ASD Exam with Complete Solutions
2024…Grade A+
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder? ✔✔-a continuum of neurodevelopment
impairments, specifically in the domains of social communication and restricted and
repetitive behaviour
-can be associated with intellectual disabilities, but not all have them
ASD population stats ✔✔-1 in 68
-1-2% of worlds population
Prevalence of ASD Increasing ✔✔-not sure why
-could be due to awareness, willingness to disclose, the way we collect information,
diagnosis, criteria or ASD is just more broad now
Autism Characteristics ✔✔-typical symptoms can occur as early as 6-12 months
(diagnosis usually at 18 months)
-12-24 months, symptoms may improve or regress
-25%-75% of children with autism have intellectual delays
-access to service is based on absence/presence of intellectual disability
,Leo Kanner ✔✔-published book in 1943
-first account of autistic disturbances
-found there was a lack of emotional contact, resistance to change, rote memory and
visual/spatial skills
-first medical model considered it a physical illness
-originally suggested it was due to relationship between kid and mother (treatment for
mothers)
Before Leo Kanner ✔✔-possible diagnosis' for ASD
psychoanalysts: a neurotic condition caused by maladaptive maternal relationships
-learned behaviour
Hans Asperger ✔✔-Hans Asperger was writing about Aspergers disorder, and
characteristics overlapped
-autistic psychopathy, little professors, intense absorption in special interest
-came to north america 40 years later
Asperger Disorder ✔✔-not always delay in language/development in language
-monotone
-affects more boys than girls
-repetitive routines
,-socially emotionally inappropriate behaviour and unsuccessful peer interaction
-cognitive ability in normal range
Moving to Medical Model ✔✔-started looking at brain abnormalities, wanted to see
which area of the brain was affected
-able to link ASD to mothers or rubella (similar virus)
-1980 was first autism distinct condition
Pervasive Development Disorders ✔✔-childhood disintegrative disorder
-retts disorder
all include:
-only feeling simple emotions
-sensory/perceptual processing, either over sensitive or have low sensitivity
-impaired motor skills
Autism & Language ✔✔-low functioning autism: little or no use of understanding
speech, may have grammar difficulties
-high functioning autism: normal language
Diagnosis of ASD ✔✔-involves in-depth gathering of information
-direct observation and interaction
-no clear boundary, hard to diagnose
, -benefits of age of onset, family history, genetic research
Difference in ASD Distribution ✔✔-more common in males (low-functioning, 4:1 and
high-functioning, 6:1)
-little evidence (but some have attempted) to explain difference in geography/race/social
class
Reasons Why Diagnosis is Useful ✔✔-make treatment decisions
-understanding the condition
-helps others understand
-justifies behaviour under public scrutiny
-access to services, creation of services
-comparison groups in research
Reasons Against Diagnosis ✔✔-stigma
-barriers in social situations and independence
-abuse of diagnosis
Why Clinicians Must be Careful with Diagnosis ✔✔-although early detection is
important, don't want to cause family anxiety
-all children develop differently
-with older individuals, having the diagnoses will help with support, intervention, and self
understanding
2024…Grade A+
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder? ✔✔-a continuum of neurodevelopment
impairments, specifically in the domains of social communication and restricted and
repetitive behaviour
-can be associated with intellectual disabilities, but not all have them
ASD population stats ✔✔-1 in 68
-1-2% of worlds population
Prevalence of ASD Increasing ✔✔-not sure why
-could be due to awareness, willingness to disclose, the way we collect information,
diagnosis, criteria or ASD is just more broad now
Autism Characteristics ✔✔-typical symptoms can occur as early as 6-12 months
(diagnosis usually at 18 months)
-12-24 months, symptoms may improve or regress
-25%-75% of children with autism have intellectual delays
-access to service is based on absence/presence of intellectual disability
,Leo Kanner ✔✔-published book in 1943
-first account of autistic disturbances
-found there was a lack of emotional contact, resistance to change, rote memory and
visual/spatial skills
-first medical model considered it a physical illness
-originally suggested it was due to relationship between kid and mother (treatment for
mothers)
Before Leo Kanner ✔✔-possible diagnosis' for ASD
psychoanalysts: a neurotic condition caused by maladaptive maternal relationships
-learned behaviour
Hans Asperger ✔✔-Hans Asperger was writing about Aspergers disorder, and
characteristics overlapped
-autistic psychopathy, little professors, intense absorption in special interest
-came to north america 40 years later
Asperger Disorder ✔✔-not always delay in language/development in language
-monotone
-affects more boys than girls
-repetitive routines
,-socially emotionally inappropriate behaviour and unsuccessful peer interaction
-cognitive ability in normal range
Moving to Medical Model ✔✔-started looking at brain abnormalities, wanted to see
which area of the brain was affected
-able to link ASD to mothers or rubella (similar virus)
-1980 was first autism distinct condition
Pervasive Development Disorders ✔✔-childhood disintegrative disorder
-retts disorder
all include:
-only feeling simple emotions
-sensory/perceptual processing, either over sensitive or have low sensitivity
-impaired motor skills
Autism & Language ✔✔-low functioning autism: little or no use of understanding
speech, may have grammar difficulties
-high functioning autism: normal language
Diagnosis of ASD ✔✔-involves in-depth gathering of information
-direct observation and interaction
-no clear boundary, hard to diagnose
, -benefits of age of onset, family history, genetic research
Difference in ASD Distribution ✔✔-more common in males (low-functioning, 4:1 and
high-functioning, 6:1)
-little evidence (but some have attempted) to explain difference in geography/race/social
class
Reasons Why Diagnosis is Useful ✔✔-make treatment decisions
-understanding the condition
-helps others understand
-justifies behaviour under public scrutiny
-access to services, creation of services
-comparison groups in research
Reasons Against Diagnosis ✔✔-stigma
-barriers in social situations and independence
-abuse of diagnosis
Why Clinicians Must be Careful with Diagnosis ✔✔-although early detection is
important, don't want to cause family anxiety
-all children develop differently
-with older individuals, having the diagnoses will help with support, intervention, and self
understanding
