Autism

1
Autism

• Developmental disability that significantly
  affects a students verbal and nonverbal
  communication, social interaction, and education
  performance.
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder
• Autism Spectrum Disorder

2
Characteristics

• Language development
• Wide range of abilities (no verbal communication
  to complex communication
• Typically have a number of language impairments
• Delays-limited topics, limited interactions on a
  topic, limited gestures, reverses pronouns, lack
  of eye contact
• Echolalia-repeating what others say

3
Social Development

• Impaired use of nonverbal behavior
• Lack of peer relationships
• Failure to spontaneously share enjoyment,
  interests, and achievements with others
• Lack of reciprocity

4
Repetitive Behavior

• Obsessions
• Persistent thoughts, impulses, images of
  repetitive nature
• Tics
• Involuntary, rapid movements that occur without
  warning
• Perseveration
• Verbalizations or behaviors that are repeated to
  an inappropriate extent

5
Problem Behavior

• Self Injurious Behavior
• Head banging, biting, scratching
• Aggression
• Behavior directed toward others
• Problem behaviors can serve a communicative
  function

6
Need for Environmental Predictability

• Predictability and structure
• Changes can cause high degree of anxiety
• Things in their place
• Classroom supports (schedules,routines)
• Planning for transitions/changes

7
Sensory and Movement Disorders

• Sensory
• 42-88 of persons with Autism/Asperger Syndrome
• Under or over responsiveness to sensory stimuli
• Movement
• Abnormal posture
• Abnormal movements of face, head, trunk, limbs,
  repeated gestures mannerisms

8
Intellectual Functioning

• Autism occurs in children with all levels of
  intelligence (gifted to mental retardation)
• 72 have some type of limited cognitive
  functioning
• Savant syndrome