What is the definition of autism?
A chronic disorder whose symptoms include a failure to develop normal social relations, impaired communication ability, lack of imaginative ability and repetitive movements.
Is autism more prevalent in males or females?
4x more common in males
What are the symptoms of asperger’s syndrome (mildest form of autism)?
- Deficient or absent social interactions and repetitive and stereotyped behaviours
- Interest in narrow subjects
- No delay in language development
What is Rett’s disorder?
Genetic neurological syndrome seen in girls that accompanies an arrest of normal brain development that occurs during infancy
What is childhood disintegrative disorder?
Normal intelligence and social behavior then severe regression into autism
What are the 3 key characteristics of autism?
- Social behaviours
- Repetitive behaviours
- Communication
What happens as autistics get older (communication)?
- Do not enter social relationships with others
- Avoid eye contact
- Diff. predicting behaviors or understanding motivations
- Do not recognize existence of other people
What happens as autistics get older (social behaviours)?
- First to emerge
- Infants do not want to be held
- Do not smile or look at caregiver
- Do not look for comfort if ill, hurt or tired
What are some language difficulties?
- Very literal
- Don’t understand tone or body language
- Have trouble matching their body language, facial expressions to their verbal output
- Often monologue
- Repeating behaviours
What happens as autistics get older (repetitive behaviours)?
- Show abnormal interests and behaviours (flapping hands, rocking)
- Often insist on precise routine
What are 3/6 other observed behaviours?
- Lack of awareness of feelings of others
- Bizarre speech patterns
- Lack of spontaneous and make-believe play
- Preoccupation with parts of objects
- Repetitive motor movements
- Marked distress over changes
How is sensory processing altered?
- Painfully sensitive to certain sounds, textures, tastes and smells
- Either too much or less sensitive than normal
- Some avoid being touched
- Some insensitive to pain
How is their attention altered?
1 thing at a time
How is their emotional processing altered?
- Unemotional except when something is important to them
- Verbal outburst usually in strange or overwhelming environment
How are autistics’ productivity impaired?
- Some may never learn to talk
- Spectrum of independence
- Some do well in supportive settings
- Some that are fully independent and function fairly well
What is a savant and how much function is preserved?
- Person affected with a developmental disorder who shows exceptional skill or brilliance in some limited field
- Memory, puzzle completion , musical/artistic ability
Is autism inherited?
No, it is genetic
What are the two proteins that both mediate the formation of the synapse?
Neurexin and neuroligin
True or false. Mutations only increase chances of autism, they do not cause it.
True
What are some environmental factors?
Prenatal exposure (unfavourable prenatal conditions)
True or false. Vaccines cause autism.
False
What are other contributing factors?
- Cellular and structural changes in limbic system
- Left hemisphere neural substrates fail to develop
- Locus-Coeruleus mediates input from senses underdeveloped
What are some anatomical features of interest?
- Brain size: smaller at birth
- White matter: short range connections are increased
- Increased volume in caudate
What are some hormonal features of interest?
- Oxytocin (bonding hormone): children have low levels (can improve sociability)
