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    Advanced Understanding of Autism

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    Shanu Jud
    1. The document discusses the core clinical features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including difficulties with social communication and interaction and restrictive, repetitive behaviors and interests. 2. It addresses common misconceptions about ASD, such as the ideas that autism can be cured, its causes are fully known, and that it always involves intellectual disability. 3. The document explains that ASD can present differently in individuals, for example in levels of intelligence, social skills, interests, and between genders. Understanding these differences is important for supporting each person.

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    Advanced Understanding of Autism

    Uploaded by

    Shanu Jud
    13 views35 pages
    1. The document discusses the core clinical features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including difficulties with social communication and interaction and restrictive, repetitive behaviors and interests. 2. It addresses common misconceptions about ASD, such as the ideas that autism can be cured, its causes are fully known, and that it always involves intellectual disability. 3. The document explains that ASD can present differently in individuals, for example in levels of intelligence, social skills, interests, and between genders. Understanding these differences is important for supporting each person.

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    1. The document discusses the core clinical features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including difficulties with social communication and interaction and restrictive, repetitive behaviors and interests. 2. It addresses common misconceptions about ASD, such as the ideas that autism can be cured, its causes are fully known, and that it always involves intellectual disability. 3. The document explains that ASD can present differently in individuals, for example in levels of intelligence, social skills, interests, and between genders. Understanding these differences is important for supporting each person.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    13 views35 pages

    Advanced Understanding of Autism

    Uploaded by

    Shanu Jud
    1. The document discusses the core clinical features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including difficulties with social communication and interaction and restrictive, repetitive behaviors and interests. 2. It addresses common misconceptions about ASD, such as the ideas that autism can be cured, its causes are fully known, and that it always involves intellectual disability. 3. The document explains that ASD can present differently in individuals, for example in levels of intelligence, social skills, interests, and between genders. Understanding these differences is important for supporting each person.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 35

    Advanced Understanding

    of Autism
    Core Session
    Learning objectives

    1. To leave with an understanding of the clinical features of autism spectrum


    disorder

    2. To consider the concept of ASD – learn about common misconceptions to


    do with autism

    3. To have a better understanding of how these clinical features can present


    in different young people (e.g. thinking styles, approaches, gender) and
    identify the positives
    A comment on language

    - Adapt your language depending on your audience.


    - Professionals might use the term Autism Spectrum Disorder, but young people and families might not.
    - Some people find ASD or the use of acronyms offensive.
    - Some people think the term disorder is offensive.
    - Some people prefer person with autism, others prefer autistic person.

    - KEY – ask the person you are talking to what their preference of language is.

    - There is a session on language and communication on day 4.


    Part 1: Core Clinical Features of
    Autism
    Understanding the Core Clinical Features of ASD

    Focus of this Section:

    What is ASD : to develop current understanding of features and clinical presentation of


    ASD.

    Purpose of this section: to encourage staff to think about:

    • the defining and key features associated with ASD;


    • holding in mind individual differences in presentation
    GROUP DISCUSSION
    Brainstorming Key Features About ASD
    Key Criteria for Diagnosis of ASD

    Social Communication + Interaction

    Clinical
    Descriptors

    Click to add text


    Repetitive Behaviour + Interests
    Additional Symptoms and Behaviours linked with ASD
    Pause + Check In

    • Any questions about delivery of this section?


    Part 2: Concept of ASD
    Myth busting

    Autism can be cured

    True
    False
    Unsure
    Myth busting

    − Autism can be cured


    − False! Autism Spectrum Disorder is not an illness or a disease and as such it cannot be “cured”.

    − The right support at the right time can make an enormous difference to people’s lives.

    − Cure vs. Understanding & supportive strategies

    − Should it be called a disorder, a condition, or a difference?


    − Neurodiversity is a concept in which neurological differences should be as respected and recognised as any other difference.
    Myth busting

    We know exactly what causes autism

    True
    False
    Unsure
    Myth busting
    − We know exactly what causes autism
    − False!

    − What do we know about the causes of autism spectrum disorder


    − Multiple factors likely account for changes in brain development
    − Clear genetic component
    − Underlying medical conditions ~10-15% of cases (e.g. Fragile X syndrome; Tuberous sclerosis)
    − Exposure to a specific environmental trigger when genetic vulnerability is present, for example:
    − mother having a viral or bacterial infection during pregnancy
    − air pollution
    − pesticides
    Myth busting

    Autism has become more common

    True
    False
    Unsure
    Myth busting
    − Autism has become more common
    − Mixed!
    − The number of people receiving a diagnosis has increased.
    − There is no definitive evidence that autism has actually become more common.
    − 1 in a 100 individuals have ASD.

