Autistic Spectrum Disorder ASD

HISTORY
Leo Kanner introduced the label early infantile autism in 1943
.

Kanner's reuse of autism led to decades of confused terminology like infantile schizophrenia, and child psychiatry's focus on maternal deprivation led to misconceptions of autism .

QUICK FACTS ABOUT AUTISM

1 in 250 births

Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention Fastest-growing developmental disability 10 - 17 % annual growth

What is Autism?

Autism is a complex, life-long biological disorder of development that results in social interaction problems, communication difficulties, and restrictive or repetitive interests and behaviors. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood

Pervasive Developmental Disorders/ Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autistic Disorder (Autism)

Aspergers Disorder

Pervasive Developmental Disorder, NOS (PDD-NOS)

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder Retts Disorder

Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Reciprocal Social Interaction

Communication

Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors

Impairments in: a. Nonverbal behaviors: eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction b. Peer relationships c. Seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people

a. Delay in, or lack of development of, spoken language b. Impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others c. Stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language

Motor stereotypes Repetitive behaviors Narrow Interests Rituals, routines Preoccupation with parts of objects

ASD

One of three recognized disorders in the autism spectrum , the other two being Asperger syndrome, which lacks delays in cognitive development and language, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (commonly abbreviated as PDD-NOS), which is diagnosed when the full set of criteria for autism or Asperger syndrome are not met.

Symptoms

Children and adults with autism have difficulties with everyday social interaction. Their ability to develop friendships is generally limited as is their capacity to understand other people's emotional expression. People with autism can often have accompanying learning disabilities but everyone with the condition shares a difficulty in making sense of the world.

Autism affects the amygdala, cerebellum, and many other parts of the brain.

Levels of Cognitive Functioning

Approx. 7075% of individuals with autism Approx 45% of individuals with ASD

55 -3

70 -2

85 -1

100 0

115 1

130 2

145 3

MEAN = 100 STANDARD DEVIATION = +/- 15

Several other conditions are common in children with autism . They include:

Genetic disorders About 1015% Mental retardation mental retardation has been reported as anywhere from 25% to 70 Epilepsy, with variations in risk of epilepsy due to age, cognitive level, and type of language disorder Sleep problems affect about two-thirds symptoms of insomnia such as difficulty in falling asleep

"Reality to an autistic person is a confusing, interacting mass of events, people, places, sounds and sights. There seems to be no clear boundaries, order or meaning to anything. A large part of my life is spent just trying to work out the pattern behind everything. - A person with autism

DIAGNOSIS

Autism can be reliably diagnosed by or before age three. Symptoms are usually detected during infancy, although a formal diagnosis is generally not made until the child fails to develop functional language by age two. Approximately 20 percent of children with autism reportedly experience a "regression"; that is they have apparently normal development followed by a loss of communication and social skills.

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis of ASD For a diagnosis of autism six criteria must be met:

At least two impairments in social interaction. One impairment in communication skills. Restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped behavior. Two impairments in any of the three stipulated areas.

OCCURENCE
Boys are three-to-four times more likely to be affected by autism than girls. Autism occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups. An autistic culture has developed, with some individuals seeking a cure and others believing autism should be accepted as a difference and not treated as a disorder.

Deletion (1), duplication (2) and inversion (3) are all chromosome abnormalities that have been implicated in autism.

Is there a Cure ?

Although there is currently no known cure for autism, autism is treatable. Persons with autism can make progress if they receive appropriate, individual intervention.
Pre-school children who receive intensive, individualized, behavioral interventions show remarkable progress. In addition, limited pharmacological interventions are available to treat specific symptoms of autism.

What Causes Autism?

In the majority of cases, no specific underlying cause can be identified . However, a variety of factors are being investigated:
infectious, metabolic, genetic, and environmental factors.

In rare cases, autism is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects. Controversies surround other proposed environmental causes, such as heavy metals, pesticides or childhood vaccines

What Causes Autism?

Autism probably results from a genetic susceptibility that involves multiple genes. To date, genetic causes for one disorder commonly accompanied by autism and one autism-spectrum disorder have been identified, Fragile X and Rett syndrome, respectively and genetic "hotspots" for more classic autism have been indicated.

What Causes Autism?

Fragile X is the most common, genetically inherited form of mental retardation currently known and produces many of the same behaviors and symptoms as autism.
Rett syndrome, which affects only girls, is a progressive brain disease that produces a loss of language/social skills that is similar to autism and is classified as an autism spectrum disorder.

What can you do to help??

Spread the word, the first step is awareness.

April 2 is International Autism Awareness day The Autism Society of India can get you started! Visit -

www.autism-india.org

Some facts and statistics

40% of all children with autism wait more than three years for a clear diagnosis
An estimated 535,000 people have autism in the UK Around 70% of people with autism have an IQ below 70 (the average IQ of the population is 100). This is classed as a learning disability. Some people with autism have normal or high intelligence. Many people with Asperger's have normal or above average intelligence and can lead independent lives.

The Internet has helped autistic individuals bypass nonverbal cues and emotional sharing that they find so hard to deal with, and has given them a way to form online communities and work remotely.

GET INVOLVED

Autism is puzzling doctors and scientists everywhere.

But by making more people aware more resources can be organized towards the goal .

Three wise sayings There is nothing new under the sun

Nothing exists until it has a name Nature never draws a line without smudging it