Autism Spectrum

Disorder

Definition• According to IDEA:

• A developmental disability

• Affecting verbal, nonverbal communication and social interaction

• Usually evident before age 3

• Often engaging in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements

• Resistance to environmental changes or changes in routine

• Unusual responses to otherwise normal sensory experiences

Symptoms

• Problems relating to others socially

• Affinity for isolation

• Resistance to being picked up or held

• Significant speech deficits including

mutism and echolalia

• In some cases, extreme rote memory

• Early specific food preferences

• Obsessive desire for repetition and

routine

Symptoms

• Bizarre, repetitive

behavior such as rocking

• Lack of imagination, few

spontaneous behaviors

such as typical play

• Normal physical

appearance

Symptoms

• Ability, intelligence, behaviors

vary widely

• Typically developing until

around 18 months - child

regresses into an isolated state

• Speech varies from non-

speaking to limited to

relatively normal speech

Sensory Differences• Kids with Autism often demonstrate

behaviors we deem as “bizarre”

• These behaviors are in response to

sensory differences

• That is, they often

feel, see, hear, taste, smell things

more intensely than us

• Thus, a student with Autism

covering his ears to a radio playing

may appear bizarre, but actually…

• Is very similar to what our response

would be to a train whistle…

Causes

• Research indicates that Autism is

triggered by a combination of

mutations in about 100 genes.

• The “spontaneous” mutation appears

to occur at the time of conception.

• Greater prevalence in older parents.

• NO Statistical Evidence relating to

Vaccines, Diet, Exposure to Toxins

Prevalence• Dramatic increase in diagnosis in the last 20 years

• Due to recognition of symptoms and appropriate classification

• Also, expansion of definition and spectrum

• For example, childhood neurotics, psychotics, and schizophrenics

- once pervasive diagnoses - now very rare

Autism Spectrum Disorder• Asperger Syndrome, Autism, Childhood Disintegrative

Disorder, Rhett Syndrome, Pervasive Development Disorder

(Not otherwise specified)

• These conditions all lie on a spectrum of varying degrees of

severity - from the mildest of Asperger‟s (not noticeable to

non-professionals) to the most severe of Autism (unwilling

to communicate or move)

• Usually characterized by EXTREME peaks and valleys in

skill sets

Asperger Syndrome• Obsessive interest in a single topic

• Conversation center on obsession

• Extreme spike in memory, high vocabulary, word choice - sound like little adults

• Affinity to a strict routine or ritual

• Socially inappropriate behavior -difficult to measure (eye contact, physical space, etc.)

• Deficits in nonverbal communication

• Lack of motor skills, coordination

• With therapy, often “pass”

Rett Syndrome

• Normal development until about 2 years

• Social and emotional development abruptly stops

• No longer respond parents and adults

• Pull away from social contact - stop talking

• Cannot control their feet and begin to wring their hands

• Begin to self-stimulate, flick fingers

• Become obsessed with some object or toy

Pervasive Developmental Disorder/

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

• Varying degrees of impairment in communication skills and

social interactions

• Restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior

• Occurs more often in males

• Average onset is between three and four years of age

• Age-appropriate skills in vocabulary, communication, and

social relationships lost

• Seizures and other medical issues can arise

• Often teamed with other cognitive disabilities

Treatments• Occupational Therapy - managing

daily living skills

• Speech Therapy - socially

appropriate use

• Visual Therapy - utilizing visual

spikes - PECS

• Social Skill Therapy - teaching

social cues that we accrue inherently

• Physical Therapy - address motor

delays and coordination

Treatments• Play Therapy - often must be „taught‟ to play - Floortime, Play

Project help build communication

• NO diets, herbs, or other medications have shown to address

the issues of Autism - contrary to groups such as DAN!

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

• Rooted in targeting behaviors in the environment and based on Skinner‟s behaviorism and conditioning

• For children with Autism, social skills are targeted and increased or decreased using conditioning

• Intricate system of analysis of environment, stimuli and eventual replacement behaviors

• Often covered by insurance/medicaid

• DRAMATICALLY increases child‟s ability to navigate OUR world