Symptoms and Interventions -motor-planning-and-asd-.pdf

1. Autism Spectrum
Disorder: Peculiar
Characteristics
• Resistance to change, Insistence on
sameness
• Strong attachments to objects; Spins
objects
• Difficulty in mixing with others
• Throw Temper Tantrums
• Tend not to want to cuddle or be
cuddled
• Over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to
pain
• No fears of danger

2. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Sensory Processing
• Painfully sensitive to certain sounds, textures, tastes, and smells.
• Either too sensitive or less sensitive to sensory stimuli. Some have difficulty interpreting
sensory information.
• Some avoid being touched, a gentle touch for most, will hurt or shock children with
autism.
• Some are insensitive to pain, and fail to notice injuries.

3. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Emotions
• Take major emergencies lightly but become upset over minor disruption.
• Unemotional, but can be very emotional when things are important to them.
• May exaggerate the expression of certain emotions, when they express.
• Usually, have difficulty regulating their emotions. Will have verbal outburst,
usually in overwhelming environment.

4. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Communication
• Problem with all elements of language: Semantics, Syntax, and pragmatics
• Repeating statements that have been heard (echolalia)
• Inability to understand body language, tone of voice
• Few children with autism are mute

5. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Communication
cont’d
• Difficulty in sustaining a conversation.
• Tend to go on with their favorite subjects and do not give the other person a
chance to talk. No turn taking.
• People with autism might stand too close or too far from to the other person.
• Body language, facial expressions, and gestures do not match what they are
saying.

6. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Attention
• Trouble handling multiple stimuli of attention.
• Very narrow focused attention, can not keep up with more than
one thing at a time.
• Shifting attention is a slow process, usually involves pauses or
moments of delay.

7. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Productivity
• Great deal of variability among individuals with autism
• Some may never learn to talk and stay dependent throughout their lives.
• Others may do well in special supportive settings, working in a sheltered
environment.
• There are individuals with autism that are fully independent and function
fairly well.

8. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Interventions
Intensive Early Intervention: Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)-
• A highly structured program
• Focuses on language and life skills in the child’s natural environment.
• The methodology is behavioral with emphasis on small chunks
• Lots of rewards
• Implemented by specialized behavior therapists or special education teachers certified in
ABA
• Better results are when ABA is applied in collaboration with the regular education teacher
in an inclusive classroom

9. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Interventions
• Visual Support: Example,
• Picture Exchange Communication System (PEC) use of symbols and signs
instead of speech to support communication as presented in the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVFhNBDWRtw
• Augmentative and alternative communication such as sign language as
presented in the video Ava sings the ABC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izNjpkI3dJE , Heimerl, S. et al (2016)
P. 35 http://www.cdd.unm.edu/ecep

10. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Interventions
Motor Planning Training
• Motor actions are planned in advance of the intended goal. Example of
motor actions:
• •Gripping a spoon and avoiding an awkward hand position
• •Climbing in and out of a car seat
• •Putting on a jacket
In Children with autism such motor actions do not develop to become
spontaneous without intentional intensive training

11. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Interventions
Motor Planning Training
• Meaning and examples: PP. 4 – 12; pp. 38 - 41 Heimerl et al (2016) – pdf document
• Motor planning activities to improve sensory – motor coordination: pp. 44 – 63 Heimerl
et al (2016)
• Videos on Motor Planning Training: pp. 64 – 68 Heimerl et al (2016).
• Reference:
Heimerl, S.; Lopez, S.; Medlock, A.; McLaughlin, M. & Zafran,D. (2016). Understanding Motor
Planning Deficits in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
http://www.cdd.unm.edu/ecep

12. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Interventions
Biomedical Interventions
- Vitamins, e.g B12, Folic Acid
- Medications to control the
function of the nervous system
- Biomedical interventions are
prescribed when needed only and
only by medical doctors such as
Psychiatrists and Neurologists.