AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Is defined by the American Psychiatric

Associations Diagnosis of Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-5) as a single disorder that
includes disorders that were previously
considered separate autism, Aspergers
syndrome, childhood disintegrative
developmental disorder not otherwise
specified.
Autistic
Disorder

Retts
Disorder

Childhood
Disintegrative
Disorder

Aspergers
Disorder

PDD-NOS


Age of Onset
Delays or
abnormal
functioning in
social
interaction,
language or
play by age 3.
Apparently
normal
prenatal
development;
apparently
normal motor
development
for first 5
months;
deceleration
of head
growth
between ages
5 and 48
months .
Apparently
normal
development
for at least
the first two
years of birth;
clinically
significant
loss of
previously
acquired skills
before age 10.
NO clinically
significant
delay in
language,
cognitive
development,
or
development
of age
appropriate
self-help
skills,
adaptive
behavior and
environment
in childhood.
This category
is to be used
in cases of
pervasive
impairment in
social
interaction
and
communicatio
n with
presence of
stereotyped
behaviors of
interests
when criteria
are not met
for a specific
disorder.
Autistic Disorder Retts Disorder
Childhood
Disintegrative
Disorder
Aspergers
Disorder
PDD-NOS

Social
Interaction
Qualitative
Impairment in
social interaction,
as manifested by
at least two of the
ff:
a. marked
impairment in the
use of multiple
nonverbal
behaviors i.e., eye
to eye gazed;
b.Failure to
develop peer
relationships
appropriate
to
development
al level;
c. Lack of
spontaneous
seeking to
share
enjoyment
with other
people;
d. Lack of social or
emotional
reciprocity.
Loss of social
engagement
early in the
course
(although
often social
interaction
develops
later).
Same with
Autistic
disorder along
with loss of
social skills
(previously
acquired).
Same as
Autistic
disorder.
Autistic Disorder Retts Disorder
Childhood
Disintegrative
Disorder
Aspergers Disorder PDD-NOS


Communication
Qualitative
impairments of
communication as
manifested by at
least one of the ff:
a. delay in, or
total lack of,
the
development
of spoken
language;
b. Marked
impairment in
initiating or
sustaining a
conversation
with others, in
individuals
with adequate
speech;
c. Stereotyped
and repetitive
use of
language or
idiosyncratic
language;
d. Lack of varied,
spontaneous
make-be;ieve
or imitative
play
Severely
impaired
expressive
and receptive
language
development
and severe
psychomotor
retardation.
Same as
Autistic
disorder,
along with
loss of
expressive or
receptive
language
previously
acquired.
NO clinically
significant
delay in
language.
Autistic Disorder Retts Disorder
Childhood
Disintegrative
Disorder
Aspergers Disorder PDD-NOS

Behavior
Restricted,
repetitive, and
stereotyped
patterns of
behavior, as
manifested by one
of the ff:
a. preoccupatio
n with one or
more
stereotyped
or restricted
patterns of
interest;
b. adherence to
nonfunctiona
l routines or
rituals;
c. stereotyped
and
repetitive
motor
mannerisms;
d. persistent
preoccupatio
n with parts
of objects.
Loss of
previously
acquired
purposeful
hand
movements;
appearance of
poorly
coordinated
gait or trunk
movements.
Same as
Autistic
disorder,
along with
loss of bowel
or bladder
control, play,
motor skills
previously
acquired.
Same as
Autistic
Disorder.
Autistic Disorder Retts Disorder
Childhood
Disintegrative
Disorder
Aspergers Disorder PDD-NOS

Exclusions
Disturbance
not better
accounted for
by Retts or
CDD.
Disturbance
not better
accounted for
by another
PDD or
schizophrenia.
Criteria are
not met for
another PDD
or
Schizophrenia
.
Changes to diagnosis of autism
spectrum disorder
In May 2013, the criteria used to diagnose
children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
changed.
Previously, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders (4th edition) (DSM-IV)
categorised children with ASD as having either
autistic disorder, Aspergers disorder or PDD-NOS.
The new version of the Manual, DSM-5, combines
these three categories into one, which is simply
referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Autism Spectrum Disorder/ Autistic
Disorder
A collection of developmental disorders in
which a child engages in repetitive behaviors
and has trouble communicating and
connecting with others. It's usually diagnosed
around age 2 or 3, although some signs show
up earlier.
Symptoms can be mild to severe.

