Week 7 - From gender differences to interventions Flashcards
On average, what is the ratio of males to females in persons with autism?
In the past it was quoted as 4:1 but is now believed to be 8:1
Fragile X syndrome accounts for roughly what percentage of patients with autism?
1%
What is meant by the term camouflaging?
Where individuals copy the behaviours of their neurotypical peers and mask behaviours which might make them stand out as different
What is meant by the term interventions?
Procedures and devices for supporting and improving the development, functioning and well-being of someone with a particular condition/set of behaviours
What is meant by the term adaptive functioning skills?
The practical skills which are needed to function in daily life, including the skills necessary to effectively and independently take care of oneself and to interact with other people
What is meant by the term evidence-based practice?
The approach that interventions or other clinical applications must be informed by evidence obtained in robust search evaluations
What is packing therapy?
A very harmful intervention where a child is wrapped in wet towels to allegedly progress development of bodily limits. Seen as an abuse of human rights
What does TEACCH stand for?
Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication-related handicapped Children
What is TEACCH?
A ‘whole person’ intervention approach which supports many aspects of functioning such as learning, behaviour, social and communication needs
When was the TEACCH method introduced?
The 1970s
What are the key principles of the TEACCH method?
- Emphasis on structure
- Harnessing skills
- Evaluation of support needs regularly
- Encouraging parental involvement
- Developing independence
Why would a formal evaluation of the TEACCH method be difficult?
Because each intervention is tailored to the individual, so it is hard to see measures that might be more widely helpful
What was the intervention approach developed by Ivor Lovass in the 1960s?
Applied behavioural analysis
What is the approach of applied behavioural analysis?
It employs operant conditioning and reinforcement to shape an individual’s behaviour
What are the key stages of applied behavioural analysis?
- Focus on self-help and receptive language skills
- Teaching of expressive language and interactive play with others
- The learning of early academic tasks, socialisation skills, cause and effect relationships and learning by observation
What is one problem with the applied behavioural analysis approach?
It is expensive as it requires 40hrs per week to be spent on ‘shaping’ the child
What is early intensive behavioural intervention?
An intervention for preschool children which uses a broad range of techniques based on applied behavioural analysis principles
What is meant by the term naturalistic intervention?
A type of intervention which supports the development of target skills within a child’s everyday environment or in naturally occurring situations
What is the picture exchange communication system?
A tool where children are taught to communicate using pictures and other symbols
What is the picture exchange communication system (PECS) especially helpful for?
Helping children with little or no language
What is a particular advantage of PECS (picture exchange communication system) over ABA (applied behavioural analysis)?
It is easy and cost-effective to administer
How do antagonists work?
They bind to postsynaptic neuronal receptors, which prevents the binding and action of neurotransmitters
Why might a clinician decide to prescribe Ritalin off-label for autism?
Autism and ADHD are often co-morbid, so drugs with proven effects for ADHD might therefore work for similar challenges faced by someone with autism
What two substances function as both neurotransmitter AND hormone?
- Oxytocin
- Vasopressin
In contexts perceived as non-threatening, what may oxytocin trigger?
Sociable behaviour and experience of reward
In contexts perceived as threatening, what may oxytocin trigger?
Socially avoiding and defensive behaviours
What is PACT?
Pre-school Autism Communication Therapy
How does PACT (Pre-school Autism Communication Therapy) work?
It trains parents to enhance the communication skills and language development of their own children
What are two advantage of the PACT (Pre-school Autism Communication Therapy) approach?
- Parents are taught to adapt their own communications in order to respond with increased sensitivity and resonsiveness
- Parents learn to tailor their language use to the child’s level
What is meant by the term assistive technology?
It is technology which is designed to support people with independence and daily living
