BHS204 Study Guide - Final Guide: Leo Kanner, Autism Spectrum, Neurodevelopmental Disorder
Final Exam Review: Tuesday December 11 at 1:30 in GH1140
Things that are in yellow are things that need to be answered
Autism Spectrum Disorder:
Definition:
Autism is a lifelong, neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to interact,
communicate, relate, play, imagine and learn.
When was it identified?
First recognized as a disorder – 1943, First used as a diagnosis – 1980
Who first identified it?
Dr. Leo Kanner is 1943
Current incidence
1 in 66 children
Gender differences
5x more common in males
Changes to prevalence
Increase in prevalence of 15% from 2002 to 2010, Probably related to genetic factors but
also ASD may be more difficult to diagnose in girls. Also related to technology,
environment and earlier diagnostic.
Lifespan
Normal/typical lifespan if no other medical condition
Common characteristics
Eating challenges
Challenges with food intake
Limited number of foods
–Insistence on same brands, preparation
–Refusing food groups -
Insufficient intake/inability to restrict intake -
Challenges with meal time behaviour
–Insistence on specific routines/rituals -
Reactive behaviour to new foods
–Refusal to follow family routines
Toileting challenges
Longer to toilet train, bed wetting, social piece, lack of interest
Savant skills
Obsession with the interests
Sleeping difficulties
Difficulty falling asleep, Difficulty staying asleep, Short sleep cycle, Nightmares and sleep
terrors
Mood changes
Self-injury behaviour
Diagnosis
Core diagnostic symptoms
DSM-IV vs DSM-V
DSM-IV: 5 Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Autistic disorder, pervasive developmental
disorder, Asperger’s, Retts, and childhood Disintegrative disorder
DSM-V-2 specific categories: Restricted and repetitive behaviours, interests or activities
and Deficits in social communication and social interaction.
The APA has dispensed with the term pervasive developmental disorder and replaced it
with autism spectrum disorder.
Domains
WAS-social interaction, restricted/repetitive behaviour and communication, now it’s just
social communication and restricted/repetitive behaviour
Diagnostic categories
Got rid of Asperger, Retts, childhood Disintegrative disorder
How is it made?
No blood test • No MRI or CT scan • No genetic screening • Autism is diagnosed based on
behavioural observation, parental reports and developmental achievement
Who can make the diagnosis?
Physician, PD
Challenges to getting a diagnosis
Physician resistance • Waiting lists • Lack of qualified specialists • Costs
Causes of ASD
Genetics
Strong role for genetic factors
Evidence
Increased risk of autism in siblings, (identical twins).
Other theories
Vaccinations, bad parenting, environment, medications (seizure) deceases (mecus)
Early Signs of ASD
What are the early signs?
Sleep and feeding problems • Difficult to comfort and console • Or content to be left alone
for long periods • Appear to be not interested in people • Fascination with sensory
experiences • Do not imitate parents or seek their reassurance/approval • Poor eye
contact
When do they appear?
18 months
When do parents notice?
18 months
Theory of mind
Inability to recognize and understand others’ thoughts, beliefs, intentions. Difficulty taking
the other’s perspective. Difficulty taking the other’s point of view
Executive function
The ability to plan and organize, schedule
Central coherence
Good at spotting details but trouble seeing the “big picture”
Sensory Processing
Definition?
Connects information from the body and the environment and enables individuals to
function competently and with comfort.
Sensory diet?
Providing movement, spin while they are eating to eat
Hyper and hypo sensitivities
Hyper- Over or increased responsiveness to sensory input
Hypo- Under or decreased responsiveness to sensory input
Sensory systems
The 5 senses, Vestibular – Proprioceptive – Interception
Communication
Document Summary
Final exam review: tuesday december 11 at 1:30 in gh1140. Things that are in yellow are things that need to be answered. Autism is a lifelong, neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person"s ability to interact, communicate, relate, play, imagine and learn. First recognized as a disorder 1943, first used as a diagnosis 1980. Increase in prevalence of 15% from 2002 to 2010, probably related to genetic factors but also asd may be more difficult to diagnose in girls. Also related to technology, environment and earlier diagnostic. Longer to toilet train, bed wetting, social piece, lack of interest. Difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, short sleep cycle, nightmares and sleep terrors. Dsm-iv: 5 pervasive developmental disorders, autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, asperger"s, retts, and childhood disintegrative disorder. Dsm-v-2 specific categories: restricted and repetitive behaviours, interests or activities and deficits in social communication and social interaction.
