Psychology presentation on autism and its range of spectrum

1. Presented by:
Sumiran Khatri
Department of Psychology

3. Autism is a neurodevelopment
disorder characterized by impaired social
interaction, impaired verbal and non-verbal
communication, and restricted and repetitive
behavior.

4.  Neurodevelopment disorder are a group of
disorders in which the development of the
central nervous system is disturbed.This can
include developmental brain dysfunctions
which can manifest as neuropsychiatric
problems or impaired motor functions ,
learning , language or non verbal
communications .

5.  It is a mental condition present from early
childhood .Usually diagnosed before 3 years
of age .
 It can be characterized by great difficulty in
communicating and forming relationships
with other people and in using language and
abstract concepts.
 Autism is a serious developmental disorder
that impairs the ability to communicate and
interact.

7. Due to a large spectrum of symptoms , skills, and levels of impairments it
is called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In may 2013 all the
mentioned disorders were fused under one umbrella under the new
DSM-5 Manual.
The word ‘spectrum’ describes the range of difficulties that people on
autism spectrum may experience and the degree to which they may be
affected .some are only mildly affected while others are severely
disabled.
 Autism Spectrum Disorder or social communication disorders include:
 Asperger syndrome (similar to autism but with normal language
development)
 Pervasive development disorder (PDD)(also called typical autism
 Childhood disintegrative disorder (Rare condition where a child learns
skills, then looses them by age 10)
 Rett Syndrome ( very different from autism, only in females)

9. ASPERGER
Asperger syndrome was generally
considered to be on the “high functioning”
end of the spectrum. Affected children and
adults have difficulty with social interactions
and exhibit a restricted range of interests
and/or repetitive behaviors. Motor
development may be delayed, leading to
clumsiness or uncoordinated motor
movements.
A major difference of asperger from autism
is that people with asperger have average or
above average intellect and have quite good
verbal skills although they may not
understand “ universal” cue .

10. Childhood
Disintegrative
Disorder
A childhood disintegrative disorder is a rare
condition characterized by late onset
of developmental delays—or stunning reversals—
in language, social function, and motor skills.
An apparent period of fairly normal development
is often noted before a regression in skills or a
series of regressions in skills.The age at which this
regression can occur varies, but typically after 3
years of normal development.The regression can
be so dramatic that the child may be aware of it,
and may in its beginning even ask, vocally, what is
happening to them. Some children describe or
appear to be reacting to hallucinations, but the
most obvious symptom is that skills apparently
attained are lost.

11. Rett’s
Disorder
Rett syndrome is a rare,
severe neurological disorder that
affects mostly girls. It's usually
discovered in the first two years
of life, and a child's diagnosis with
Rett syndrome can feel
overwhelming.
They slowly begin to loose
language , motor skiils ,slow
growth, small brain and other
difficulties such as problem
breathing.

12. PDD-NOS
PDD-NOS stands for Pervasive
Developmental Disorder-NotOtherwise
Specified. PDD-NOS was one of several
previously separate subtypes of autism that
were folded into the single diagnosis of
autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with the
publication of the DSM-5 diagnostic
manual in 2013.
In other words, it’s the diagnosis they use
for someone who has some but not all
characteristics of autism or who has
relatively mild symptoms.

17. 1. Social skills
A child with ASD has a hard time interacting with
others. He might want to have close
relationships but now know how. Usually these
symptoms are observed by 8 to 10 months
Some common symptoms may include :
• He cant respond to his name by his 1st birthday
• Playing , shareing , talking with others doesn’t
interest him
• He prefers to be alone
• He avoids physical contact
• He doesn’t understand emotions

18. 2. Communication
About 40% of kids with autism spectrum don’t
talk at all. And between 25% to 30% develop
some language skills but later on loose it . Some
may start talking later life .
• Delayed speech and language skills
• Flat robotic speaking voice or singsong voice
• Not using or rarely using common gestures like
pointing , waving and not responding to them.
• Echolalia
• Inability to stay on topic

19. 3. Behavior
• Repetitive behaviors such as hand flapping , rocking ,
jumping ,
• Constant moving or “hyper” behavior
• Fixations on certain activities
• Specific rituals and when they are changed even
slightly they get upset , onset of tantrums
• Not taking part in “make-believe “ play
• Fussy eating habits
• Lack of coordination , clumsiness
• Impulsivity
• Aggressive behavior , with self and others
• Short attention span .

22.  Doesn’t get startled or unfocused by loud
noises.
 Has hyper sensitivity of sight, hearing, touch,
smell or taste
 May stay away form physical contact because
it is overwhelming or too hard to handle.

23.  Autism may run in the family .
 Advanced age of mother or father increases chances of
autism .
 When a pregnant women is exposed to certain drugs ,
chemicals , then they can be exposed to autism .
 They include factors like alcohol, maternal metabolic
conditions such as obesity , diabetes , use of anti seizures
drugs during pregnancy which contains mercury .
 Prenatal viral infections has been called the principal non
genetic cause of ASD due to exposure to rubella or
cytomegalo virus activities in mothers immune response.
 Exactly why is not clear but its arises from abnormalities in
parts of brain that interpret sensory inputs and process
languages .

25. 1. Monitor your child's
development
2. Take actions if you are
concerned
3. Don’t accept a wait
and see approach
4. Trust your instincts

26.  Medicines are often used to treat behavior or emotion that people with autism
may have. Antipsychotic medicines such as haloperidol , risperidone and
thioridazine work by changing the effects of brain chemicals.They have been
shown to reduce signs such as :
 1. Aggression
 2. anxiety
 3. attention Problem
 4. Hyperactivity
 5. Irritability
 6. mood swings
 7. Sleep difficulties and many more…
But sometimes those drugs can have side effects such as sleepiness, tremors,
weight gains so they are used only after behavioral therapy fails to address the
problem .
 Stem cell therapy is a new effective approach to treating ASD and is based on
the unique ability of stem cells to influence metabolism , immune system and
restore damaged cells .

27.  Treatment is most successful
when it is applied towards the
child's needs. An experienced
team usually designs the
program for that particular child
need.Those programs include:
 Applied behavior analysis
 Medications depending on the
behavior
 Occupational therapy
 Physical therapy
 Speech-language therapy

28. 1. Temple Grandin
Diagnosed with autism in 1950’s .
Has a bachelors degree in
psychology , masters in animal
science and doctoral degree in
animal science . Professor at
Colorado State University and
bestselling authors .
2.Tito and Soma ( Mother and son)
Tito Mukhopadhayay is a published
and successful writer even after
being diagnosed with severe non-
verbal autism when he was 3.

29. THANKYOU