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Symptoms : Infants can show early signs of autism
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Posted by sylvia on Thursday, May 26, 2005 (23:35:56)
The Detroit News 26/04/05
By Shari Roan
Child development experts may one day be able to identify children at risk for autism before their first birthdays.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1.5 million Americans have an autistic disorder, with the incidence growing by 10-17 percent a year since the early 1990s.
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Symptoms : How can I get a diagnosis as an adult?
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Posted by sylvia on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 (13:43:43)
NAS
The Autism Helpline frequently receives calls from adults who suspect they may have Asperger syndrome (AS) or High-Functioning Autism (HFA) and are looking for a diagnosis. In this article the term Asperger syndrome is used to include all forms of high-functioning autism.
Gaining a diagnosis as an adult isn't easy, especially as Asperger syndrome isn't widely heard of among GPs. The typical route for getting diagnosed is to visit your GP and ask for a referral to a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, preferably one with experience of diagnosing autism. If you are already seeing a specialist for other reasons, for example, a psychologist because you suffer from depression, then you might wish to ask them about a referral instead.
It can be very hard to convince your doctor that a diagnosis would be either relevant or necessary. The following are just some tips on how to present your case so that they can see both why you might have AS and why having a diagnosis could be helpful.
Ways to bring up the subject with your doctor
Make sure the diagnosis is the only thing you are seeing your doctor about. If you try and drop it into a consultation about another subject they may not address it fully. A good way to bring up the subject is to mention that you have been reading about autism/Asperger Syndrome and/or you have been in touch with the National Autistic Society.
To read more click here
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Symptoms : What Is Asperger Syndrome or Asperger's Disorder?
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Posted by Sylvia on Friday, April 30, 2004 (15:39:12)
Medical News Today 23/04/2004
By Barbara L. Kirby
Asperger Syndrome or (Asperger's Disorder) is a neurobiological disorder named after a Viennese physician, Hans Asperger, who in 1944 published a paper which described a pattern of behaviors in several young boys who had normal intelligence and language development, but who also exhibited autistic-like behaviors and marked deficiencies in social and communication skills.
In spite of the publication of his paper in the 1940's, it wasn't until 1994 that Asperger Syndrome was added to the DSM IV and only in the past few years has AS been recognized by professionals and parents.
Individuals with AS can exhibit a variety of characteristics and the disorder can range from mild to severe. Persons with AS show marked deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness.
They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues (body language) and very often the individual with AS has difficulty determining proper body space.
Often overly sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, and sights, the person with AS may prefer soft clothing, certain foods, and be bothered by sounds or lights no one else seems to hear or see. It's important to remember that the person with AS perceives the world very differently.
Therefore, many behaviors that seem odd or unusual are due to those neurological differences and not the result of intentional rudeness or bad behavior, and most certainly not the result of "improper parenting".
By definition, those with AS have a normal IQ and many individuals (although not all), exhibit exceptional skill or talent in a specific area.
Because of their high degree of functionality and their naiveté, those with AS are often viewed as eccentric or odd and can easily become victims of teasing and bullying.
While language development seems, on the surface, normal, individuals with AS often have deficits in pragmatics and prosody. Vocabularies may be extraordinarily rich and some children sound like "little professors." However, persons with AS can be extremely literal and have difficulty using language in a social context.
At this time there is a great deal of debate as to exactly where AS fits. It is presently described as an autism spectrum disorder and Uta Frith, in her book AUTISM AND ASPERGER'S SYNDROME, described AS individuals as "having a dash of Autism". Some professionals feel that AS is the same as High Functioning Autism, while others feel that it is better described as a Nonverbal Learning Disability.
AS shares many of the characteristics of PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder; Not otherwise specified), HFA, and NLD and because it was virtually unknown until a few years ago, many individuals either received an incorrect diagnosis or remained undiagnosed. For example, it is not at all uncommon for a child who was initially diagnosed with ADD or ADHD be re-diagnosed with AS.
In addition, some individuals who were originally diagnosed with HFA or PDD-NOS are now being given the AS diagnosis and many individuals have a dual diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism.
For your information, I've included below a copy of the DSM IV Description. In addition, I've also added a more down-to-earth description that was originally posted to the autism listserv.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) Description (p77)
A description provided by Lois Freisleben-Cook
Diagnostic Criteria For 299.80 Asperger's Disorder
A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
1. marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction
2. failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
3. a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g. by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
4. lack of social or emotional reciprocity
B. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
1. encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
2. apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
3. stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
4. persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning
D. There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years)
E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood
F. Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia
A More Down-to-Earth Description
by Lois Freisleben-Cook
I saw that someone posted the DSM IV criteria for Asperger's but I thought it might be good to provide a more down to earth description.
Asperger's Syndrome is a term used when a child or adult has some features of autism but may not have the full blown clinical picture. There is some disagreement about where it fits in the PDD spectrum.
A few people with Asperger's syndrome are very successful and until recently were not diagnosed with anything but were seen as brilliant, eccentric, absent minded, socially inept, and a little awkward physically.
Although the criteria state no significant delay in the development of language milestones, what you might see is a "different" way of using language.
