Behav. Sci. Child Psych 2.

Question 1

autism spectrum disorder definition

Answer 1

neurological disorders characterized by “severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development” including social interaction, communication, and typically have a restricted repertoire of interests

Question 2

what are the autism spectrum disorders

Answer 2

autism, childhood disintegrative disorder, rett’s disorder

Question 3

characteristics of autism (before age 3)

Answer 3

1. does not babble or coo by 12 months
2. does not gesture (point, wave, grasp) by 12 month
3. does not say a single word by 16 months or two-word phrases by 24 months
4. has any loss of any language or social skill at any age
5. does not pretend play, peek-a-boo
6. does not show interest in other children
7. does not bring and show objects to parents
8. insistence on sameness/routines
9. prefers to be alone
10. tantrums, self-injurious, aggressive behavior

Question 4

assessment of autism

Answer 4

no medical test - diagnosis based on observation of the individual’s communication, behavior, and developmental levels (autism diagnostic interview, home/school observation, video analysis, genetic studies 15-20 genes)

Question 5

what is the most effective method of acquiring new behavior in autistic children

Answer 5

discrete trial instruction aka “applied behavior analysis”

Question 6

what is the most effective method of decreasing problematic behavior in autistic children?

Answer 6

reinforcement-based treatments

Question 7

which meds are commonly prescribed for assoc. behaviors in autism?

Answer 7

antipsychotic meds and stimulants (MC)

Question 8

what are the three criteria for diagnosis of intellectual disability?

Answer 8

1. subaverage intellectual functioning (IQ less than 70)
2. deficits in adaptive functioning (2+: communication, self-care, social skills, self-directions, academics, work, safety, etc)
3. onset before 18

Question 9

mild ID criteria/lifestyle

Answer 9

IQ 50-70 (90% of ID)
similar to non-ID kids for 1st few years of life, achieve about 6th grade academic level
can support self with minimal supervision

Question 10

moderate ID

Answer 10

IQ 30-50 (10%)
academic skills up to 2nd grade - benefit from extensive social and vocational training
-can perform unskilled or semi-skilled tasks under supervision

Question 11

severe ID

Answer 11

IQ 20-35ish (3.5%)
-can acquire some basic self-help skills
can learn to count or “read”
-require assistance for most activities/daily life

Question 12

profound ID

Answer 12

IQ less than 20-25

• may have difficulty with simple tasks even with supervision
• function best in highly structured settings

Question 13

ID more common in…

Answer 13

males

Question 14

causes of ID

Answer 14

unknown 30-40% of cases

• 30% chromosome abnormaliy
• 15-20% environment or other mental disorders
• 10% problems in pregnancy
• 5% hereditary (fragile X)
• 5% other medical condition (lead poisoning)

Question 15

challenging behavior in autism

Answer 15

repetitive behaviors are considered an “essential” feature of autism (flapping)
some display challenging behavior considered “associated” including self-injury, aggression, property destruction, pica, etc

Question 16

self-injurious behavior

Answer 16

act in which an individual deliberately produces physical damage to his or her own body

Question 17

stereotypic movement disorder

Answer 17

behavior that results in bodily damage that requires specific treatment (or that would result in bodily damage if protective measures were not used)

Question 18

types of SIB (self-injurious behavior)

Answer 18

head banging, self-hitting, self-biting, self-scratching, pinching, pica, eye gouging, self-restraint, aerophagia, ruminative vomiting, coprophage, trichotillomania

Question 19

negative consequences of SIB

Answer 19

social isolation, impact on educational/vocational training, tissue damage, infection, blindness, death

Question 20

3 diagnostic criteria of pica

Answer 20

1. persistent eating of non-nutritive substances for period of at least 1 month
2. eating is inappropriate for the person’s developmental level
3. eating is not a culturally sanctioned practice (clay in MS)

Question 21

destructive behavior

Answer 21

acts in which an individual physically harms another person (aggression) or immediate environment (disruption)

Question 22

data analysis in behavioral treatment

Answer 22

collect data and use data to assess changes int eh occurrence of the target behavior - visual inspection of data helps identify changes in behavior (functional relation/internal validity)