Download What is Autism?

What is Autism?
It is one of five Pervasive
Developmental Disorders (PDD)
The spectrum…
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD’s)
Milder symptoms
Characteristics
Autism is a neurological disorder
• Communication challenges
• Social deficits, limited or non-communicative, no eye
contact
• Origins are neurological and or environmental
• Repetitious behaviors—i.e. flapping and rocking
• Difficulty with life changes or transitions
• Unable to interact with peers as student progresses—
(impulse control)
PDD
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Autism, the most commonly known.
Asperger’s syndrome—high functioning form
Rett syndrome
Childhood disintegrative disorder (Heller’s
syndrome) late onset—low function form of
autism.
Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise
specified (PDD-NOS), which includes atypical
autism.
When autism symptoms manifest
(CDC)
• Typically, behaviors are noticed in children
which set them apart from other children
before the age of three.
• Prevalence of Autism is approximately 1 in
100 births.
• Approximately 4 times as many males are
diagnosed than girls.
• The reason for this is still unknown.
CDC continued
• New Jersey has the highest rate of autism in the
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nation.
A Dr. Zardhony of the CDC asserts this is true
because of the “comprehensive reporting system
and the relative awareness of autism in the state
of New Jersey.”
The prevalence of Autism in the state of NY is
the second highest in the nation.
Autism and the Brain
• Research is still unclear on how autism
affects the brain.
• There are genetic implications. Perhaps
genetic mutations…
• There are theories, although
unsubstantiated, that vaccines may
contribute to the development of this
disorder.
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/faq_vaccines
.htm
Aggression and Autism
• There are reports that students can act out in
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aggressively during tantrum like behavior. Such
as self injurious behaviors, biting, kicking, hitting
etc.
Aggression is known to occur when students
have difficulty with communication or are
required to respond according to specific
guidelines. The source of the aggression tends
to be linked to frustration when a child with
autism has difficulty communicating.
Treatment
• There is no known cure…
• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) focusing
on antecedent (cause or function) and
behavioral consequences.
• Discrete Trial Training (DTT)
• Structured Teaching
• Physical Therapy (PT)
Treatment continued
• RTI Response to intervention
• Alternative approaches—option.org
• Occupational therapy
• Sensory integration therapy
• Speech therapy
• The Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS)
Aspberger’s Syndrome
• Identified by Hans Asperger in 1938
• The manifestations of autism cover a broad
spectrum, ranging from individuals with severe
impairments—who may be silent, mentally
disabled, and locked into hand flapping and
rocking—to high functioning individuals who may
have energetic but distinctly impoverished social
approaches, narrowly focused interests, and
highly detailed almost excessive communication.
Cont. Asperger’s
• Aspberger's is not characterized by a deficit in
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language development.
Typically they are viewed as high functioning.
Aspberger's and other ASD’s are approximately 6
in 100 births.
Typically within the Autism Spectrum students
are diagnosed from Low Functioning to medium
functioning and high functioning.
Diagnosis
• The diagnosis of Autism and ASD’s has a steep
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upward trajectory since the early 1980’s.
This is due to the increased attention paid to
students and their success in satisfying
developmental benchmarks—as well as
increased awareness.
Diagnosis is directly linked to behavioral
assessment.
Case study
• Class divides itself into groups of no larger
than 4-5 students.
• Answer questions connected with case
study and discuss.
• Reassemble near the end of class debrief
on case study and how the groups
answered questions.