autism spectrum disorder and types of autism

This slide share highlights information about autism spectrum disorder. Types, Early signs, characteristics, therapies are explained .

1. Dr.Harpal Kaur (Associate Professor) Akal College of Education Mastuana Sahib(Sangrur)

2. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. It is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain.  Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first 2 years of life.

3. Kanner's Syndrome. ... Asperger's Syndrome. ... Rett Syndrome. ... Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD) ... Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)

4. Asperger’s syndrome It is a term sometimes used to describe a developmental disorder that’s part of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). People who have this type of ASD tend to have a hard time relating to others socially. They usually stick to a very specific routine, have a narrow set of interests, and act in repetitive ways such as flapping their hands.

5. People with Asperger’s syndrome may:  Have trouble in making eye contact Social difficulties like f eeling and acting awkward in social settings Have trouble responding to people in conversation Miss social cues that other people find obvious Struggle to read body language Don’t understand what facial expressions mean Show few emotions Speak in a flat, robotic tone Obsession with a topic like Repeat words, phrases, or movements Dislike change Keep the same schedule and habits, such as eating the same meals Clumsiness Strong verbal skills Hypersensitivity

6. Childhood disintegrative disorder.   This was the rarest and most severe part of the spectrum. It described children who develop normally and then quickly lose many social, language, and mental skills, usually between ages 2 and 4. Symptoms may begin with unexplained changes in behaviour , e.g. anxiety, agitation, or unprovoked anger. The loss of previously acquired skills may be before age 10 in two or more of the following areas: expressive or receptive language social skills or adaptive behavior bladder or bowel control play motor skills Behavioural changes are normally followed by a loss in motor, social and communication skills. Often, these children also developed a seizure   disorder It can cause changes in behavior, movements, feelings and levels of consciousness. Having two or more seizures at least 24 hours apart that don't have a known cause is considered to be epilepsy.

7. Pervasive Development Disorder Repetitive body movements Difficulty in change in routine or surroundings Different mode of playing with toys Difficulty in relating people, objects and events Problems with understanding and using language limited social skills responding unusually to sensory input, such as loud noises or bright lights Speech and behavior may vary between each child. Some may have limited speech, and others may not speak at all. Others may have language development similar to same-age peers.

8. Rett Syndrome Rett Syndrome Children with Rett syndrome often have behaviors similar to autism, and experts used to group it among spectrum disorders.  Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neurological disorder that occurs almost exclusively in girls, more rarely in boys, and leads to severe impairments, affecting nearly every aspect of the child's life: their ability to speak, walk, eat, and even breathe easily.

9. Autism Spectrum Disorder begins before the age of 3 years and can last throughout a person’s life, although symptoms may improve over time. Some children show ASD symptoms within the first 12 months of life. In others, symptoms may not show up until 24 months of age or later. Some children with ASD gain new skills and meet developmental milestones until around 18 to 24 months of age, and then they stop gaining new skills or lose the skills they once had.

10. SOME KEY FACTS ABOUT AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

11. Autism spectrum disorder affects 1 in 36 children in U.S.A. According to Mehndi, S. (2022) In India, every 1 in 100 children below the age of 10 has autism.  Boys are nearly 5 times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with ASD.  Autism spectrum disorder is one of the fastest-growing developmental disorders in the United States. Autism spectrum disorder affects all nationalities, all creeds, all religions, all races and both sexes. It doesn’t differentiate or affect only one group. Early identification, treatment, and support matters. Many important outcomes for children's lives are significantly improved with early intervention and treatment. Early behavior-based interventions have positive effects on some children with autism spectrum disorder. There is currently no medical detection blood test or cure for autism spectrum disorder. Parents do not and cannot cause autism spectrum disorder. Although the multiple causes of ASD are not known, it is known that parental behavior before, during, and after pregnancy does not cause ASD.

12. Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder have difficulties with communication. Autism spectrum disorder does not get worse with age. Being nonverbal at age 4 does not mean that a child with autism will never speak. Research shows that most will learn to use words and nearly half will learn to speak fluently. 12. Children and adults with autism spectrum disorder often care deeply but struggle to spontaneously develop empathic and socially connected typical behavior. 13. Co-occurring medical conditions in autism spectrum disorder are common and may include allergies, asthma, epilepsy, digestive disorders, feeding disorders, sleep disorders, sensory integration dysfunction, cognitive impairments, and other medical disorders. 14. Children and teens with autism often have lower bone density than their peers. 15. Up to a third of people with autism spectrum disorder also develop seizure disorders—the rate of seizures in people with ASD is 10 times higher than in the general population. 16. About 10% of people with autism spectrum disorder also have another genetic, neurological, or metabolic disorder.