A child may have a wonderful vocabulary and even demonstrate hyperlexia but not truly understand the nuances of language and have difficulty with language pragmatics.
Social pragmatics also tend be weak, leading the person to appear to be walking to the beat of a "different drum". Motor dyspraxia can be reflected in a tendency to be clumsy.
In social interaction, many people with Asperger's syndrome demonstrate gaze avoidance and may actually turn away at the same moment as greeting another.
The children I have known do desire interaction with others but have trouble knowing how to make it work. They are, however, able to learn social skills much like you or I would learn to play the piano.
There is a general impression that Asperger's syndrome carries with it superior intelligence and a tendency to become very interested in and preoccupied with a particular subject.
Often this preoccupation leads to a specific career at which the adult is very successful. At younger ages, one might see the child being a bit more rigid and apprehensive about changes or about adhering to routines. This can lead to a consideration of OCD but it is not the same phenomenon
Many of the weaknesses can be remediated with specific types of therapy aimed at teaching social and pragmatic skills. Anxiety leading to significant rigidity can be also treated medically. Although it is harder, adults with Asperger's can have relationships, families, happy and productive lives.
NOTE:
Lois Freisleben-Cook's description was originally a post to the bit.listserv.autism newsgroup/listserv . I thought it was an interesting explanation and included it on this site. A visitor recently pointed out that not all Asperger Syndrome children exhibit superior intelligence and felt that the post was somewhat misleading.
It is my understanding that the majority of children diagnosed with AS do have at least an I.Q. in the normal range and that many children do have I.Q.'s in the superior range. It is important that you take the time to read through several explanations of AS, many of which are available on O.A.S.I.S. In addition, use the bibliographies, the libraries, and those professionals working with you to further your knowledge about Asperger Syndrome.
note: Barbara L. Kirby
Founder of the OASIS Web site (www.aspergersyndrome.org)
Co-author of THE OASIS GUIDE TO ASPERGER SYNDROME (Crown, 2001)
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Symptoms : The Autism-Spectrum Quotient Test for Adults
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Posted by Sylvia on Friday, April 16, 2004 (20:07:59)
Psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen and his colleagues at Cambridge's Autism Research Centre have created the Autism-Spectrum Quotient, or AQ, as a measure of the extent of autistic traits in adults.
In the first major trial using the test, the average score in the control group was 16.4. Eighty percent of those diagnosed with autism or a related disorder scored 32 or higher.
The test is not a means for making a diagnosis, however, and many who score above 32 and even meet the diagnostic criteria for mild autism or Asperger's report no difficulty functioning in their everyday lives.
To take the test click here.
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Symptoms : Stereotypic (Self-Stimulatory) Behaviour
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Posted by sylvia on Saturday, January 17, 2004 (12:19:07)
Written by Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D.
Stereotypy or self-stimulatory behaviour refers to repetitive body movements or repetitive movement of objects. This behaviour is common in many individuals with developmental disabilities; however, it appears to be more common in autism.
In fact, if a person with another developmental disability exhibits a form of self-stimulatory behaviour, often the person is also labelled as having autistic characteristics.
Stereotypy can involve any one or all senses. We have listed the five major senses and some examples of stereotypy.
1. Visual Sense - Stereotypic behaviours: staring at lights, repetitive blinking, moving fingers in front of the eyes, hand-flapping.
2. Auditory Sense - Stereotypic behaviours: tapping ears, snapping fingers, making vocal sounds.
3. Tactile Sense - Stereotypic behaviours: rubbing the skin with one's hands or with another object, scratching.
4. Vestibular Sense - Stereotypic behaviours: rocking front to back, rocking side-to-side.
5. Taste Sense - Stereotypic behaviours:
placing body parts or objects in one's mouth, licking objects.
6. Smell Sense - Stereotypic behaviours:
smelling objects, sniffing people.
Researchers have suggested various reasons for why a person may engage in stereotypic behaviours. One set of theories suggests that these behaviours provide the person with sensory stimulation (i.e., the person's sense is hyposensitive).
Due to some dysfunctional system in the brain or periphery, the body craves stimulation; and thus, the person engages in these behaviours to excite or arouse the nervous system.
One specific theory states that these behaviours release beta-endorphins in the body (endogeneous opiate-like substances) and provides the person with some form of internal pleasure.
Another set of theories states that these behaviours are exhibited to calm a person (i.e., the person's sense is hypersensitive). That is, the environment is too stimulating and the person is in a state of sensory-overload.
As a result, the individual engages in these behaviours to block-out the over-stimulating environment; and his/her attention becomes focused inwardly.
Researchers have also shown that stereotypic behaviours interfere with attention and learning. Interestingly, these behaviours are often effective positive reinforcers if a person is allowed to engage in these behaviours after completing a task.
There are numerous ways to reduce or eliminate stereotypic behaviours, such as exercise as well as providing an individual with alternative, more socially-appropriate, forms of stimulation (e.g., chewing on a rubber tube rather than biting one's arm).
Drugs are also used to reduce these behaviours; however, it is not clear whether the drugs actually reduce the behaviours directly (e.g., providing internal arousal) or indirectly (e.g., slowing down one's overall motor movement).
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