autism

Examples of autism in the following topics:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • The DSM-5, published in 2013, redefined the autism spectrum to encompass the previous (DSM-IV-TR) diagnoses of autism, Asperger syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and childhood disintegrative disorder.
  • PDD-NOS was considered "subthreshold autism" and "atypical autism" because it was often characterized by milder symptoms of autism or symptoms in only one domain (such as social difficulties).
  • In the DSM-5, both of these diagnoses have been subsumed into autism spectrum disorder.
  • Social impairments in children with autism can be characterized by a distinctive lack of intuition about others.
  • Summarize the diagnostic criteria, etiology, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Autism and ADHD

  • Autism and ADHD are neurodevelopmental disorders that arise when nervous system development is disrupted.
  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD, sometimes just "autism") is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which severity differs from person to person.
  • There has been some unsubstantiated controversy linking vaccinations and autism.
  • In the 1990s, a research paper linked autism to a common vaccine given to children.
  • Treatment for autism usually combines behavioral therapies and interventions, along with medications to treat other disorders common to people with autism (depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder).

• Current Issues and Debates in Psychology

  • One major change is within the category of autism spectrum disorders, which no longer contains Asperger's syndrome as a diagnosis.
  • Rather, all children are classified under the term "autism spectrum disorder" (ASD) and given a rating or mild, moderate, or severe.
  • It is unclear whether this growth is due to changes in autism's actual incidence or to changes in the rate of reporting.
  • Reports of autism cases per 1,000 children increased dramatically in the US from 1996 to 2007.
  • It is unknown how much, if any, of this growth is due to changes in autism's actual incidence (as opposed to changes in the rate of reporting).

• Learning Disabilities and Special Education

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by limitations in language and social skills.
  • While previously divided into different disorders, the DSM-5 now uses the term ASD to include autism, Asperger syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).

• Other Neurological Disorders

  • For example, people who have intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder can experience seizures, presumably because the developmental wiring malfunctions that caused their disorders also put them at risk for epilepsy.

• The Middle Years

  • Advanced paternal age sharply increases the risk of miscarriage, as well as Down syndrome, schizophrenia, autism, and bipolar disorder.

• Behavior Therapy and Applied Behavioral Analysis

  • Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) is a type of behavior therapy that uses the principles of operant conditioning; it is commonly used in the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Applied behavioral analysis has been shown to be an effective tool and is a very common treatment approach for children with autism (Lovaas, 1987, 2003; Sallows & Graupner, 2005; Wolf & Risley, 1967).
  • Applied behavioral analysis has been criticized for trying to "normalize" the behavior of children with autism; critics argue that children with autism express themselves in different ways that are not pathological, and that ABA pathologizes these behaviors and seeks to re-shape them into more socially acceptable behaviors.

• Epigenetic Alterations in Cancer

  • Genes involved in the development of many other illnesses, ranging from allergies to inflammation to autism, are also thought to be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms.

• The Facial Feedback Hypothesis

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a set of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by repetitive behaviors and difficulties with communication and social interaction.

• Controversies in Intelligence and Standardized Testing

  • Standard intelligence tests, such as the Stanford-Binet, are often inappropriate for children with autism, and may have resulted in incorrect claims that a majority of children with autism are mentally retarded.