Disorder 1: Autism

Question 1

What are the three core deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Answer 1

1. Social and Emotional
2. Language and Communication
3. Flexibility of thought (imagination)

Question 2

When was the term ‘autism’ first used and who by?

Answer 2

It was used in 1911 by a psychiatrist called Eugen Bleuler.

It was used to describe an aspect of adult schizophrenia where a person withdraws from the outside world.

Question 3

Why did Leo Kanner (Austrian Psychiatrist) use the word ‘autism’ in 1943?
Include behaviour traits witnessed in answer

Answer 3

He used this term to describe 11 children he studied in his clinic when he recognised they had similar behaviour traits:
Aloneness, lack of emotional contact
Bizarre and elaborate repetitive routines
Muteness (he described this as “abnormal speech”)

Question 4

What did Hans Asperger (Austrian paediatrician) discover?

Answer 4

In 1944 he described autistic psychopathy.

Question 5

Give three examples of ‘social and emotional’ difficulties experienced by those with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Answer 5

Difficulties with:

• Friendships
• Managing unstructured parts of the day
• Working co-operatively

Question 6

Give two examples of ‘Language and Communication’ difficulties experienced by those with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Answer 6

Difficulty processing and retaining verbal information
Difficulty understanding:
- Jokes and Sarcasm
- Social use of language
- Literal interpretation
- Body Language, facial expression and gesture

Question 7

Give three examples of ‘Flexibility of though (imagination)’ difficulties experience by those with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Answer 7

Difficulty with:

• Coping with changes in routine
• Empathy
• Generalisation

Question 8

What is used to diagnose Autism?

Answer 8

There are no markers in the blood or differences in the brain that can be seen, so diagnosis is made by a psychiatrist using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). It offers a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders.

Question 9

How is Autism diagnosed?

Answer 9

• No definitive medical test
• Clinical team uses interviews, observation and specific checklists developed for this purpose.
• Team might include neurologist, psychologist, developmental paediatrician, speech/language therapist, learning consultant, etc.
• Must rule out MR, intellectual disabilities, hearing impairment, behaviour disorders, or eccentric habits