Week 7 - From gender differences to interventions

Question 1

On average, what is the ratio of males to females in persons with autism?

Answer 1

In the past it was quoted as 4:1 but is now believed to be 8:1

Question 2

Fragile X syndrome accounts for roughly what percentage of patients with autism?

Answer 2

1%

Question 3

What is meant by the term camouflaging?

Answer 3

Where individuals copy the behaviours of their neurotypical peers and mask behaviours which might make them stand out as different

Question 4

What is meant by the term interventions?

Answer 4

Procedures and devices for supporting and improving the development, functioning and well-being of someone with a particular condition/set of behaviours

Question 5

What is meant by the term adaptive functioning skills?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What is meant by the term evidence-based practice?

Answer 6

The approach that interventions or other clinical applications must be informed by evidence obtained in robust search evaluations

Question 7

What is packing therapy?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What does TEACCH stand for?

Answer 8

Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication-related handicapped Children

Question 9

What is TEACCH?

Answer 9

A ‘whole person’ intervention approach which supports many aspects of functioning such as learning, behaviour, social and communication needs

Question 10

When was the TEACCH method introduced?

Answer 10

The 1970s

Question 11

What are the key principles of the TEACCH method?

Answer 11

• Emphasis on structure
• Harnessing skills
• Evaluation of support needs regularly
• Encouraging parental involvement
• Developing independence

Question 12

Why would a formal evaluation of the TEACCH method be difficult?

Answer 12

Because each intervention is tailored to the individual, so it is hard to see measures that might be more widely helpful

Question 13

What was the intervention approach developed by Ivor Lovass in the 1960s?

Answer 13

Applied behavioural analysis

Question 14

What is the approach of applied behavioural analysis?

Answer 14

It employs operant conditioning and reinforcement to shape an individual’s behaviour

Question 15

What are the key stages of applied behavioural analysis?

Answer 15

• 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

Question 16

What is one problem with the applied behavioural analysis approach?

Answer 16

It is expensive as it requires 40hrs per week to be spent on ‘shaping’ the child

Question 17

What is early intensive behavioural intervention?

Answer 17

An intervention for preschool children which uses a broad range of techniques based on applied behavioural analysis principles

Question 18

What is meant by the term naturalistic intervention?

Answer 18

A type of intervention which supports the development of target skills within a child’s everyday environment or in naturally occurring situations

Question 19

What is the picture exchange communication system?

Answer 19

A tool where children are taught to communicate using pictures and other symbols

Question 20

What is the picture exchange communication system (PECS) especially helpful for?

Answer 20

Helping children with little or no language

Question 21

What is a particular advantage of PECS (picture exchange communication system) over ABA (applied behavioural analysis)?

Answer 21

It is easy and cost-effective to administer

Question 22

How do antagonists work?

Answer 22

They bind to postsynaptic neuronal receptors, which prevents the binding and action of neurotransmitters

Question 23

Why might a clinician decide to prescribe Ritalin off-label for autism?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What two substances function as both neurotransmitter AND hormone?

Answer 24

• Oxytocin
• Vasopressin

Question 25

In contexts perceived as non-threatening, what may oxytocin trigger?

Answer 25

Sociable behaviour and experience of reward

Question 26

In contexts perceived as threatening, what may oxytocin trigger?

Answer 26

Socially avoiding and defensive behaviours

Question 27

What is PACT?

Answer 27

Pre-school Autism Communication Therapy

Question 28

How does PACT (Pre-school Autism Communication Therapy) work?

Answer 28

It trains parents to enhance the communication skills and language development of their own children

Question 29

What are two advantage of the PACT (Pre-school Autism Communication Therapy) approach?

Answer 29

• 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

Question 30

What is meant by the term assistive technology?

Answer 30

It is technology which is designed to support people with independence and daily living