1. Chapter 7 Autism Spectrum Disorders

2. IDEA Definition
Autism is a developmental disability affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally before age 3, that adversely affects a child’s performance.

3. DSM-IV Definitions
Autistic Disorder - marked by three defining features, with onset before age 3: 1) impaired social interaction, 2) impaired communication, and 3) restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities
Asperger Syndrome - impairments in all social areas, particularly an inability to understand how to interact socially
Rhett’s Syndrome - a distinct neurological condition that begins between 5 and 30 months of age, marked by a slowing of head growth, stereotypic hand movements, and severe impairments in language and cognitive abilities
Childhood disintegrative disorder - shares characteristics with autistic disorder, but doesn’t begin until after the age of 2 and sometimes not until age 10
Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) - diagnosis given to children who meet some, but not all, of the criteria for autistic disorder

4. Characteristics Impaired social relationships
Communication and Language deficits - Many children with autism do not speak; echolalia is common among those who do talk
Varying levels of intellectual functioning, uneven skill development
Unusual responsiveness to sensory stimuli
Insistence on sameness and perseveration
Ritualistic and stereotypic behavior
Aggressive or self-injurious behavior

5. Prevalence and Causes Prevalence Causes
Recent estimates - Autism occurs in as many as 30–121 in 10,000 people
Boys are affected about 4 times more often than girls
Autism is the fastest-growing category in special education
Causes
The cause of autism is unknown
There is a clear biological origin of autism in the form of abnormal brain development, structure, and/or neurochemistry
No evidence of childhood vaccinations causing autism

6. Screening
Early diagnosis is highly correlated with dramatically better outcomes
Autism can be reliably diagnosed at 18 months of age
Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT)
Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT)
Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ)
Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ)

7. Diagnosis Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS)
Autism Diagnostic Interview—Revised
Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale—Generic
Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Scale (ASDS)

8. Educational Approaches
Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Discrete Trial Training
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
Peer-mediated interventions
Errorless discrimination learning
Self-management strategies
Functional assessment of challenging behavior
Functional Communication Training
Naturalistic language strategies

9. Educational Approaches (continued)
Picture activity schedules
Social Stories
Educational Placement Alternatives
Regular Classroom
Resource Room and Special Classes

10. Unproven Interventions and Fads for ASD
Facilitated Communication
Secretic Therapy