BCAT Task List
Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity - ANS-abnormal social approach
-failure of normal back-and-forth conversation
-reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect
-failure to initiate or respond to social interactions
-reflects problems with social initiation and response
Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction - ANSranging, for
example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye
contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of
facial expressions and nonverbal communication
-reflects problems with non-verbal communication
Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships - ANSranging, for example,
from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing
imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers -reflects problems with
social awareness insight, as well as with broader concept of social relationships
Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech - ANSsuch as simple
motor stereotypes, echolalia, repetitive use of objects, or idiosyncratic phrases
-includes atypical speech, movements, and play
Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns of verbal or
nonverbal behavior - ANSincludes rituals and resistance to change
-such as motoric rituals, insistence on same route or food, repetitive questioning or extreme
distress at small changes
-rigid thinking (cant understand humor or irony)
Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus - ANSstrong
attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or
perseverative interests
Hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the
environment - ANSapparent indifference to pain/heat/cold, adverse response to specific sounds
or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects, fascination with lights or spinning objects
-includes atypical sensory behaviors
levels of severity across social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors - ANSLevel 1:
requiring support
Level 2: requiring substantial support
Level 3: requiring very substantial support
, Research regarding treatment intensity - ANSslowly increasing intensity to increase learning
early intensive behavioral intervention research - ANSdemonstrates DTT is effective
Distinguishing between evidence-based interventions vs non-evidence interventions -
ANSEvidence based: ABA (DTT); has significant and convincing empirical efficacy and support
Non-Evidence based: Gluten free diet; lack objective supporting data and might be potentially
harmful
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - ANS-Four to Five times more likely in boys
-Affects brain development in areas of communication skills, social interactions, and sensory
processing/stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities
-1 in 67
-neurological disorder
Impairments in communication - ANSimpairments in communication:
-delay in, or total lack of, development of spoken language
-marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation
-stereotyped and repetitive use of language
-lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to
developmental level
Impairment in social interaction - ANSdifficulty relating to others (not recognizing social clues
that are given to them, eye contact, facial expressions, waiting for turn to speak)
-failure to develop peer relations
-lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people
-lack social and emotional reciprocity
Stereotyped patterns of behavior - ANS-encompassing preoccupation with one or more
stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
-apparently inflexible adherence to specific nonfunctional routines or rituals
-persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
- motor mannerisms: hand flapping, toe walking, rocking, insists on following elaborate routines.
Foundational autism research - ANSresearches morbidities, GI issues, biological research, etc
Positive Reinforcement - ANSIncreasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food.
A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the
response.
Negative Reinforcement - ANSthe reinforcement of a response by the removal, escape from, or
avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus
-aversive sensation (pain, hunger), undesired demands, unwanted attention
Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity - ANS-abnormal social approach
-failure of normal back-and-forth conversation
-reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect
-failure to initiate or respond to social interactions
-reflects problems with social initiation and response
Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction - ANSranging, for
example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye
contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of
facial expressions and nonverbal communication
-reflects problems with non-verbal communication
Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships - ANSranging, for example,
from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing
imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers -reflects problems with
social awareness insight, as well as with broader concept of social relationships
Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech - ANSsuch as simple
motor stereotypes, echolalia, repetitive use of objects, or idiosyncratic phrases
-includes atypical speech, movements, and play
Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns of verbal or
nonverbal behavior - ANSincludes rituals and resistance to change
-such as motoric rituals, insistence on same route or food, repetitive questioning or extreme
distress at small changes
-rigid thinking (cant understand humor or irony)
Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus - ANSstrong
attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or
perseverative interests
Hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the
environment - ANSapparent indifference to pain/heat/cold, adverse response to specific sounds
or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects, fascination with lights or spinning objects
-includes atypical sensory behaviors
levels of severity across social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors - ANSLevel 1:
requiring support
Level 2: requiring substantial support
Level 3: requiring very substantial support
, Research regarding treatment intensity - ANSslowly increasing intensity to increase learning
early intensive behavioral intervention research - ANSdemonstrates DTT is effective
Distinguishing between evidence-based interventions vs non-evidence interventions -
ANSEvidence based: ABA (DTT); has significant and convincing empirical efficacy and support
Non-Evidence based: Gluten free diet; lack objective supporting data and might be potentially
harmful
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - ANS-Four to Five times more likely in boys
-Affects brain development in areas of communication skills, social interactions, and sensory
processing/stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities
-1 in 67
-neurological disorder
Impairments in communication - ANSimpairments in communication:
-delay in, or total lack of, development of spoken language
-marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation
-stereotyped and repetitive use of language
-lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to
developmental level
Impairment in social interaction - ANSdifficulty relating to others (not recognizing social clues
that are given to them, eye contact, facial expressions, waiting for turn to speak)
-failure to develop peer relations
-lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people
-lack social and emotional reciprocity
Stereotyped patterns of behavior - ANS-encompassing preoccupation with one or more
stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
-apparently inflexible adherence to specific nonfunctional routines or rituals
-persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
- motor mannerisms: hand flapping, toe walking, rocking, insists on following elaborate routines.
Foundational autism research - ANSresearches morbidities, GI issues, biological research, etc
Positive Reinforcement - ANSIncreasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food.
A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the
response.
Negative Reinforcement - ANSthe reinforcement of a response by the removal, escape from, or
avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus
-aversive sensation (pain, hunger), undesired demands, unwanted attention
