Child and Adolescent Psych - Autism Spectrum Disorder Flashcards
What is ASD in general?
A neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by patterns of delay / alterations in development of social, communicative, and cognitive skills beginning in the first years of life
Why were all the different diagnoses clumped into the ASD with the DSM 5?
DSM criteria had been applied inconsistently, with poor differentiation between these disorders
Why is early intervention so important in autism? What aspects does the disorder affect?
It is a disorder of learning, which can slow development and start a snowball effect
Changes occur in: Social observation, imitation, and generalization of skills
When is autism typically diagnosed, and is it more common in boys or girls?
Typically diagnosed around age 4, more common in boys
-> symptoms typically noticed by 2nd year of life
What neurobiological abnormalities are known to be associated with ASD? One important environmental exposure?
Neurobiological - EEG abnormalities & seizure disorders
Environmental - Fetal exposure to valproate
What are the diagnostic features of ASD?
- Poor social interactions, social communication deficits
2. Repetitive / ritualized behaviors, and restricted interests.
Why might ASD symptoms not be seen until later in life?
Symptoms may not precipitate until the social demands exceed their capacities, or may be masked by coping techniques
What are two things which are commonly specified with ASD?
with or w/o accompanying intellectual impairment
with or w/o accompanying language impairment
-> without both of these is generally thought about as Asperger’s
What are the three levels of ASD severity?
Level 1 - least severe, requires some support. Will have decreased interest in social interactions and difficulties switching between activities, with poorer independence
Level 2 - requires substantial support, marked deficits, reduced or abnormal social responses, and repeated behaviors are obvious to casual observer
Level 3 - Most needy, very limited social interactions / social responses, restricted behavior interferes with functioning in all spheres
What does it mean when we say ASD may lack social-emotional reciprocity?
Failure of back & forth conversations, sharing of interests, and failure to initiate or respond to social interactions
What are two other social deficits ASD kids will have?
- Defects in nonverbal communication (i.e. poor eye contact, body language, facial expressions)
- Deficits in peer relationships - lack of interest in peers and lack of cooperative play
How can ASD social developmental deficits be seen in infancy?
Lack social smile, anticipatory posture (for being picked up), and failure to differentiate primary caregiver. May have poor attachment behavior.
How can ASD social developmental deficits be seen in childhood and adults?
Childhood - Difficult playing with peers due to awkward / inappropriate social behavior, cannot detect feelings of others
Adults - lack of relationships
How is language in autism often affected? What are idiosyncratic phrases
Stereotyped noises, Echolalia (repeat what people say), have difficulty putting meaningful senses together, may use a word once then not say it again
use of idiosyncratic phrases - i.e. will only speak lines out of a Disney movie they know
How is restricted, repetitive behavior characterized in ASD?
- Stereotyped / repetitive movements and in use of objects / speech - steorotypies
- Insistence on sameness, inflexibility / ritualized behavior - i.e. extreme distress at small changes
- Highly restricted, fixated interests which are abnormal in intensity / focus -> way too focused on one thing, possible savantism
- Hypo/hyper reactivity to environment
