WHAT IS Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Dr. Nancy J. Aguinaga http://cstl-coe.semo.edu/naguinaga/

WHAT IS Autism Spectrum Disorder?  What is your preconceived notion or idea when you hear or see the term autism?  Preconceived feelings?

WHAT IS Autism Spectrum Disorder?  The fastest growing diagnoses of    

childhood (from ‘91 to ‘99-up 1108%) Very complex, often baffling developmental disability First described by Leo Kanner in 1943 as early infantile autism “Auto” – children are “locked within themselves.” For next 30 years, considered to be an emotional disturbance

WHAT IS ASD?  Today, autism is a severe form of a broader group of

disorders  These are referred to as pervasive developmental disorders  Typically appears during the first 3 years of life  Expressed very differently – a wide range of abilities, strengths and limitations.

WHAT IS ASD?  Neurological in origin – not emotional, not the refrigerator mom  Prevalence figures vary (1 in 166 in text)

1:110

NOW  4 times more prevalent in boys  No known racial, ethnic, or social boundaries  No relation to family income, lifestyle

WHAT IS ASD?  Autism impacts normal development of the brain in

areas of social interaction and communication skills and behavior.  Difficult to communicate with others and relate to the outside world.  Occasionally, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present.

WHAT IS ASD?  May exhibit repeated body movements (hand

flapping, rocking).  Unusual responses to people  Attachment to objects  Resistance to change in routine  Sensory sensitivities

WHAT ARE THE TYPES?  Actually, the “umbrella” heading is Pervasive

Developmental Disorder (PDD).  Autism is one of the 5 PDDs. For now – DSM IV  All have commonalities in communication and social deficits  Differ in terms of severity  Differ in IQ levels  DSM 5 - ASD

1. Autistic Disorder  Impairments in social interaction, communication,

and imaginative play.  Apparent before age 3.  Also includes stereotyped behaviors, interests, and activities  Autism added to the DSM III in 1980

2. Asperger’s Disorder  Impairments in social interactions, and presence of

restricted interests and activities  No clinically significant general delay in language  Average to above average intelligence  Hans Asperger – a Vienese medical student– 1944 – his work not translated into English until 1981 and entered into the DSM IV in 1994

3. Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)  Often referred to as atypical autism  Used when a child does not meet the criteria for a

specific diagnosis, but there is severe and pervasive impairment in specified behaviors  Entered into the DSM IV in 1987 revision

4. Rett’s Disorder  Progressive disorder which, almost exclusively occurs

in females  Period of normal development and then the loss of previously acquired skills  Also loss of purposeful use of hands, which is replaced by repetitive hand movements  Beginning at age of 1-2 years, typically in first 5 months  Characterized by head growth deceleration and loss of previously acquired skills between 5-48 months  Entered into the DSM IV in 1994

5. Childhood Disintegrative Disorder  Normal growth and development prior to manifesting

social interaction (generally the first 2 years)  Then significant loss of previously acquired skills in at least 2 of the following areas(language, social skills, adaptive behavior, bowel or bladder control, play, or motor skills) before the age of 10  Entered into the DSM IV in 1994

IDEA- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act  Autism was not an official disability category under

federal education law until 1990  Before this services were received under other categories such as ID(MR), OHI , or BD

Conclusions on Types  Autism is a spectrum disorder  This means that symptoms and characteristics can present themselves in wide variety of combinations, from mild to severe  Individuals with autism can be very different from each other  Kluth “2003” “If you know one person with autism, you know ONE person with autism”

http://vodpod.com/watch/4313806-paula-kluthautism  “Autism” is still commonly used to refer to any of the 5 PDDs

Cause?  Good agreement in general that autism is caused by

   

abnormalities in brain and central nervous system development (typically result in over or under reactions to various sensory stimuli) May include chemical exposure, viral and genetic factors Vaccines? – NO NO NO Currently no medical test to confirm A diagnosis is made by behavioral observations

Famous People with Autism People on the spectrum have made some of the greatest contributions to the world we know… http://vodpod.com/watch/1570669-who-has-autismfamous-google-video?u=naguinaga&c=naguinaga

Dr. Temple Grandin