Chapter 6 Autism Spectrum Disorder for PSYC 3240 Final

is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) classified as Neurodevelopmental Disorder or behavioral disorder?
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is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) classified as Neurodevelopmental Disorder or behavioral disorder?
Neurodevelopmental Disorder.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an *umbrella* term for what previous separate diagnoses?
Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder), & Retts.

*Note Autistic Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder are NOT the same*
DSM-5 Diagnosis Must Contain a Specifier for ASD, what are the THREE SEPERATE specifiers of ASD w/ or w/o?
· ASD w/ Intellectual Disability
· ASD w/o Intellectual Disability
· ASD w/ Language Impairment
· ASD w/o Language Impairment
· ASD w/ known Genetic Condition (such as Fragile X).
· ASD w/o known Genetic Condition
What are Five Core Criteria of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Gimme categories.
Social Communication/Interaction Impairments and
Communication Impairments
Restricted, Repetitive Behaviors & Interests
Symptoms present during early developmental period (usually prior to age 3)
Must cause significant impairment in functioning
Symptoms not better explained by Intellectual Disability alone

Possibly acronym/mnemoic:
Social/Communication (Social Comms Issues), Stimms/SOS, Early Dev (b4 3), Functioning Impaired Significantly (FIS), ID alone cant explain (ID insufficient)
In ASD, describe criteria of Social Communication and Social Interaction Impairments
· Profound difficulty relating to others, regardless of their level of intelligence.
· Lack social & emotional reciprocity; either don't look you in the eye or assume an eye-to-eye gaze (looking right through you).
· Not interested in others, shared play, or imaginative play.
· Smiling is limited.
· Lack the emotional and social interaction skills to pick up on emotional signals sent to them, and they don't send signals.
· Lack empathy
In ASD, describe criteria of Restricted, Repetitive Behaviors & Interests
· Stereotypical behaviors such as rocking, flapping hands, or arms. Some do it more when they're stressed, some do it when they're not doing anything else.
· Often walk on their tiptoes.
· Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines.
· Highly restricted, fixated interests which are abnormal either in their intensity or focus.
· Hyper-sensitivity to specific sounds, textures, smells, sights (lights), or movement. May experience being touched as painful, often can't tolerate labels on clothing.

Includes Sensory Over-Selectivity and Self-Stimulatory Behaviors (sometimes referred to as Stimming):
Briefly describe Sensory Over-Selectivity and Self-Stimulatory Behaviors (sometimes referred to as Stimming):
Sensory Over-Selectivity: tendency to focus on one feature of an object or event while ignoring the important whole; being mesmerized by the spoke of a wheel on a new tricycle while ignoring the tricycle itself.

Self-Stimulatory Behaviors (sometimes referred to as Stimming): Repetitive movements such as moving hands across eyes, staring at lights, smelling certain things, rocking, head banging, rubbing something silky (pantyhose, silk blouse).
What is Echolalia? What type of impairment is it of the five categories of ASD?
parrot like repetition of words.
Example: Mom: Do you want milk?
Child: Do you want milk?

Social Communication and Social Interaction Impairments
What percentage of ASD kids will never develop useful language or non-verbal gestures to make their needs known?
50%

