Autism

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AUTISM
WHAT IS AUTISM?
Very complex, often baffling

developmental disability
First described by Leo Kanner in
1943 as early infantile autism
“Auto” – children are “locked
within themselves.”
For next 30 years, considered to
be an emotional disturbance
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WHAT IS AUTISM?
3 categories for autism in IDEA?

Today, autism is a severe form of a
broader group of disorders
These are referred to as pervasive
developmental disorders (later)
Typically appears during the first 3
years of life
WHAT IS AUTISM?
Very likely neurological in origin –

not emotional, not the refrigerator
mom
Prevalence is 2-6/1000 individuals
(1/2 to 1 ½ million affected)
4 times more prevalent in boys
No known racial, ethnic, or social
boundaries
No relation to family income, lifestyle
WHAT IS AUTISM?
Autism impacts normal development

of the brain in areas of social
interaction and communication skills.
Difficult to communicate with others
and relate to the outside world.
Occasionally, aggressive and/or self-
injurious behavior may be present.
WHAT IS AUTISM?
May exhibit repeated body

movements (hand flapping, rocking).
Unusual responses to people
Attachment to objects
Resistance to change in routine
Sensory sensitivities
WHAT ARE THE TYPES?
Actually, the “umbrella” heading is

Pervasive Developmental Disorder
(PDD).
Autism is one of the 5 PDDs.
All have commonalities in
communication and social deficits
Differ in terms of severity
1. Autistic Disorder
Impairments in social interaction,

communication, and imaginative
play.
Apparent before age 3.
Also includes stereotyped behaviors,
interests, and activities
2. Asperger’s Disorder
Impairments in social interactions,

and presence of restricted interests
and activities
No clinically significant general delay
in language
Average to above average
intelligence
3. Pervasive Developmental
Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified
(PDD-NOS)
Often referred to as atypical autism

Used when a child does not meet the
criteria for a specific diagnosis, but
there is severe and pervasive
impairment in specified behaviors

4. Rett’s Disorder
Progressive disorder which, to date,

has only occurred in girls.
Period of normal development and
then the loss of previously acquired
skills
Also loss of purposeful use of hands,
which is replaced by repetitive hand
movements
Beginning at age of 1-4 years
5. Childhood Disintegrative
Disorder
Normal development for at least the
first 2 years
Then significant loss of previously
acquired skills
Conclusions on Types
Autism is a spectrum disorder

This means that symptoms and
characteristics can present
themselves in wide variety of
combinations, from mild to severe
Autistic individuals can be very
different from each other
“Autism” is still commonly used to
refer to any of the 5 PDDs
What causes (and doesn’t cause)
autism?
Good agreement in general that
autism is caused by abnormalities in
brain development, neurochemistry,
and genetic factors
Bettleheim’s theory of
psychogenesis?
How is Autism Diagnosed?
No definitive medical test

Team uses interviews, observation,
and specific checklists developed for
this purpose.
Team might include neurologist,
psychologist, developmental
pediatrician, speech/language
therapist, learning consultant, etc.
Must rule out MR, hearing

impairment, behavior disorders, or
eccentric habits
CHARACTERISTICS
1. Communication/Language
2. Social Interaction
3. Behaviors
4. Sensory and movement disorders
5. Resistance to change
(predictability)
6. Intellectual functioning
1. Communication/language
Broad range of abilities, from no

verbal communication to quite
complex skills
Two common impairments:
A. Delayed language
B. Echolalia
A. Delayed language
50% of autistic individuals will

eventually have useful speech (?)
Pronoun reversal: “You want white
icing on chocolate cake.”
Difficulty in conversing easily with
others
Difficulty in shifting topics
Look away; poor eye contact
Facilitated communication??????
Elements of Facilitated
Communication
1. Physical Support
2. Initial training/introduction
3. Maintaining focus
4. Avoiding competence testing
5. Generalization
6. Fading
B. Echolalia
Common in very young children (Age

3)
Immediate or delayed (even years)
Is there communicative intent with
echolalia?
2. Social Interaction
One of hallmarks of autism is lack of

social interaction
1. Impaired use of nonverbal
behavior
2. Lack of peer relationships
3. Failure to spontaneously share
enjoyment, interests, etc. with others
4. Lack of reciprocity
Theory of mind?
3. Behaviors
Repetitive behaviors, including

obsessions, tics, and perseveration
Impeding behaviors (impede their
learning or the learning of others)
Will need positive behavior supports
A. Self-injurious behavior
B. Aggression
4. Sensory and movement
disorders
Very common
Over- or under-sensitive to sensory
stimuli
Abnormal posture and movements of
the face, head, trunk, and limbs
Abnormal eye movements
Repeated gestures and mannerisms
Movement disorders can be detected
very early – perhaps at birth

5. Predictability
Change in routine is very stressful

May insist on particular furniture
arrangement, food at meals, TV
shows
Symmetry is often important
Interventions need to focus on
preparing students for change if
possible
6. Intellectual functioning
Autism occurs in children of all levels

of intelligence, from those who are
gifted to those who have mental
retardation
In general, majority of individuals
with autism are also identified as
having mental retardation – 75%
below 70
Verbal and reasoning skills are
difficult
Savant syndrome
Interventions
1. Individualization and early

intervention are the keys
2. Include life skills, functional
academics, and vocational
preparation
3. Positive behavior support
4. Social stories (music therapy?)
5. Lovaas model

Autism

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www.themegallery.

Very complex, often baffling

3 categories for autism in IDEA?

Very likely neurological in origin –

Autism impacts normal development

May exhibit repeated body

Actually, the “umbrella” heading is

Impairments in social interaction,

Impairments in social interactions,

Often referred to as atypical autism

impairment in specified behaviors

Progressive disorder which, to date,

Autism is a spectrum disorder

No definitive medical test

Must rule out MR, hearing

Broad range of abilities, from no

50% of autistic individuals will

Common in very young children (Age

One of hallmarks of autism is lack of

Repetitive behaviors, including

very early – perhaps at birth

Change in routine is very stressful

Autism occurs in children of all levels

1. Individualization and early

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