Autism Spectrum Disorders

Question 1

outline the 3 areas of difficulty outlined in DSM of ASD

Answer 1

1. impairment in social interaction
2. impairment in communication
3. restricted & repetitive interests, activities, and behaviours

Question 2

outline the 2 distinct areas of functioning outlined in DSM

Answer 2

1. social communication

2. restricted and repetitive interests, activities and behaviours

Question 3

list examples of dysfunction of social communication

Answer 3

• deficitis on social emotional reciprocity
• deficitis in non verbal communication
• deficitis in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships

Question 4

list examples of restricted & repetitive interests, activities and behaviours

Answer 4

• stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects or speech
• insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines
• highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus
• hyper or hypo reactivity to sensory input

Question 5

causes of ASD

Answer 5

• neurological disorder
• genetics
• ? environmental triggers

Question 6

list some changes in the brain with ASD

Answer 6

• larger brain
• hypersensitivity to stimuli
• hypo-activity of frontal gyrus
• hypo-activity of amygdala

Question 7

list the neurotransmitters which are evidenced to be of imbalance in ASD

Answer 7

• dopaminergic

- glutaminergic