13. 17 . Each person with autism spectrum disorder is a unique individual; people with ASD differ as much from one another as do all people. Children and adults with ASD may speak or interact with others. They may have good eye contact. They may be verbal or non-verbal. They may be very bright, of average intelligence or have cognitive deficits. 18. Hyperlexia, the ability to read above one’s age or grade level in school, commonly accompanies autism spectrum disorder. 19. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder may be very creative and find a passion and talent for music, theater, art, dance, and singing quite easily. 20. Children with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than typical children. Therefore, it is very important to teach them to swim and to keep an eye on children around water. 21. Many people with autism spectrum disorder have been found successfully living and working and contributing to the well-being of others in their local communities in advanced countries. This is most likely to happen when appropriate services are delivered during the child's educational years. 22. T here has been a 178 per cent rise in the prevalence of autism in the past 20 years.

14. STATUS OF PREVALENCE OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IN INDIA According to a report by  Economic Times HealthWorld , about 18 million people in India are diagnosed with autism. About 1 to 1.5 per cent of children aged two to nine years are diagnosed with ASD. (Source: Economic Times , Apr 02, 2023)

15. SYMPTOMS OF AUTISTIC PERSONS AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

16. PROBLEMS RELATED TO SOCIAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS

17. Examples of social communication and social interaction characteristics related to ASD can include Does not play simple interactive games like pat-a-cake by one year of age

18. Does not sing, dance, or act for you by five of age

19. Does not point to show you something interesting by 18 months of age

20. Difficulties in adjusting behaviors to social situations People with ASD may also experience sleep problems and irritability.

21. People with ASD have behaviors or interests that can seem unusual.

22. Flaps hands, rocks body, or spins self in circles

23. Repeats words or phrases over and over (called echolalia)

24. Has unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel

25. Sensitive to loud sounds Autistic child is focused on parts of objects

26. Lines up toys or other objects and gets upset when order is changed Plays with toys the same way every time

27. People on the autism spectrum also may have many strengths, including: Being able to learn things in detail and remember information for long periods of time Being strong visual and auditory learners Excelling in math, science, music, or art

28. TREATMENTS AND THERAPIES Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder should begin as soon as possible after diagnosis. Early treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder is important as proper care and services can reduce individuals’ difficulties while helping them build on their strengths and learn new skills. People with Autism Spectrum Disorder may face a wide range of issues, which means that there is no single best treatment for ASD. Working closely with a health care provider is an important part of finding the right combination of treatment and services.

29. MEDICATION A health care provider may prescribe medication to treat specific symptoms. With medication, a person with ASD may have fewer problems with: Irritability Aggression Repetitive behavior Hyperactivity Attention problems Anxiety and depression

30. Behavioral Management Therapy for Autism Behavior management therapy tries to reinforce wanted behaviors and reduce unwanted behaviors. It also suggests what caregivers can do before, during, after, and between episodes of problem behaviors. Behavioral therapy is often based on  applied behavior analysis (ABA) , a widely accepted approach that tracks a child's progress in improving his or her skills.

31. Positive Behavioral and Support (PBS) PBS aims to figure out why a child does a particular problem behavior. It works to change the environment, teach skills, and make other changes that make a correct behavior more positive for the child. This encourages the child to behave more appropriately. Pivotal Response Training (PRT) PRT takes place in the child's everyday environment. Its goal is to improve a few "pivotal" skills, such as motivation and taking initiative to communicate. These help the child to learn many other skills and deal with many situations. Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) EIBI provides individualized, behavioral instruction to very young children with ASD. It requires a large time commitment and provides one-on-one or small-group instruction. Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT) DTT teaches skills in a controlled, step-by-step way. The teacher uses positive feedback to encourage the child to use new skills.

