Autism (week 10)

Question 1

DSM - 5 criteria for autism (A,B,C)

Answer 1

A. Significant and persistent deficits in social
interaction and communication skills

B. Restricted, and repetitive patterns of interests and
behaviours

C. Symptoms must be present in early developmental
period

Question 2

DSM - 5 criteria for autism (D,E)

Answer 2

D. Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in
social, occupational, or other important areas of
current functioning

E. Not due to intellectual disability or general delay

Question 3

Strengths of autism

Answer 3

• above-average intelligence
  CDC reports that 46% of
  autistic children have
  above-average
  intelligence
• being able to learn things in detail and remember information for long periods of time
• being strong visual and auditory learners
• excel in math, science , music and art

Question 4

Symptoms of autism in girls

Answer 4

• Social scripts
  -imaginative play
  -Masking symptoms
  - at school polite
  whereas meltdown at
  home
• Socially acceptable interests

Question 5

What are the early signs of autism?

Answer 5

• 6-12 months
  - less preference for
  social stimuli, less
  social orienting, less
  anticipatory pleasure
  associated with social
  stimuli (smiling faces)
• 12-18 months
  - Joint attention, social
  imitation, face
  processing

Question 6

What are some characteristics associated with autism?

Answer 6

• Self-injurious behaviours
• Sleep disturbances
• Gastrointestinal symptoms
• Epilepsy
• Co-morbid mental health concerns
  * ADHD, anxiety and
  fears, mood
• Cognitive abilities

Question 7

What are the risks for the development of autism?

Answer 7

• Genetic and biological factors
• Environmental risk factors
  * Compromised fetal
  or neonatal
  development
  * Parental age
  * Environmental toxins
• Genetic - environment interactions
• Abnormalities in brain development, not localized

Question 8

Things to consider for adults and adolescence with autism:

Answer 8

• Anxiety: socializing, changes, public places
• need emotional support
• need access to special interest
• need downtime

Question 9

Challenges or issues for parents of autistic children:

Answer 9

• obtaining diagnosis
• caregiving demands
• shaping expectations
• acceptance
• parenting stress
• marital and sibling impact
• parent-child relationship
• quality of life

Question 10

Treatment approaches to cope with autism

Answer 10

• Naturalistic developmental behavioural interventions (NDBI)
  - Parent coaching