Quiz 1 Autism Flashcards
Autism is characterized by
Challenges in social interaction and differences in verbal and nonverbal communication
Individuals with autistic, Asperger’s, pervasive developmental disorder are diagnosed with
Autism spectrum disorder
Those individuals who do not meet criteria for autism spectrum disorder may be diagnosed with
Social (pragmatic) communication disorder
There are 3 severity levels for autism spectrum disorder
Level 3 is the worst
Core challenges in ASD
Social communication, social limitation, joint attention, social attention, face perception, functional and symbolic play, communication ability and restrictive/repetitive behaviors and interests
Social emotional competence
Awareness of own emotional state, awareness of others emotional state, emotional use of words, ability to cope with emotional distress and ability to attend to the reaction of others
When the child with an ASD looks into another’s eyes
The altered connection between the cortex and amygdala distorts the child’s response, the amygdala triggers the autonomous nervous system raising their heart rate the child looks away to reduce stress
Theory of mind
Capacity to imagine or form opinions about the cognitive states of other people
How do those with ASD deal with language and communication
-50% remain mute through their lifespan
-85% have echolalia
-difficulties with pronouns and shifts in conversation
What usually brings parents into seeking treatment?
Language and communication issues
IS (insistence on sameness)
Associated with difficulties with change in personal routine, difficulties with change in environment & rituals
RSMB (repetitive sensory and motor behaviors)
Include unusual sensory interests, hand and finger mannerisms, rocking, repetitive use of objects, complex mannerisms
Comorbid challenges with ASD
Anxiety, sleep disturbances, eating disturbances, health conditions, fears and response to sensory stimuli, 31% have an intellectual disability
Differential diagnosis ASD
Language disorders, childhood onset schizophrenia, reactive attachment disorder in young children, PTSD, other neurodevelopment disorders
Development concerns with ASD
Atypical behaviors are present from birth, failure to develop skills and early milestones, normal development followed by regression and loss of skills
Theoretical model to link etiological indicators
Genetic markers to neuroanatomical abnormalities to information processing impairments to manifestation of behavioral symptoms
Environmental risk factors for ASD
Exposure to some air pollutants, metals & pesticides, maternal infection, use of certain medications during pregnancy SSRIs, extreme prematurity, short inter pregnancy interval, exposure to teratogens such as thalidomide & valproic
How likely are twins to get ASD?
38%
Neuroanatomical findings
Atypical brain growth and volume, cerebellum/prefrontal cortex decreased functioning, corpus callosum reduced size, problems with white matter in development
Parts of the brain that are affected by autism
Amygdala, hippocampus, brain stem, basal ganglia, cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, cerebellum
Brain imaging studies for Austim
Unusual activation in parts of the brain, less symmetry in activity & less activity in fusiform gyrus and amygdala
Controversy with immunizations
Research has not supported a link between autism and the MMR vaccine
Controversy of heavy metals
Some findings that children with autism have a preponderance of heavy metals in their blood stream
Controversy of gastrointestinal
“Leaky gut” syndrome, these children have known allergies to gluten, dairy products, caseine and other wheat products.
