80 Questions
What is the estimated prevalence of ASD worldwide?
1 per 68
What is the most likely reason for the rise in prevalence of ASD?
Stricter guidelines for diagnosis
Which statement about gender differences in ASD is true?
ASD is more common in boys, except among those with profound ID, where the numbers of boys and girls are similar
According to the extreme male brain theory of ASD, what is characteristic of autistic brains?
Autistic brains are more 'systemizing'
When do the deficits of ASD become increasingly noticeable?
Around 2 years of age
Which racial/ethnic group has the highest prevalence of ASD?
Non-Hispanic white
What are the two strongest predictors of adult outcomes in children with ASD?
Intellectual ability and language development
What is a characteristic of spontaneous social conversation in individuals with ASD?
Impaired social conversation
At what age does the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend screening children for ASD?
18 months and 24 months
Which genetic condition is most associated with ASD?
Tuberous sclerosis
Family members of children with ASD are more likely to exhibit higher rates of:
Language deficits
Some parents attribute the increase in ASD cases to the presence of:
Mercury
Studies of brain metabolism in individuals with ASD suggest decreased blood flow in the:
Frontal and temporal lobes
A step-by-step approach to teaching vocalizations, imitation, and verbal requests is known as:
Operant speech training
What is the term for a step-by-step approach to presenting a stimulus and requiring a specific response?
Discrete trial training
What type of training strengthens behaviors by capitalizing on naturally occurring opportunities?
Incidental training
What is the age by which most children can comprehend what others might know, think, and believe?
4 years old
What is a possible early indicator of ASD, as detected in infant siblings of children with ASD?
Rarely making eye contact when interacting
What is a characteristic of children with ASD in terms of their performance on the WISC test?
Uneven performance across different subtests
What is a key aspect of the theory of mind hypothesis in ASD?
The ability to read the intentions of others
What is a characteristic of children with intellectual disability in terms of their performance on the WISC test?
General delay across all areas
What is a possible indicator of ASD in infants, as detected by their first birthday?
Limited babbling, particularly in a social context
What is a key difference between children with ASD and those with language delays?
Children with ASD exhibit features of atypical development that are less severe
What is a characteristic of individuals with ASD, according to the theory of mind hypothesis?
They have difficulty reading the intentions of others
What is the primary reason for the promise of early intervention with ASD?
The plasticity of neural systems early in development
Which of the following is NOT considered an effective intervention for children with ASD?
Removing children from their homes and placing them in more structured settings
What is a drawback of psychotropic medications for children with ASD?
The benefits vary from child to child
What is the term for when an individual with ASD is unable to play with a toy while listening to a social partner?
Joint attention
What characterizes a highly structured intervention for children with ASD?
Uses predictable routines, visual activity schedules, and clear physical boundaries
What is the primary goal of early diagnosis and intervention for ASD?
To promote optimal brain development
What is a key factor in the effectiveness of early intervention for ASD?
The age of the child
What is the primary reason for monitoring a child's progress in ASD intervention?
To make adjustments in treatment as needed
What is the primary goal of medication treatment for children with schizophrenia?
To diminish psychotic symptoms
What is a characteristic feature of speech in children with ASD who have developed some useful language?
Lack of spontaneity and unusual forms of communication
What is a key feature of ASD as a 'spectrum' disorder?
Its symptoms and characteristics are expressed in many different combinations and degrees of severity
What is a common comorbid disorder with ASD?
Schizophrenia
What is the primary goal of combining medications with behavior analysis in treating child-onset schizophrenia?
To control psychotic symptoms
What is a core feature of ASD?
Both a and b
How do medications help control psychotic symptoms in children with schizophrenia?
By blocking dopamine transmission at the D2 dopamine receptor
What is a common challenge in language development for children with ASD?
All of the above
Children with childhood-onset schizophrenia tend to have which characteristic compared to children with ASD?
More severe intellectual impairment
What is the most common presenting symptom for children with childhood-onset schizophrenia?
Auditory hallucinations
Which statement about childhood-onset schizophrenia is false?
Childhood-onset schizophrenia typically has a gradual onset
What is the primary focus of current views regarding the causes of schizophrenia?
Genetic vulnerability and early neurodevelopmental insults
At what age is schizophrenia extremely rare prior to?
Adolescence
Which co-morbid disorder is commonly associated with childhood-onset schizophrenia?
Conduct disorder and depression
What is a characteristic of discrete trial training?
A step-by-step approach to presenting a stimulus and requiring a specific response
What is a key aspect of the theory of mind hypothesis in ASD?
Difficulty understanding other people's thoughts and beliefs
What is a characteristic of initial symptoms in children with Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia (COS)?
Difficulty concentrating, sleeping, or doing schoolwork
What is a key factor in the development of COS, according to the neurodevelopmental model?
Genetic vulnerability and environmental stress
What is the primary difference between children with ASD and those with developmental delay or language impairment?
Early communicative gestures
What is the core idea behind the extreme male brain theory of ASD?
Individuals with ASD have an extreme imbalance of systemizing and empathizing abilities
What is a possible outcome for children with COS who experience periods of improvement?
Relapses characterized by disordered thinking and hallucinations
Why is it important to adjust diagnostic criteria for COS in children?
To account for developmental changes and childhood themes
What is the percentage of children with ASD who have a fragile-X anomaly?
2% to 3%
What is the most common comorbid disorder with ASD?
All of the above
What is a characteristic of COS in children compared to adult-onset schizophrenia?
Less complex and more reflective of childhood themes
What is the purpose of molecular genetics research in ASD?
To identify susceptibility genes for ASD
What is the primary goal of diagnosing COS in children?
