Lecture 4 - Cognitive Theories of Autism Spectrum Disorder Flashcards
Outline stats on ASD
National Autistic Society: over 500,000 people in UK have ASD
1 in 100 children may have ASD
Spectrum mild to severe
Outline Asperger’s Syndrome
Autism without co-occurring language delay or learning disability
Outline ASD
Introduced 1992. Recently removed DSM-V still use ICD-10 in Europe.
Kenny et al 2016: autistic individual preferred by people on spectrum and person with autism preferred by professionals
Who are the key researchers for ASD
Hans Asperger 1944
Leo Kanner 1943
Independent research on children both gathered similar findings
What is the history of the Diagnosis of ASD
Innate ability form usual biologically provided affective contact with people. Difficulty forming and understanding relationships with others.
Poverty facial expression
Many stereotypical movements do not convey meaning
Impulsive and stimulus driven
Excellent logical and abstract thought
What is Kanner’s cardinal features of ASD
Autistic aloneness
Obsessive insistence of sameness
Anxiety key co-occurring symptom with autism
Who researched triad of impairments
Wing and Gould 1979
Outline Wing and Gould’s 1979 Triad of Impairments
SOCIALISATION, COMMUNICATION, IMAGINATION
Delay or atypical functioning in at least 1, with onset prior to age 3 years.
Outline Triad of Impairment number 1: Impairment of Social Interaction/Development
Issues Social Attachment, Understanding other’s minds/thoughts/feelings
Emotion regulation/coping with change
Outline issues Social Attachment in Triad of Impairment
Indifference other people; difficulty making friends
May seem independent as toddler, resists or does not seek affection
Can be affectionate and show attachment on simple level
Outline issues of Understanding other’s minds/thoughts/feelings in Triad of Impairment
Difficulty interpreting others thoughts and emotions
Irregular eye contact –> do not follow gaze –> seem to be in ‘world of their own’
Outline issues of Emotion regulation/coping with change in Triad of Impairment
Difficulty managing emotions –> expressed outbursts anger or aggression
Difficulties coping new situations
Difficult accept simple social rules, causing problems at school
Outline Triad of Impairment number 2: Impairment of Social Communication
Non-verbal
Verbal Issues
Outline Non-verbal Issues of Triad of Impairment
Difficulty read body language and facial expressions
Lack appreciation social uses and pleasure of communication
Do not develop usual non-verbal e.g. pointing skills or imitation skills
Outline Verbal Issues of Triad of Impairment
Don’t develop usual verbal skills
Trouble understanding meaning spoken or written language.
Not babble or point by age 1, not respond their name, not learn 2 words by age 2.
Repeat learned words over and over.
Unusual use language e.g. reversal pronouns, difficulty starting conversation
Unable understand jokes or sarcasm
Outline Triad of Impairment number 3: Impairment of Imagination
Narrowing interests and behaviour
Inability play imaginatively
Outward manifestation
Overly interested in repetitive activities
Take up special interest young age
Older children/adolescents may develop obsessions
Outline other symptoms
Sit up/walk later - sensory motor difficulty, feed in to later difficulties/developments
Oversensitive
Odd mannerisms - rocking back forth, hand flapping, walking tip-toes or head banging
Clumsy and struggle physical activity
Sticking same routines, upset if these are disturbed
Outline features of ASD
Non-social features: restricted area interest/preoccupation with parts of objects. Desire sameness/routine Excellent rote memory Savant abilities Islets of abilities
Co-occurrence of ASD
Attention/Motor difficulties - ADHD, DCD, DAMP
Cognitive Impairment 75-80%
Associated medical disorder/chromosomal disorder 10-25% and epilepsy
80% criteria least 1 psychiatric condition
Prevalence of ASD
1% children
Boys outnumber girls 10:1
How is ASD diagnosed through standard assessments?
Autism Diagnostic Interview ADI - more informal, someone child knows
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule ADOS: in-person assessment. Give social prompts test hypothesis and if individual does or does not have ability.
Outline understanding autism at cognitive level?
Early research on cognitive abilities argued autism arises from primary cognitive deficit. What makes good theory? 1. Specificity 2. Uniqueness 3. Universality
3 main theories
- ToM - failure acknowledge others have own thoughts and beliefs
- Executive Dysfunction - deficits inhibition, planning (perceptual, conceptual), executive memory
- Weak Central Coherence - preference local details over global or whole context
Often dependent on intellectual abilities. Mid 80s proposed autism might arise from primary cognitive deficit.
Outline ToM
Agent without mind = machine
Without understanding other minds
Outline Socialisation difficulties and FB tasks Baron-Cohen et al 1985
Sally Anne Task
Social and emotional problems secondary cognitive
Unexpected transfer task
80% ASD children failed, even those mental age above 4 –> deficient ToM
Not due learning difficulty as down syndrome children not fail.
Outline inferring mental states of Geometric figures
Klin et al 2000
Tested ability attribute and explain figures. Asked describe what see.
Autistic mind not attuned social world.