Autism

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Barbara Shack (talk | contribs) at 19:41, 15 September 2005 (→Autistic Spectrum and Pervasive Development Disorders). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Jump to navigation Jump to search

The autistic spectrum, or autism spectrum, is the idea that autism is a developmental and behavioral syndrome that results from certain combinations of traits. Although these traits may be normally distributed in the population, some individuals inherit or otherwise manifest more autistic traits. At the severe end of the spectrum is low-functioning autism, with profound impairments in many areas, to Asperger's syndrome, and finally a shading into normality and perhaps then hypersocialization. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10), autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are classified as pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), as opposed to specific developmental disorders like dyslexia or dyspraxia.

Autistic Spectrum and Pervasive Development Disorders

In practice, autistic spectrum disorder and pervasive developmental disorder are synonymous, but making a distinction is valuable. Pervasive developmental disorders refer to those psychological and behavioral developmental disorders encompassing many areas of functioning: language and communication, self-help skills, motor coordinationexecutive function, and scholastic achievement. The nosological category of pervasive developmental disorders includes syndromes that may be etiologically unrelated to autism, with autistic-like behavior being only one part of the disorder: Rett's syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder.

Autistic Traits

The disorder diagnosed as Autistic Disorder in the DSM-IV-TR and Childhood Autism in the ICD-10 may share an underlying genetic cause and similar neurodevelopment as Asperger's syndrome. Behaviorally, certain characteristics identify the autistic syndrome:

Social impairment

  • Lack of observed desire for friendship
  • Poor ability to make friends
  • Social awkwardness
  • Indiscriminate social interaction
  • Reduced ability to understand the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of others
  • Lack of eye contact
  • Brief response to questions
  • Gullibility

Language impairment

  • Odd or monotonous prosody of speech
  • Overly formal and pedantic language
  • Pronoun reversal
  • Visuospatial thinking preferred
  • Use of rote chunks of language
  • Late or no development of language
  • Poor use and understanding of nonverbal communication (i.e., facial expressions and body language)

Imaginative impairment and repetitive adherence

  • Concrete and literal use of language
  • Poor understanding of abstract thought, metaphors, and symbolism
  • Preference for routine
  • Absorption in detail; inability to understand meaning or the whole of a concept
  • Perseverative interest or focus

Sensory integration dysfunction

  • Hyper- or hyposensitivity of the various senses
  • Peculiar clothing and food preferences
  • Self-stimulating mannerisms
  • Fine or gross motor discoordination

The number of autistic traits present determines the severity of autism in the individual. These autistic traits may be beneficial for some disciplines like science, mathematics, engineering.

ADHD and Autism

Research has indicated a possible genetic and behavioral connection between ADHD and autism. As a result, some clinicians have suggested that ADHD be included under the category of autistic spectrum disorders though others disagree with this. [1]

Diagnoses of ADHD together with autism or asperger syndrome are increasingly common in children. In young children the two conditions can appear similar. There are also genetic links between the two conditions. Children diagnosed with autism sometimes have parents diagnosed with ADHD. As children become older differences emerge. Children with typical autism become more withdrawn and with a suitable environment Hyperactivity reduces. Social Skills Problems can become clear. By contrast children with ADHD rarely become calmer with age but develop social and communication skills. There are similarities between ADHD and autism but there are also differences. Children with ADHD frequently have satisfactory communication and Social skills. Any social skills problems experienced by Children with ADHD may have other causes like low self-esteem or difficulty with quiet constructive social interaction.

See also

References


Stub icon

This medical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Autism&oldid=23299812"