What is Autism?What is Autism?It is one of five Pervasive It is one of five Pervasive Developmental Disorders Developmental Disorders

(PDD)(PDD)

The spectrum…The spectrum…

Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD’s)(ASD’s)

Milder symptoms Milder symptoms

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Autism is a neurological disorderAutism is a neurological disorder

• Communication challengesCommunication challenges

• Social deficits, limited or non-communicative, no Social deficits, limited or non-communicative, no eye contacteye contact

• Origins are neurological and or environmentalOrigins are neurological and or environmental

• Repetitious behaviors—i.e. flapping and rockingRepetitious behaviors—i.e. flapping and rocking

• Difficulty with life changes or transitionsDifficulty with life changes or transitions

• Unable to interact with peers as student Unable to interact with peers as student progresses—(impulse control)progresses—(impulse control)

PDDPDD

• Autism, the most commonly known. Autism, the most commonly known. • Asperger’s syndrome—high functioning Asperger’s syndrome—high functioning

formform• Rett syndrome Rett syndrome • Childhood disintegrative disorder (Heller’s Childhood disintegrative disorder (Heller’s

syndrome) late onset—low function form syndrome) late onset—low function form of autism.of autism.

• Pervasive developmental disorder not Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), which otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), which includes atypical autism. includes atypical autism.

When autism symptoms When autism symptoms manifestmanifest (CDC) (CDC)• Typically, behaviors are noticed in Typically, behaviors are noticed in

children which set them apart from children which set them apart from other children before the age of three.other children before the age of three.

• Prevalence of Autism is approximately Prevalence of Autism is approximately 1 in 100 births.1 in 100 births.

• Approximately 4 times as many males Approximately 4 times as many males are diagnosed than girls.are diagnosed than girls.

• The reason for this is still unknown.The reason for this is still unknown.

CDC continuedCDC continued

• New Jersey has the highest rate of autism New Jersey has the highest rate of autism in the nation.in the nation.

• A Dr. Zardhony of the CDC asserts this is A Dr. Zardhony of the CDC asserts this is true because of the “comprehensive true because of the “comprehensive reporting system and the relative reporting system and the relative awareness of autism in the state of New awareness of autism in the state of New Jersey.”Jersey.”

• The prevalence of Autism in the state of The prevalence of Autism in the state of NY is the second highest in the nation.NY is the second highest in the nation.

Autism and the BrainAutism and the Brain

• Research is still unclear on how autism affects Research is still unclear on how autism affects the brain.the brain.

• There are genetic implications. Perhaps There are genetic implications. Perhaps genetic mutations…genetic mutations…

• There are theories, although unsubstantiated, There are theories, although unsubstantiated, that vaccines may contribute to the that vaccines may contribute to the development of this disorder. development of this disorder. www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/faq_vaccines.htmwww.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/faq_vaccines.htm

Aggression and AutismAggression and Autism

• There are reports that students can act out There are reports that students can act out in aggressively during tantrum like in aggressively during tantrum like behavior. Such as self injurious behaviors, behavior. Such as self injurious behaviors, biting, kicking, hitting etc.biting, kicking, hitting etc.

• Aggression is known to occur when students Aggression is known to occur when students have difficulty with communication or are have difficulty with communication or are required to respond according to specific required to respond according to specific guidelines. The source of the aggression guidelines. The source of the aggression tends to be linked to frustration when a tends to be linked to frustration when a child with autism has difficulty child with autism has difficulty communicating.communicating.

TreatmentTreatment

• There is no known cure…There is no known cure…

• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) focusing on antecedent (cause or focusing on antecedent (cause or function) and behavioral function) and behavioral consequences.consequences.

• Discrete Trial Training (DTT)Discrete Trial Training (DTT)

• Structured TeachingStructured Teaching

• Physical Therapy (PT)Physical Therapy (PT)

Treatment continuedTreatment continued

• RTI Response to interventionRTI Response to intervention

• Alternative approaches—option.org Alternative approaches—option.org

• Occupational therapy Occupational therapy

• Sensory integration therapy Sensory integration therapy

• Speech therapy Speech therapy

• The Picture Exchange The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Communication System (PECS)

Aspberger’s SyndromeAspberger’s Syndrome

• Identified by Hans Asperger in 1938Identified by Hans Asperger in 1938

• The manifestations of autism cover a broad The manifestations of autism cover a broad spectrum, ranging from individuals with severe spectrum, ranging from individuals with severe impairments—who may be silent, mentally impairments—who may be silent, mentally disabled, and locked into hand flapping and disabled, and locked into hand flapping and rocking—to high functioning individuals who rocking—to high functioning individuals who may have energetic but distinctly impoverished may have energetic but distinctly impoverished social approaches, narrowly focused interests, social approaches, narrowly focused interests, and highly detailed almost excessive and highly detailed almost excessive communication. communication.

Cont. Asperger’sCont. Asperger’s

• Aspberger's is not characterized by a deficit Aspberger's is not characterized by a deficit in language development.in language development.

• Typically they are viewed as high functioning.Typically they are viewed as high functioning.

• Aspberger's and other ASD’s are Aspberger's and other ASD’s are approximately 6 in 100 births.approximately 6 in 100 births.

• Typically within the Autism Spectrum Typically within the Autism Spectrum students are diagnosed from Low Functioning students are diagnosed from Low Functioning to medium functioning and high functioning. to medium functioning and high functioning.

DiagnosisDiagnosis

• The diagnosis of Autism and ASD’s has a The diagnosis of Autism and ASD’s has a steep upward trajectory since the early steep upward trajectory since the early 1980’s.1980’s.

• This is due to the increased attention paid This is due to the increased attention paid to students and their success in satisfying to students and their success in satisfying developmental benchmarks—as well as developmental benchmarks—as well as increased awareness.increased awareness.

• Diagnosis is directly linked to behavioral Diagnosis is directly linked to behavioral assessment.assessment.

Case studyCase study

• Class divides itself into groups of no Class divides itself into groups of no larger than 4-5 students.larger than 4-5 students.

• Answer questions connected with Answer questions connected with case study and discuss.case study and discuss.

• Reassemble near the end of class Reassemble near the end of class debrief on case study and how the debrief on case study and how the groups answered questions.groups answered questions.