Autisticii Flashcards
What is autism?
A developmental disorder.
Primarily diagnosed in childhood (during first 3 years)
It is lifelong
Affects 1% of the population and more common in males
What are the symptoms?
Challenges with communication
Language difficulties
Difficulties understanding social norms
What is the social communication aspect of autism?
- Lack of use of non-verbal behaviour (gaze) in social situations
- Lack of social/emotional reciprocity (share interest)
- Delay in/lack of spoken language
- Stereotypes, idiosyncratic and repetitive use of language
- Lack of varied, spontaneous make believe play
What is the repetitive behaviours and restricted interests aspect of autism?
- Inflexible to specific non-functional routines or rituals
- Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms
- Preoccupation with stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest
What is stimming?
Repetitive sensory motor behaviours are often described as stimming
Historically stimming in children has been perceived negatively
There is increasing awareness
Autistic adults report that stims help them focus, cope with sensory environments and aid concentration
What do you need to be diagnosed according to the DSM-5?
Must meet criteria A, B, C and D
What is criteria A?
A. Persistent deficits in social communication and interaction across contexts, not accounted for by general developmental delays and manifest by all 3 criteria:
Deficits in:
1. Social-emotional reciprocity.
2. Nonverbal communicative behaviours for social interaction.
3. Developing and maintaining relationships
What is criteria B?
Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities as manifested by at least 2 criteria:
1. Stereotyped or repetitive speech, movements or use of objects
2. Excessive adherence to routines, ritualised patterns of behaviour, or excessive resistance to change
3. Highly, restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity
4. Hyper-or hypo-reactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of environment
What is criteria C?
Symptoms must be present in early childhood (may not become fully
manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities)
What is criteria D?
Symptoms together limit and impair everyday functioning
What is autism in DSM-5 related to?
The diagnosis of social communication disorder
- Persistent difficulties in the social use of verbal & nonverbal communication
– Difficulties limit communication & social participation.
– Onset early in development
– Not due to another condition
What are the genetic causes of autism?
Autism is a strongly genetic disorder
Rates of ASD in siblings of individuals with ASD is 5%
In monozygotic twins, concordance rates are 60%.
ASC is not a single gene disorder.
ASC thought to be due to interactions in a number of genes and interactions with environment.
Causes in the brain?
Brain size:
- brains may be normal or small at birth
- but undergo dramatic growth in first year
- leading to larger than average brains
What are the differences in brains of individuals with ASC vs neurotypicals?
Structure: brain stem, cerebellum, temporal lobes
Function: lack of coordinated activity (i.e. amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex)
Connectivity: many connections, but fewer organised and efficient connections
What are mirror neurones in the brain?
Mirror neurones are cells that fire both for self and other actions.
Make up 10-25% of cells in prefrontal (premotor) and parietal areas.
Suggestion that they are involved in imitation and learning through observation.
