Autistic Spectrum Disorder Flashcards
What is autism?
A pervasive developmental disorder characterised by a triad of features.
What is the triad of features seen in autism?
- Impaired social interaction
- Impaired communication
- Restricted, stereotyped interests and behaviours
What is the role of genetics in autism development?
- Polygenetic relationship
- Number of chromosomes implicated
- Increased risk in genetic syndromes such as fragile X syndrome and tuberous sclerosis
What are the pre-natal risk factors for developing autism?
- Family history
- Older parental age
- Exposure to certain medications in womb
- Prenatal viral infections
Exposure to what drug in womb can increase the risk of autism?
Sodium valproate
What prenatal viral infection can increase the risk of developing autism?
Rubella
What are the antenatal risk factors for developing autism?
- Hypoxia during birth
- Prematurity
- Very low birth weight
What are the post-natal risk factors for developing autism?
- Toxins such as lead and mercury
- Pesticide exposure
How can the symptoms of autism be divided?
- Asocial features
- Restricted behaviour
- Impaired communication
What are the asocial features of autism?
- Few social gestures e.g. waving, nodding
- Lack of eye contact, social smile, response to name and interest in others etc.
How do people with autism restrict their behaviour?
- Restricted, repetitive and stereotyped behaviour e.g. rocking
- Obsessively pursued interests
- Fascination with sensory aspects of the environement
- Upset at change to daily routine
- May prefer same foods, clothes and games etc.
How can autism lead to impaired communication?
- Distorted and delayed speech
- Echolalia
What is echolalia?
Repetition of words
When do most parents have concerns about their children when presenting with autism?
By 12-18 months of age
When must the onset of autism be?
Before 3 years of age
What are the other features of autism?
- Intellectual disability*
- Temper tantrums
- Impulsivity
- Cognitive impairment
Why is intellectual disability not necessarily a feature of autism?
If you include all of the autistic spectrum, the majority will not have intellectual disability
What aspects should be fully investigated when assessing for autism?
- Family history
- Pregnancy
- Birth
- Medical history
- Developmental milestones
- Daily living skills
- Communication
- Social interaction
- Stereotyped behaviours
What additional test may be needed if indicated by presentation/history?
Hearing test
What are the differential’s for autism?
- Asperger’s Syndrome
- Rett’s syndrome
- Childhood disintegrative disorder
- Learning disability
- Deafness
- Schizophrenia
What model can be used to breakdown the management of autism?
Biopsychosocial model
How can autism be managed biologically?
- Treatment of any co-existing disorders
- Anti-psychotics for challenging behaviour as a last line
- Melatonin for sleep disorders that persist despite behavioural interventions
What psychological interventions can be used in managing autism?
- Psychoeducation for family and carers
- Full assessments of functions and behaviours
- CBT
When is CBT usually a good treatment option?
If the child has verbal and cognitive ability to engage
What social interventions can be used in the management of autism?
- Modification of environmental factors
- Social-communication interventions
- Self-help groups
- Special schooling may be considered
How can environmental factors be modified?
- Manage lighting, noise etc.
- Avoiding inadvertent reinforcing of challenging behaviour
What is an example of a self-help group for people with autism?
National Autism Society
