Autism Spectrum Disorders Flashcards
(43 cards)
What is the sensory integration approach?
Activates the vestibular/proprioceptive systems.
Engages vestibular/ocular coordination
Support playfulness
Triggers praxis
What is the performance oriented approach?
Imbeds sensory processing into the routines of daily life. Supports families Builds capacity Enhances child development Support parent competence
What is the epidemiology of ASD?
1 in 68 kids have it
Occurs in all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic groups
5 times more common among boys
Small % of kids who are born early or with low birth weight are at risk
Kids born to older parents are at higher risk
T/F: ASD co-occurs with other developmental, psychiatric, neurologic, chromosomal, and genetic diagnoses?
True
Why is there an increase in diagnosis of ASD?
Increased professional awareness Increased public awareness Access to services Broader diagnostic criteria and better diagnostic instruments Environmental toxins
What are the changes from DSM-4 to DSM-5 when diagnosing autism?
Elimination of PDD umbrella diagnosis
Subcategories will be folded into broad term ASD
Transition from 3 domains of autism symptoms to 2 (social communication impairment and restricted interests/repetitive behaviors)
Changed from 6 of 12 deficits in social interaction, communication or repetitive behaviors to 3 deficits in social communication and at least 2 symptoms in restricted range of activities/repetitive behaviors
What are the new diagnostic criteria?
3 deficits in social communication and at least two symptoms in restricted range of activities/repetitive behaviors: new symptom will be included- hyper or hypo reactivity to sensory input or unusual interests in sensory aspects of the environment
When are children diagnosed with ASD?
Between 4.5-5.5 years but for 51-91% of kids developmental concerns have been recorded before 3 years.
About 1/3 of parents of kids with an ASD noticed a problem before their child’s 1st bday and 80% saw differences by 24 months
Diagnosis of autism at age 2 can be reliable, valid, and stable
What is the genetic risk for ASD?
Some claim 80-90% of genetic influence on autism phenotype
Not a single causal factor; not a single gene disorder
Co-occurring medical conditions associated with ASD: Fragile X, tuberous sclerosis, mitochondrial disorder
Unknown why strong male dominance
Not clearly understood
likely involves multiple genes
What is assortative mating and the risk for ASD?
High “systemizers” (those that cannot cope with systems of high variance or change, such as the social world of other minds, appear change resistant) choose each other as mates and may pass on genetic risk for ASD to kids
What are the environmental risks for ASD?
Maternal, paternal age
Ongoing research: prenatal environment, maternal obesity, pesticides, vitamin D, hazardous air pollutants, assisted reproductive technologies, medications given during pregnancy and childbirth, maternal infections, smoking, nutritional factors, maternal stress, and chemicals such as flame retardants, premature birth, low birth weight
What are brain difference found in those with ASD?
Increased head circumference in children aged 12 months with ASD as compared to children with TD
Early brain overgrowth occurs prior to the first 2 years of life
Different neural responses to faces
What are the strengths of ASD?
Often highly skilled in particular areas
Attention to detail
Tendency to be logical (helpful in decision making where emotions may interfere)
Usually visually processing (thinking in pictures or video)
What are differences in social interaction and communication?
Social impairment is core and defining symptom of autism.
Babies are social from infancy and the lack of social skills is a critical finding and reason for concern at any age.
What are ASD red flags?
No babbling or pointing by age 1
No single words by 16 months or two word phrases by age 2
No response to name
Loss of language or social skills
Poor eye contact or poor use of eye gaze
Excessive lining up of toys or objects
Lack of smiling or social responsiveness, lack of shared enjoyment
Lack of joint attention
Limited interaction
Lack of gestures to compensate for communication difficulties
“Sticky” attention
What are absolute indicators for ASD?
No babbling by 12 months
No gesturing (pointing, waving bye) by 12 months
No single words by 16 months
No two word spontaneous phrases by 24 months
Loss of language or social skills at any age
At 12 months children that go on to have a diagnosis with ASD often show?
Sleep difficulties
Eating difficulties
Play: differences in object exploration (lack of, unusual)
What are some indicators in older kids>?
Communication/speech differences
Use of language differences
Reciprocal communication- give and take of conversations
Body language
Restricted interests/repetitive behaviors
Sensory differences
How does motor relate to communication?
Locomotion leads to a changed exploration of the world.
When children are able to actively explore their environments, parent-child interactions change.
Caregivers may provide increased communication when children are mobile.
Children may show increased communication bids.
When we impact a young children’s motor skills, we offer them increased opportunities to explore and learn.
Emergence of new motor skills changes infants experience with objects and people in ways that are relevant for both general communicative development and the acquisition of language.
What are motor differences in ASD?
Postural asymmetries
Gait: lack of heel toe pattern, lack of reciprocal arm movements, waddling gait compared with age matched infants
Differences in onset of rhythmic arm movements and babbling in siblings of kids already diagnosed with ASD.
Jitteriness and irritability or reduced motor activity, excessive stereotypical object play, excessive time looking at nearby objects within first year of life.
Toddlers: more atypical hand and finger movements and more stereotypical object play, such as excessive banging or preoccupation with spinning objects or with part of an object.
What are motor stereotypes?
Rhythmic, repetitive, fixed, predictable but purposeless movements: rocking, arm flapping, finger flicking
Flapping hands, being fascinated with certain noises, showing interest in bright lights or moving objects, seeking various types of movement, spinning, excessively mouthing objects, and smelling objects
What is SIRS and what happens as kids with ASD age?
SIRS= Sensory interests, repetitions, seeking behaviors
Children with ASD demonstrate increasingly complex repetitive behaviors as they age.
What are the 4 sensory processing patterns?
Hyperresponsiveness: avoidance/sensitivities
Hyporesponsiveness: bystander
Enhanced perception: hyper aware/detail oriented
Sensory seeking: lots of sensory input
What are characteristics of avoiders?
Easily overwhelmed by sensory input and try to get away from sensory experiences.
Crowds provide sound, touch input, visually messy place and sometimes various smells from perfume, soap, etc