To develop a more effective treatment plan
What is a potential challenge in diagnosing COS in children?
Difficulty in distinguishing COS from other childhood disorders
What is the age range at which children with ASD typically differ from typically developing children on most indicators?
12 to 24 months
What is the significance of the finding that 15% to 20% of siblings of individuals with ASD also have the disorder?
It suggests a genetic link to ASD
What is the relationship between vulnerability and stress in the development of COS?
Stress can trigger COS in individuals with genetic vulnerability
What is the term for the disorders that are commonly associated with ASD, such as intellectual disability, epilepsy, and anxiety disorders?
Comorbid disorders
What is the primary goal of combining medications with behavior analysis in treating child-onset schizophrenia?
To diminish psychotic symptoms and promote behavior modification
What is a characteristic feature of speech in children with ASD who have developed some useful language?
Lack of spontaneity and unusual forms of communication
What is a core feature of ASD?
Both A and B
How do medications help control psychotic symptoms in children with schizophrenia?
By blocking dopamine transmission at the D2 receptor
What is a key feature of ASD as a 'spectrum' disorder?
Its symptoms, abilities, and characteristics are expressed in many different combinations and degrees of severity
What is a common challenge in language development for children with ASD?
Lack of spontaneity and unusual forms of communication
What is a common comorbid disorder with ASD?
All of the above
What is the primary goal of early diagnosis and intervention for ASD?
To promote better outcomes and improve quality of life
What does the term 'early infantile autism' literally mean?
within oneself
What was attributed to the autistic child's behaviors in early theories about autism?
the parent's wish that the child should not exist
What is the basis for a DSM-5 diagnosis of ASD?
one overarching category
What is a characteristic of children with ASD in terms of social skills?
profound difficulties relating to others, even when they have average or above-average intelligence
What is a deficit in recognizing facial expressions a characteristic of?
ASD
What is joint attention?
the ability to share attention with others
What is true about ASD?
ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder
What is the primary goal of early diagnosis and intervention for ASD?
to improve outcomes for children with ASD
Study Notes
Early Intervention in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- The promise of early intervention in ASD derives primarily from the plasticity of neural systems early in development.
- Intensive engagement, at least 25 hours a week, is considered an effective intervention for children with ASD.
- Beginning intervention as soon as an ASD diagnosis is seriously considered is also an effective approach.
- Monitoring the child’s progress and making adjustments in treatment as needed is essential.
Characteristics of ASD
- ASD is a spectrum disorder, meaning its symptoms, abilities, and characteristics are expressed in many different combinations and in any degree of severity.
- The core features of ASD are represented by two symptom domains: social communication and social interaction, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.
- Children with ASD may exhibit joint attention difficulties, characterized by an inability to play with a toy while listening to a social partner.
- Features of atypical development, such as limited babbling, rare eye contact, and odd or repetitive ways of moving hands, may be early indicators of ASD.
Interventions and Treatments
- Psychotropic medications may be used to alleviate specific behavioral symptoms in children with ASD, but their benefits vary from child to child.
- Structured interventions, such as those using predictable routines, visual activity schedules, and clear physical boundaries, can be effective.
- Discrete trial training, a step-by-step approach to presenting a stimulus and requiring a specific response, is used in the treatment of ASD.
- Incidental training, which strengthens behaviors by capitalizing on naturally occurring opportunities, can be an effective approach.
Diagnosis and Prevalence
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends screening children for ASD at 18 months and 24 months.
- ASD is more commonly associated with Tuberous sclerosis than any other genetically based condition.
- Family members of children with ASD display higher than normal rates of language deficits.
- Recent findings estimate the prevalence of ASD worldwide to be approximately 1 per 68.
Other Conditions
- Children with intellectual disability (ID) without ASD show a general delay across all areas of intellectual functioning, whereas children with ASD tend to have uneven performance across different areas.
- Children with ASD are distinguishable from children with language delays, who exhibit features of atypical development that are less severe.
- Schizophrenia in children may be treated with medications in combination with behavior analysis to diminish psychotic symptoms.
Schizophrenia in Children
- Schizophrenia in children is extremely rare and difficult to diagnose before the age of 7
- When it does occur, it may be less complex and reflect childhood themes
- A failure to adjust diagnostic criteria for developmental changes may overlook children who show early signs of schizophrenia
Initial Symptoms of Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia (COS)
- Difficulty concentrating, sleeping, or doing schoolwork
- Avoiding friends
- Speaking incoherently
- Seeing or hearing things that no one else can see or hear
- Periods of improvement can occur simultaneously with relapses characterized by disordered thinking, hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions
Connection between Vulnerability and Stress in COS
- Genetic vulnerability and early neurodevelopmental insults result in impaired connections between many brain regions
- Impaired neural circuitry may increase the child's vulnerability to stress
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- ASD is a spectrum disorder because its symptoms, abilities, and characteristics are expressed in many different combinations and in any degree of severity
- Core features of ASD: social communication and social interaction, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities
Characteristics of Speech in Children with ASD
- Lack of spontaneity
- Qualitatively unusual forms of communication
- Unusual rhythm and intonation
- Lack of social chatter
History of ASD
- Leo Kanner used the term "early infantile autism," which literally means "within oneself"
- Early theories about autism attributed the autistic child's behaviors to the parent's wish that the child should not exist
Diagnosis of ASD
- A DSM-5 diagnosis of ASD will be based on one overarching category
- ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder
Social Skills of Children with ASD
- Children with ASD experience profound difficulties relating to others, even when they have average or above-average intelligence
Facial Recognition Deficits
- Children with ASD have deficits in recognizing facial expressions
Quiz on effective interventions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including early intervention and its benefits.
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