May just pull on their parent's clothing or bring them closer to something they want. Often use echolalia
In kids with ASD, what percentage are also Intellectually Disabled?
70% of children with ASD are also Intellectually Disabled
Describe major differences between someone diagnosed with ID alone verses someone diagnosed with ASD who is also Intellectually Disabled.Children with ASD, who are also Intellectually Disabled: -Little or no interest in playing with classmates & friends -Make little or no attempts to interact with others -Typically show very little physical or emotional affection to most people Children with Intellectual Disability alone: -Interested in playing with others even if their social skills are not age-appropriate -Make attempts to interact with others even if their social skills are not age appropriate. -Typically show affection to others even if their social skills are not age-appropriateGiven following scenario, is it a child with ASD and also Intellectually Disabled OR child with Intellectual Disability alone? **Little or no interest in playing with classmates & friends**Children with ASD, who are also Intellectually DisabledGiven following scenario, is it a child with ASD and also Intellectually Disabled OR child with Intellectual Disability alone? **Make little or no attempts to interact with others**Children with ASD, who are also Intellectually DisabledGiven following scenario, is it a child with ASD and also Intellectually Disabled OR child with Intellectual Disability alone? **Interested in playing with others even if their social skills are not age-appropriate**Given following scenario, is it a child with ASD and also Intellectually Disabled OR child with Intellectual Disability alone? **Typically show very little physical or emotional affection to most people**Children with ASD, who are also Intellectually DisabledGiven following scenario, is it a child with ASD and also Intellectually Disabled OR child with Intellectual Disability alone? **Make attempts to interact with others even if their social skills are not age appropriate.**Children with Intellectual Disability aloneGiven following scenario, is it a child with ASD and also Intellectually Disabled OR child with Intellectual Disability alone? **Typically show affection to others even if their social skills are not age-appropriate**Children with Intellectual Disability aloneTrue or False: High Functioning Individuals with Autism have NORMAL IQsTrueTrue or False: High Functioning Individuals are never Intellectually Disabled. Why?True, they have normal IQsDescribe Characteristics of High Functioning Individuals with Autism (think: Good Doctor)-previously diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome -never Intellectually Disabled. -often have one or two specific intense interests. -often have an awkward stance; standing very straight with their arms away from their bodies. -have difficulty relating to others. -have deficits in emotional reciprocity skills.Define Relative Strength in ASDRelative Strength: A relative strength is two standard deviations (30 points) higher than your own mean (their own IQ).What percentage of ASD kids have Relative Strength?25% show a relative strength in something very specific, such as math, spelling, reading, music, drawing.Define Significant Strength in ASDSignificant Strength: A strength that is at least two standard deviations above the norm of 100.What percentage of ASD kids have remarkable talent or significant strength in an area but otherwise are intellectually disabled? **Autistic Savants**Only 5% of those with ID have remarkable talent or significant strength in an area but otherwise are intellectually disabled Think RainmanBriefly, describe Executive Functioning Problems in ASD:Similar problems as in ADHD. Difficulty with more advanced mental processing, thoughtful actions, self-control, and planning ahead.Briefly, describe Physical Characteristics in ASD:· 25% have epilepsy, but typically not from birth, seizures more likely to begin in late adolescence or early adulthood. · Sleeping and eating difficulties. · Typically lack any abnormal physical (facial) characteristics but do have a far away look that often identifies them with ASD.What percentage of ASD kids suffer epilepsy? And is it present earlier or later in life?25% have epilepsy, but typically not from birth, seizures more likely to begin in late adolescence or early adulthood.Are there any distinct facial characteristics in kids with ASD?NO, still being studied but no. Except for far away look that often identifies them with ASDList common comorbidities of ASDMost common are Intellectual Disability & Epilepsy. Also, sometimes have learning disabilities, anxiety disorder, mood disorders.For ASD, what is prevalence rate?1 in 54 per CDCList THREE probable reasons for dramatic increases over the last 15 years in ASD diagnoses.1. Professionals now able to distinguish ASD with Intellectual Disability, from Intellectual Disability alone. 2. We've broadened the diagnostic criteria and included the milder forms of autism, such as what was previously known as Asperger's. 3. Professionals are more familiar with the disorder so can more easily identify kids with it. BROADENED CRITERIA DOCTORS MORE FAMILIAR/EASIER TO IDENTIFY DOCTORS CAN BETTER DISTINGUISH B/W ASD+ID vs ID aloneTrue or False: These are geographic areas where there are higher than average rates of AutismTrue, called Autism ClustersFor ASD, what is gender ratio in **HIGHER** functioning vs **LOWER** functioning?4:1 males to females in higher functioning population. Ratio fairly even in lower functioning children.True or False: ASD is diagnosed depending on SESFalse. Diagnosed evenly across all SESWhat is age of onset of ASD? What is earliest possible diagnosis?Diagnosed or diagnosable in the early developmental period, **usually before 3 years old**. Earliest reliable diagnosis typically given at 12-18 monthsWhat are two strongest predictors of ASD prognosis?IQ level and language skills level. The higher the IQ and the more language skills they have, the better the prognosis.List Etiology/Causes of ASD.· Genes are one of the risk factors, can make person more likely to develop ASD. · Familial: if sibling has ASD , higher risk of also having ASD, pointing to genetics. · genetic or chromosomal abnormalities, such as Fragile X, greater chance · prescription drugs during pregnancy: valproic acid (Depakote) and thalidomide linked to higher risk · critical period occurs before, during, and immediately after birth (trauma affecting brain) · older parents are at greater risk for having ASDTrue or False, older parents have little to no risk of having children with ASD?FALSETrue or False, if you have siblings with ASD you have a higher chance of developing ASDTrueTrue or False, chromosomal abnormalities have ZERO link to ASDFalse, higher chanceList possible treatments for ASD (Categories)School early intervention programs (Special Education services). · Speech and Language therapy, Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT) if needed. · Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) software programs developed for this population, geared toward fostering communication skills Medication: Antipsychotics or SSRI'sDefine/Describe Applied Behavior AnalysisUsed to reduce self-stimulating and maladaptive behaviors; rocking, hand flapping, self-injurious behaviors, tantrums and improve eye contact so it's easier for them to pay attention and learn in school and at home. Initially teach them to be more comfortable around people. Makes them less likely to be the target of stigma, and easier to get along with others. Reduce stimming and maladaptive behaviors; more comfortable with peopleWhey are Antipsychotics or SSRI's (antidepressants) used to treat ASD? What do they target/help/control?· control irritability, aggressive outbursts, tantrums, and self-injurious behaviors.True or False: ASD treatments can begin as later or sooner, it makes no difference to prognosis.FALSE. · Treatment should begin prior to age 3 whenever possible. The earlier they begin, the better the prognosis, especially for higher functioning children. · Most children with ASD, especially higher functioning children, treated early and with intensive treatment show significant gains in language, IQ, and communication.In ASD, what is the Educational Classification in school?AutisticTrue or False for ASD: School placement is INDEPENDENT of whether or not they have Intellectual DisabilityFALSE Their placement in school is dependent upon their level of severity, whether or not they have Intellectual Disability, whether or not they have functional language.True or False for ASD: School placement is DEPENDENT on their level of severityTRUE Their placement in school is dependent upon their level of severity, whether or not they have Intellectual Disability, whether or not they have functional language.True or False for ASD: School placement is INDEPENDENT on whether or not they have functional languageFALSE Their placement in school is dependent upon their level of severity, whether or not they have Intellectual Disability, whether or not they have functional language.