    − What might explain the apparent rise?


    − Awareness - Broader definition to ASD

    − Diagnostic services - Methodologically rigorous studies

    − Inclusion of children with average IQ - Change in criteria regarding comorbidity

    − Unknown environmental or gene-environment factors


    Myth busting

    Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism are the same thing

    True
    False
    Unsure
    Myth busting

    − Asperger’s Syndrome and autism are the same thing


    − True!
    − DSM-IV: Asperger Syndrome and Autistic Disorder separate diagnoses under category of
    pervasive developmental disorders
    − DSM-5: One label of ASD (will be same in ICD-11).
    − Diagnostic difference was dependent on presence or absence of language delay
    − Some autistic individuals identify as “Aspies”
    Myth busting

    People with autism always have an intellectual disability

    True
    False
    Unsure
    Myth busting

    − People with autism always have an intellectual disability


    − False!
    − Around 4 in 10 autistic people have an intellectual disability.
    Myth busting

    Autism is a mental health problem

    True
    False
    Unsure
    Myth busting

    − Autism is a mental health problem


    − False!
    − Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder.
    − Autistic individuals are at increased risk of mental health problems.
    GROUP DISCUSSION: Any other information/thoughts/beliefs
    you want to check out?
    Part 3: Different Autism Presentations
    Intelligence and Autism

    − Intellectual Disability: impaired adaptive skills and cognition (reasoning ability) in


    comparison to same age peers
    − Autism: a wide range of cognitive abilities/reasoning skills is seen in autistic people,
    though
    − adaptive skills are typically lower than expected (especially in average to high IQ young people)
    − People with intellectual disability are more likely to have autism than typically developing
    young people (for example because of higher rates of epilepsy)
    Transdiagnostic Features / Dimensions

    − What do we mean by this? These are differences many autistic people show that are also
    seen in other conditions
    − such as anxiety (GAD, OCD), depression, eating disorders, ADHD.
    − Purpose of this section: to encourage you to consider consider the different presentations
    of autistic young people you have met and relate this to your existing knowledge

    ACTIVITY
    Unmute and call out any features that are seen in autism and other conditions
    Transdiagnostic Features / Dimensions
    Anxiety / Worry
    Anxiety / Worry Anxiety / Worry
    Repetitive Intolerance
    Prone to Thinking of
    Avoidance
    Depression Uncertainty
    Depression
    Eating Disorder

    Preference
    Cognitive
    ASD
    for
    sameness Rigidity
    (‘control’)
    Eating Disorder Depression
    Anxiety / Worry

    Immature
    ADHD Struggle to
    ADHD or poor access
    emotion Sensory others’
    regulation differences perspective

    Eating Disorder Depression


    Different Presentations in Young People

    Additional traits to consider in young people with ASD:


    Socially disinterested versus socially orientated / motivated
    Rarely taking responsibility versus prone to taking all responsibility
    (link to experience of guilt)
    Appears uncaring, versus Shows some types of empathy and
    insensitive to others sensitivity to others

    Poor generativity (of ideas) versus Able to generate ideas more easily
    Gender and ASD

    'Traditional’ Autism ‘Female Autism’

    • Poor social skills • Better ‘surface level’ social skills

    • Externalising / Behaviour problems • Effortful ‘masking’ of difficulties;


    from young age emotional difficulties more visible

    • Limited or no friendships • Trying to fit in (‘camouflage’)

    • Atypical interests • More typical interests, but higher


    BOYS GIRLS
    intensity
    Different Presentations in Young People

    − An individualised understanding of the diagnostic and trans-diagnostic parts


    of a young person’s presentation is essential for:
    − Understanding / formulation
    − Adapting communication / interactions
    − Adapting interventions
    − The specific constellation of features a young person has will impact on their
    difficulties (and strengths)
    GROUP DISCUSSION: STRENGTHS
    OF ASD
    Strengths of ASD

    − Honesty​
    − Passions and interests​​
    − Detail-oriented​​
    − May have a very good memory​​
    − Typically punctual and follow a schedule​​
    − Often rule-bound and won’t break laws ​
    − Can be especially gifted in certain areas ​
    − Perseverance ​
    − May be good at visual thinking ​
    − Rarely have “hidden agendas”

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