Neurodevelopmental Disorders Flashcards
1
Q
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder? (ASD)
A
- Characterized by wide range of impairments in 2 domains: social communication and restrictive and repetitive behaviors
- onset in first 3 years of life
- seizure disorders are a common comorbidity
2
Q
Neuropsychological Affect - ASD
A
- Attention
- Mood
- Sensory Perception
- Intellectual functioning: 1/3 display ID
3
Q
Social Interaction - ASD
A
- Lack of interest in sharing joy or pain
- Deficits in interacting with peers
- Failure to establish same age friendships with children
- Marked lack of empathy
- Difficulty assessing emotions of others
- little to no attachment to significant people in their lives
- Impaired eye contact
4
Q
Communication Deficits - ASD
A
- Repetitive Language
- Problems starting a conversation or maintaining it
- Failure to catch nuances of conversation
- Language development impaired
- Difficulty communicating needs and problems
- Difficulty with non-verbal communication
5
Q
Behavioral Symptoms - ASD
A
- Disturbance in language development and usage
- Intellectual disability
- instability in mood and affect
- Response to sensory stimuli
- hyperactivity and inattention
- Precocious skills
- Insomnia
6
Q
Severity Levels of ASD
A
- Level 1 requiring support
- Level 2 requiring substantial support
- Level 3 requiring very substantial support
7
Q
ASD etiology
A
- Exact cause is unknown
- Impaired structural connectivity patterns in the frontal and tempero-limbic brain regions
- Increased brain volume in the occipital, parietal, and temporal lobes
- Increased platelet serotonin, excessive dopaminergic activity
8
Q
Genetic Factors - ASD
A
- Significant heritability
- Polygenetic heritability
- 15% of known ASD associated with a known mutation
- alterations in specific cellular and molecular neurodevelopmental pathways
- sibling 50-100x more likely to develop
9
Q
Risk Factors - ASD
A
- Paternal Age
- Prematurity, low birth weight
- Rubella, cytomegalovirus
- Prenatal, Perinatal insults
- NO evidence that immunizations are linked to ASD
10
Q
Assessment - ASD
A
- Diagnosis most valid when based on multiple sources
- Motor deficits present
- Self injury
- Disruptive/challenging behaviors
- Anxiety and depression
- Catatonia
11
Q
Development and Course - ASD
A
- Lifelong
- Typically recognized in 2nd year of life
- Heterogeneous disorder on a spectrum
- Small proportion of high IQ ASD children will no longer meet criteria for dx in young adulthood
- Ritualistic and repetitive behaviors most refractory
- Prognosis improvement with supportive home environment
12
Q
Treatment Goals - ASD
A
- Improve social interactions
- Develop meaningful peer relationships
- Integration into school systems
- Increase long term skills in independent living
- Reduction of irritable and destructive behaviors
13
Q
Treatment - ASD
A
- Early and intense intervention
- Behavioral
- Social Skills
- Insomnia Management
- Educational Interventions
14
Q
Psychosocial treatment - ASD
A
Behavioral Therapy
- Reinforce wanted behaviors and reduce unwanted behaviors
- Highly structured environment rules and expectations are clear, consistent and predictable
- Redirecting
- Teach self-care skills
- Ensure Safety: environmental alterations, protective headgear
Social Skills Training
- Promote Interaction, teach to read social cues
15
Q
Pharmocologic Interventions - ASD
A
Goal is to ameliorate impairing behavioral symptoms
- irritability
- aggression
- self-injurious behavior
- hyperactivity
- impulsivity
- Inattention
- Repetitive and stereotypic behaviors
