Autism Spectrum Disorder

Question 1

What spurred the increased interest in child development?

Answer 1

Improvements in infant mortality (welfare previously was more about how to keep children alive)

Question 2

What was ASD historically thought to be?

Answer 2

reports of “feral” children thought insanity

Confusion with childhood schizophrenia due to social detachment. Didn’t fit because ASD didn’t have positive sx

Question 3

Who was Leo Kanner, what were his essential features of autism?

Answer 3

Father of Autism, did series of case studies.

1. Impairment of social interaction
2. Resistance to change

Also thought congenital in nature

Question 4

What types of diagnosis was ASD previously known as?

Answer 4

Pervasive Developmental Disorder
Aspergers
Childhood disintegrative disorder
Rett’s syndrome

Question 5

What is the consequence of merging aspergers into ASD?

Answer 5

Loss of identity. Ignores uniqueness of Aspergers. Pre and post DSM 5 research studies will not be comparable.