Autism

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Autism

• Jeff Lee
• Jayme Kuwata
• Stephen Castro
• Katie Pesch

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Definition (IDEA, 1997)

• A developmental disability significantly
  affecting verbal and non-verbal communication and
  social interaction, usually evident before age 3,
  that adversely affects a childs educational
  performance. Other characteristics often
  associated with autism are engagement in
  repetitive activities and stereotyped movement,
  resistance to environmental change or change in
  daily routines, and unusual sensory experiences.

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DSM IV Diagnostic Criteria (1994)

• Criteria for Autism Disorder - 299.00
• A. A total of six (or more) items from (1), (2),
  and (3), with at least two from (1), and one each
  from (2) and (3).
• (1) qualitative impairment in social interaction,
  as manifested by at least two of the following
• a) marked impairments in the use of multiple
  nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze,
  facial expression, body posture, and gestures to
  regulate social interaction
• b) failure to develop peer relationships
  appropriate to developmental level
• c) a lack of spontaneous seeking to share
  enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other
  people, (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or
  pointing out objects of interest to other people)
  
• d) lack of social or emotional reciprocity (
  note in the description, it gives the following
  as examples not actively participating in simple
  social play or games, preferring solitary
  activities, or involving others in activities
  only as tools or "mechanical" aids )

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DSM IV Diagnostic Criteria (1994) cont.

• (2) qualitative impairments in communication as
  manifested by at least one of the following
• a) delay in, or total lack of, the development of
  spoken language (not accompanied by an attempt to
  compensate through alternative modes of
  communication such as gesture or mime)
• b) in individuals with adequate speech, marked
  impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain
  a conversation with others
• c) stereotyped and repetitive use of language or
  idiosyncratic language
• d) lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play
  or social imitative play appropriate to
  developmental level

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DSM IV Diagnostic Criteria (1994) cont.

• (3) restricted repetitive and stereotyped
  patterns of behavior, interests and activities,
  as manifested by at least two of the following
• a) encompassing preoccupation with one or more
  stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest
  that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
• b) apparently inflexible adherence to specific,
  nonfunctional routines or rituals
• c) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms
  (e.g hand or finger flapping or twisting, or
  complex whole-body movements)
• d) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
  
• B. Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one
  of the following areas, with onset prior to age 3
  years
• (1) social interaction
• (2) language as used in social communication
• (3) symbolic or imaginative play
• C. The disturbance is not better accounted for by
  Rett's Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative
  Disorder

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Different Types of Pervasive Developmental
Disorders (PDD)

• Asperger Syndrome
• Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
• Retts Disorder
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder (not otherwise
  specified PDD NOS)
• Atypical Autisim

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Types of Autism

• Low Functioning
• High Functioning

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Video!!

• Starring Jeff and his Kids

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History of Autism

• 1943 symptoms of autism were first identified by
  Leo Kanner who worked out of Baltimore
• Term autistic means to escape from reality
• used to term to describe an inability to relate
  to themselves
• Believed Autism were present at birth which was a
  fundamental disturbance
• Kanner believed that it could be described by two
  main features
• autistic aloneness
• obsessive insistence on sameness
• Hans Asperger in 1944 researched on autism also
• Bruno Bettelheim a psychoanalyst believed in the
  refrigerator mothers theory

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Causes

• There are no specific causes found yet.
• A neurological disorder
• Was believed to be the caused by the Thimerosal
  vaccine, but this was proven wrong.
• It was thought that Autism was the result of bad
  child rearing practices.

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Facts and Stats

• More that 500,000 people in the United States
  have autism or a related developmental disorder
• Most Common Pervasive Developmental Disorder
  (PDD)
• Autism affected 1 in 166 people
• Boys are four times likelier to have autism than
  girls.
• It is treatable but not curable
• Fastest growing developmental disability
• 90 of costs are in adult services
• Life long can be reduced by 2/3 with early
  diagnosis and intervention

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Observable Characteristics

• Inappropriate laughing or giggling
• No real fear of danger
• May not want cuddling
• Sustained unusual or repetitive play uneven
  physical or verbal skills
• May avoid eye-contact
• May prefer to be alone
• Difficulty in expressing needs may use gestures
• Inappropriate attachment to objects
• Insistence on sameness
• Echolalia (repeats words or phrases)
• Inappropriate or no response to sounds
• Spins objects or self
• Difficulty with social interactions

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Types of Treatments

• Floor Time
• Behavioral Modification Techniques (ABA, DTT)
• Picture Exchange Communication (PECS)
• Social Stories
• Theory of Mind

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Got Pamphlet?

• Time Filler

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Activity Time!!

• Starring Katie and her funky game

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Treatment Options in Hawaii

• The Institute for Family Enrichment (TIFFE)
• Child and Adolescent Resources for Education
  (CARE)
• Parent and Children Together (PACT)
• Loveland Academy
• Variety School
• Nurse Finders
• Hawaii Behavioral Health
• Child and Family Services

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Fin!

• Thanks For Staying Awake and Attentive!!