Autistic Disorder
Children who meet more rigid criteria for a
diagnosis of autism have autistic disorder.
They have more severe impairments involving
social and language functioning as well as
repetitive behaviors. Often, they also have
mental retardation and seizures.
Age of Onset
Delays or abnormal functioning in social
interaction, language or play by age 3.

Checklist for signs of autism
Social interactions
Children with autism might:
seem to be in their own world
show little eye contact for example, during
interaction, or to draw attention to something
not use gestures for example, lifting arms to be
picked up
not share enjoyment or interests for example, they
might not point to an object or event to share it
show little emotion or empathy
not respond to their names
show no interest in other children or peers.
Social Interaction
Qualitative Impairment in social interaction, as
manifested by at least two of the ff:
a. marked impairment in the use of multiple
nonverbal behaviors i.e., eye to eye gazed;
b. Failure to develop peer relationships
appropriate to developmental level;
c. Lack of spontaneous seeking to share
enjoyment with other people;
d. Lack of social or emotional reciprocity.

Checklist for signs of autism
Communication
Children with autism might:
have little or no babble
have little or no spoken language
not engage in pretend play for example, they wont
feed a baby doll
have echolalia, which means they echo or mimic
words or phrases without meaning or in an unusual
tone of voice
have difficulty understanding and following simple
instructions for example, Give me the block might
be difficult for them.

Communication
Qualitative impairments of communication as
manifested by at least one of the ff:
a.delay in, or total lack of, the development of
spoken language;
b.Marked impairment in initiating or sustaining a
conversation with others, in individuals with
adequate speech;
c.Stereotyped and repetitive use of language or
idiosyncratic language;
d.Lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe or
imitative play

Checklist for signs of autism
Repetitive or persistent behaviours
Children with autism might:
have intense interest in certain objects theyll
get stuck on one particular toy or object
focus narrowly on an object for example, on a
detail like opening and closing the door on a toy
bus rather than pretending to drive it
insist on following routines and be easily upset by
change
show repetitive body movements or unusual
body movements for example, back-arching,
hand-flapping or walking on toes.

Behavior
Restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of
behavior, as manifested by one of the ff:
a.preoccupation with one or more stereotyped
or restricted patterns of interest;
b.adherence to nonfunctional routines or rituals;
c.stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms;
d.persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.
Checklist for signs of autism
Sensory issues
Children with autism might:
be extremely sensitive to sensory experiences
for example, they might be easily upset by certain
sounds, or only eat foods with a certain texture
seek sensory stimulation for example, they
might like deep pressure touch or vibrating
objects like the washing machine
like to flutter their fingers at the side of their eyes
to watch the light flicker.

Exclusions
Disturbance not better accounted for by Retts
or CDD.
What Causes Autism?
Genetic problems:
Over the last five years, scientists have identified a
number of rare gene changes, or mutations,
associated with autism. Research has identified
more than a hundred autism risk genes. In
around 15 percent of cases, a specific genetic
cause of a persons autism can be identified.
However, most cases involve a complex and
variable combination of genetic risk and
environmental factors that influence early brain
development.

What Causes Autism?
Environmental Factors:
parental age at time of conception (both mom
and dad)
maternal illness during pregnancy
extreme prematurity and very low birth weight
and certain difficulties during birth(periods of
oxygen deprivation to the babys brain)
Mothers exposed to high levels of pesticides and
air pollution may also be at higher risk of having a
child with ASD
Prevalence Of Autism
Went from 1 in 2500, to 1 in 1000, to 1 in 166
over the past decade.
Autism is now more common than childhood
cancer, downs syndrome, spina bifida or cystic
fibrosis.
Boys are affected 4 times as often as girls but
unknown as to why.
1 out of 68 families will have a child with
autism.

Is There A Cure For Autism?
No it is a lifelong disorder.
Some suggest otherwise but theres a lack of
evidence.
But people with Autism often make good
progress and develop coping strategies.
Range of therapies and treatments but no real
consensus on what is most effective.
Because there is a wide variability in people
with Autism there is a need to develop an
individual treatment and management plan.

6 Steps To Success For Autism
Step 1: Educate Yourself.
Step 2: Reach Out to the Parents.
Step 3: Prepare the Classroom.
Step 4: Educate Peers and Promote Social Goals.
Step 5: Collaborate on the Implementation of an
Education Plan.
Step 6: Manage Behavioral Challenges.