What is autism?
A developmental disorder of variable severity that is characterized by difficulty in social interaction and communication and by
... [Show More] restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior
-autism as a spectrum disorder with a triad of primary impairments
What are the triad of impairments?
1. Social
2. Communication
3. Restrictive/Repetitive Behavior
What are common characteristics of social/communication?
-intrusive touching
-all "businesss talk" (taking things seriously and can not catch on social queues in a way/ how Chloe acts)
-lack of eye contact
-limited facial expressions
-does not play with others
-does not initiate conversation
-abnormal volume of voice
What are common characteristics of restrictive/repetitive behaviors?
-repetition of words/rate of language
-rigid adherence (no budging)
-repetitive behavior hand flipping ( stim)
-spinning (stim)
-teeth grinding
-atypical sensory behavior to texture/smell/sound/5 senses
What are the 5 disorders that make up ASD?
1. Autistic Disorder - also known as causal autism
2. Aspergers Syndrome
3. Pervasive Developmental Disorder - also known as PDD-NOS
4. Rett's Syndrome
5. Childhood Disintegrative Disorder - also known as CDD
Social and Emotional Interaction issues
- standing too close to people
-unaware of different ways of interacting with others
-has desire to have friends and relationships but struggles to initiate and maintain these
Imagination and Flexibility of Thought issues
- does not understand others points of view or feelings
-takes everything literally
-agitated by change in routine
Social communication and Language issues
- asks repetitive questions
- cannot read between the lines of what people mean
- communicates for own needs rather than for 'social' engagement
- makes factual comments inappropriate to the context
Terminology associated with diagnosis
-pragmatic language
-receptive and expressive language
-sensory motor
-social skills
-joint attention
-stereotypy
What is Comorbidity?
Children with ASD may also have other medical or psychiatric conditions
What are common conditions that might be diagnosed with children with ASD? (Comorbid disorders)
- anxiety
- ADHD
- Bipolar disorder
- Clinical Depression
- Down Syndrome
- Fragile X syndrome
- Gastrointestinal Symptoms
- Intellectual disability and developmental delays
- Motor difficulties
- OCD
- Seizures and epilepsy
- Tourette syndrome
- Tuberous Sclerosis
What is Asperger Syndrome?
- high functioning autism
- have difficulty interacting socially
-exhibit a restrictive range of interests / repetitive behavior
- motor development may be delayed causing clumsiness or uncoordinated motor movements
What is joint attention?
Occurs when two people share interests in an object
-when the child points to something, not because they want it, but to show it to someone for a social purpose
-child can respond to someone initiating the joint attention or they can initiate it
EXAMPLE: pointing to a toy, bringing attention to something [Show Less]