Test 1 Flashcards
When was ASD first described and recognized?
1943, not officially used until 1980.
What are some of the alternative terms to ASD?
- PDD (Pervasive Development Disorder)
- Rett’s Disorder
- PDD-NOS (not otherwise specified)
- Childhood Disintegrative disorder
- Asberger’s Syndrome
Based on the DSM-5, what is the only title accepted?
Autism Spectrum Disorder
What is an “official” diagnosis?
Completed by a medical professional, mainly based on behavior observations.
What is autism?
- Insistence on sameness
- Purposeless behaviors (stereotypies) Hand flapping, spinning
- Robotic speech
- Echolalia (repeat a phrase)
- Pronoun reversals
- Social isolation
- Communication problems (everyone thinks the same way as they them).
What are the four hallmarks developed by Kanner?
- Impaired social development
- Impaired language and communication skills
- Insistence on sameness
- Onset between 2-4 years of age.
What was an early misconception of autism?
First believed most people with autism have normal intelligence.
What are some known facts about autism?
- Controversial because of difficulty testing
- Splinter skills- can read but not do math
- Very poor language and communication skills
- The majority have cognitive disabilities
- Some have a gift in one area, about 10 percent exhibit this.
What are some disorder that are co-morbid with autism?
- Fragile X-causes cognitive disabilities
2. Epilepsy
What were parents of children with autism thought to be like?
Cold and not understanding.
What is some history of autism?
- Prior to PL-94-142 students with autism were turned away from most public schools and were institutionalized.
Where are most students with autism placed?
Most attend school regularly and placed in a continum of placements
True or False: Early intervention is key
True: Start at 2 or 3 can lead normal life.
Who discovered Aspberger’s syndrome?
Hans Aspberger in 1944. Did a study on boys who had trouble forming groups.
What are the characteristics of Aspberger’s?
- Circumscribed interests- fixated on one thing
- Fixations
- Schizoid personality
- Language and cognitive skills are preserved
- Usually diagnosed later
- No longer recognized under DSM-5
Describe CDD
- Normal development until 3-4
- Capacity for communication and language
- Rapid decline
- Sometimes brain disorder is found
- Rarely diagnosed
Describe Rett’s disorder
- Diagnosed only in females
- Progressive regression
- Normal development until age 5
- Head fails to grow
- Autistic features
- Breathing problems and scoliosis
Describe PDD-NOS
- Some features of autism
- Odd behaviors
- Problems with social skills and independent play
- Wide spectrum of abilities.
Where do we stand on autism today?
- Not caused by vaccines!
2. DSM-5 only recognizes ASD and Rett’s Syndrome.
How common is autism?
- Varies widely by area, US: 1:212
- Various reasons for discrepancy
- 3-5 times more boys diagnosed than girls
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome misdiagnosed in schools
- Girls with autism usually have lower intelligence.
What is thought to be the cause of autism?
Strong genetic component: Twin studies, siblings with autism more likely to have autism, family connections.
How do genetic correlate with autism?
- Possibly genetic disposition
- Relation to learning difficulties
- Communication disorders
- Mood and anxiety disorders
- Forms of shizophrenia
True or False: 50 percent of children with autism also have epilepsy
True
What other risk factors of autism are seen in young children?
- Primitive reflexes
- Birth complications
- Brain development disorders
What are some other neurological problems associated with autism?
- Delayed hand dominance
- Hypotonia- muscles limp, floppy
- Primitive reflexes into adulthood
- Walking and posture- odd
- Increased brain size 0-12 months
- Structurally different cerebellum (1 researcher)
What are some other differences in children with autism (physical/visual)
- Visual tracking- focus on your mouth, not eyes, miss visual cues.
- Very high blood levels of serotonin
- Dopamine processed differently.
What are some environmental causes of autism?
- Pollution
- GMO (Genetically modified food)
- Diet- corn syrup, gmo.
True or False: A gluten free diet has shown success for students with autism in general education
True
What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative?
Qualitative: warm, fuzzy
Quantitative: Apply statistics, hard data.
What are some medical conditions that could be mistaken for autism?
- PKU
- Congenital rubella- die before 18 months
- Tuberous sclerosis- physical issues
- Fragile x (male)
Describe fragile X syndrome
- Most likely to appear in boys due to their one X
- Mild intellectual disability
- Language problems
- Attention difficulties
- Autistic symptoms such as self stimulation or lack of eye contact
- Physical features: large ears, spin, and hit themselves, motor, dental and eye problems
Who diagnosis autism and when is the best time to do it?
- School psychologist, pediatricians, autism centers
2. Earlier is better- better outcome, diagnosed in school: poor performance.
What are some of the warning signs of autism?
- Sensory problems-huge responses to sensory stimuli
- Lessened interest in the outside world- interest in others diminished.
- Comparing children to peers
- Not challenging parents
- Demanding
- Less commonly, 18 months child changed
- Speech delays
- Not sharing attention- not interacting with humans during play.
- Unusual comfort items-hard objects
How is screening for autism done?
Done by a psychologist or health care professional
Needs to be done by an autism expert
Start intervention while waiting for assessment
Under 3 stage agencies provide evaluation, school has to provide if 3 or over.
Look at p. 32
K!
What do other states use for screening?
- Different terminology than the doctor
- Some states do not have an autism classification
- Some states reluctant to use when they do have it.