

CBT for anxiety and anger if higher functioning

Question 15

Parental conerns

Answer 15

68% reporot aggression

Tantrums, aggression, hyperactivity are top 3 symptoms