32. Cognitive behavior therapy focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Together, the therapist, the person with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and/or the parents come up with specific goals for the course of therapy. Cognitive behavior therapy is structured into specific phases of treatment. However, it is also individualized to patients' strengths and weaknesses. Research shows that this therapy helps people with some types of ASD deal with anxiety. It can also help some people with autism cope with social situations and better recognize emotions. Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Autism

33. Research shows that early diagnosis of and interventions for autism are more likely to have major long-term positive effects on symptoms and later skills. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can sometimes be diagnosed in children before they are 2 years of age or sometime during age 2 years. Early Intervention for Autism

34. Research shows that many people with autism have difficulty with joint attention, which is the ability to share focus on an object or area with another person. Joint attention is important to communication and language learning. Joint attention therapy focuses on improving specific skills related to shared attention, such as: Pointing Showing Coordinating looks between a person and an object. Improvements from such treatments can last for years. Joint Attention Therapy for Autism

35. For different reasons, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may not get the nutrition they need for healthy growth and development. Some children with autism will only eat certain foods because of how the foods feel in their mouths. Other times, they might avoid eating foods because they associate them with stomach pain or discomfort. Some children are put on limited diets in hopes of reducing autism symptoms.

36. Nutritional Therapy for Autism It is important that parents and caregivers work with a nutrition specialist—such as a registered dietitian—or health care provider to design a meal plan for a person with autism, especially if they want to try a limited diet. Such providers can help to make sure the child is still getting all the nutrients he or she needs to grow into a healthy adult, even while on the special diet. For example, many children with ASD are on gluten-free or casein-free diets. ( Gluten  and  casein  are types of proteins found in wheat and milk products, respectively.) Good Nutrition Is Important Research shows that children with autism tend to have thinner bones than children without autism. Restricting access to bone-building foods, such as dairy products, can make it even harder for their bones to grow strong. Working with a health care provider can help ensure that children who are on special diets still get the bone-building and other nutrients they need. Digestive Problems in ASD Some people with autism also have digestive problems, such as constipation, abdominal (belly) pain, or vomiting. Some research suggests that digestive problems occur more often in people with autism than in people without autism, but research is still being done on this topic. Working with a health care provider can help ensure that a diet does not make digestive problems worse.

37. Occupational Therapy for Autism Occupational therapy helps people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) do everyday tasks by finding ways to work within and make the most of their needs, abilities, and interests. An occupational therapist might: Find a specially designed computer mouse and keyboard to ease communication Teach personal care skills such as getting dressed and eating Do many of the same types of activities that  physical therapists do.

38. Parent-Mediated Therapy in Autism In parent-mediated therapy, parents learn therapy techniques from professionals and provide specific therapies to their own child. This approach gives children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) consistent reinforcement and training throughout the day. Parents can also conduct some therapies with children who are at risk of autism but are too young to be diagnosed. Several types of therapies can be parent-mediated activities, including: Joint attention therapy Social communication therapy Behavioral therapy Studies suggest that parent-mediated therapies might be able to improve the child's communication skills and interactions with others. 

39. Physical Therapy for Autism Physical therapy includes activities and exercises that build motor skills and improve strength, posture, and balance. For example, this type of therapy aims to help a child build muscle control and strength so that he or she can play more easily with other children.

40. Social skills training teaches children the skills they need to interact with others. It includes repeating and reinforcing certain desired behaviors. The Children's Friendship Training intervention, for instance, helps elementary school-age children improve several social skills: Conversation Handling teasing Being a good sport Showing good host behavior during play dates Social Skills Training for Autism

41. Speech-Language Therapy for Autism Speech-language therapy can help people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) improve their abilities to communicate and interact with others. It can also include ways to improve social skills and social behaviors. For example, a child might learn how to make eye contact or to stand at a comfortable distance from another person. These skills make it a little easier to interact with others.

42. Speech-Language Therapy for Autism VERBAL COMMUNICATION This type of therapy can help some people improve their spoken or verbal skills, such as: Correctly naming people and things Better explaining feelings and emotions Using words and sentences better Improving the rate and rhythm of speech NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION Speech-language therapy can also teach nonverbal communication skills, such as: Using hand signals or sign language Using picture symbols to communicate (Picture Exchange Communication System)

43. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/signs.html https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/autism/conditioninfo/treatments https://www.massgeneral.org/children/autism/lurie-center/30-facts-to-know-about-autism-spectrum-disorder https://theprint.in/opinion/every-1-in-100-children-below-10-yrs-has-autism-in-india-the-epidemic-needs-better-care/898999/ https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/mental-health-aspergers-syndrome https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/childhood-disintegrative-disorder#symptoms