Autism Presentation Vanessa Mae Carzon & Sarah Jane Calub Neuroanatomy & Physiology Dominican University of California

1. Autism
Vanessa Mae Carzon & Sarah Jane Calub

2. Description
Autism is a term for a group of complex
disorders of brain development, and falls
under the umbrella of pervasive
developmental disorders (PDD). It is
characterized by difficulties in social
interaction, verbal and nonverbal
communication, repetitive behaviors,
intellectual disabilities, and difficulties
with motor coordination and attention.
Autism: the Mu
sical (2008)

3. Background
Term coined by Swiss psychiatrist Eugene Bleuler in 1912, when he
wrote about it in The American Journal of Insanity.
Bleuler thought it was another form of schizophrenia.
Austrian-American psychiatrist, Dr. Leo Kanner, was the first to
recognize autism as its own unique mental disorder.
Scientist and pediatrician, Dr. Hans Asperger defined Asperger
Syndrome, a specific type of high functioning autism, in 1944.
Austrian-American writer and child psychologist, Dr. Bruno
Bettelhiem, developed a theory of “refrigerator mothers” in 1967.

4. Demographics
1 in 110 American children have autism, a
600% increase over the past two decades.
It is three to four times more common in
boys than in girls.
About 1 out of 70 boys is diagnosed with
autism in the U.S.
The disorder is often seen in identical twins.
If one twin has autism, the other has a
63-98% chance to have autism as well.
For dizygotic twins, the chance is
between 0-10%
For siblings, 3%

5. Signs and Symptoms
Impairment in social interaction
Nonverbal behaviors
Failure to develop peer relationships
Lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interest, or achievements
with others
Impairments in communication
Lack of or delay in spoken language
Inability to sustain conversation with others
Stereotyped or repetitive use of language
PECS
Restricted, repetitive & stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities
Hand or finger flapping or twisting or complex whole-body movements
Delays or abnormal functioning in symbolic or imaginative play

6. Biological Signs
Enlarged portions of autistic
brain
Several abnormal genes
identified, including ones that
may alter brain architecture
Genes may interact with
Research establishes potential biomarkers in Autistic brain
environmental factors utilizing Structural MRI
Major brain areas implicated in Autism: cerebellum, cerebral cortex,
temporal lobe, amygdala

7. Neurobiology
Now commonly believed to be caused by widespread abnormalities in
brain structure and function that occur prenatally and in early life
Neurodevelopmental trajectory is altered:
Cell migration
Formation of neural networks
Neurotransmitter systems fail to perform optimally
Communication between neurons may be impaired
Net result is an overall lack of coordination of sensory, motor, cognitive,
language, and other functions resulting in major impairments in behavior
and development

8. Brain Overgrowth
Related to an acceleration of brain growth during first 2
years of life (which then slows and declines)
Suggests pervasive, rather than regionally specific
abnormality
Leads to ineffective processing and connectivity
Symptoms of autism not recognized until 2nd or 3rd year of
because higher-level functions (such as language and more
complex social interaction skills - that require integration) do
not emerge until the 2nd or 3rd year of life

9. Poor Sensory Integration
“Whole brain integration
deficit”
Integration of sensory info
requires synchronization of
multiple brain areas
As processing load increases
and working memory or
shifting in attention is needed,
breakdown becomes
exacerbated
Natasha Aldred Illustration “Autistic Brain”

10. Role of the Frontal Lobe
Presence of stereotypical behaviors may be
associated with difficulty with executive
functions and inflexibility

11. Role of the Amygdala
Structural Differences Functional Differences
Larger amygdalae in autistic Larger amygdala means
children than in neurotypical increased anxiety, poorer social
children and communication skills
Early dysfunction related to other
In adolescents and adults,
symptoms (processing emotions,
amygdalae appear to be same size
distinguishing faces,
or smaller
understanding social stimuli)

12. Diagnosis
No specific test
Usually, parents are concerned with child’s development
and physicians perform a psychiatric exam to rule out
schizophrenia, mutism, or mental retardation
DSM-IV criteria

13. Treatment/Prognosis
No cure for Autism (although many claims have been made)
Early intervention strategies (i.e., Sensory integration therapy)
ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) Therapy to correct behaviors
Referred to special support services (OT, PT, speech, etc.)
Special education
Health considerations (Leaky Gut, food allergies, GI issues, GFCF diet)
ABA Therapy Hippotherapy Son-Rise Program GFCF diet

14. Case Study #1
Temple Grandin
born Aug. 29, 1947
High-functioning Autism
Diagnosed with mental retardation at
age 2; Began talking at age 4
“Nerdy kid” who was teased
throughout middle and high school
Hypersensitivity to noise and other
sensory stimuli
Invented the “squeeze box” at age 18
Primarily a visual thinker; words are
her second language
Must wear clothes that counteract
sensory integration dysfunction
Structured lifestyle to avoid sensory
overload

15. Case Study #2
Billy, aged 27, with low-functioning Autism
Dx at age 4
His family took care of him until he was 21, at which age he entered a
group home.
Billy was very sensitive to the environment around him (i.e. If everyone
was calm, he was calm; if someone was anxious or aggressive, he too
became anxious and aggressive)
Rather than being agitated toward staff members or other residents, Billy
would exhibit self-stimulatory behaviors.
Calming him down often meant removing him from the environment.
Severe reactions occurred at least once a day.
REI recording was used to calm Billy down when he was most agitated,
which was usually in the afternoon.

16. References
Neuroscience For Kids - Autism. (n.d.). UW Faculty Web Server. Retrieved November 17, 2011, from http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/
aut.html
Autism Case Study for low functioning autism, anxiety, self-injurious behaviors. (n.d.). Welcome To The Strong Institute. Retrieved November 17,
2011, from http://www.stronginstitute.com/blog/autism-case-study-for-low-functioning-autism-anxiety-self-injurious-behaviors.html
DSM-IV Criteria for Diagnosing Autism. (n.d.). Autism Watch. Retrieved November 17, 2011, from http://www.autism-watch.org/general/
dsm.shtml
Hauser, M. (2010, April 29). Temple Grandin - The 2010 TIME 100 - TIME. Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech
Reviews - TIME.com. Retrieved November 17, 2011, from http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/
0,28804,1984685_1984949_1985222,00.html
History Of Autism Pioneers | History of Autism. (n.d.). History of Autism. Retrieved November 17, 2011, from http://www.historyofautism.com/
history-of-autism-pioneers.html
Rapin, I., & Tuchman, R. (2008). Autism: definition, neurobiology, screening, diagnosis. Pediatric Clinics Of North America, 55(5), 1129-1146.
What is Autism? | Autism Speaks. (n.d.). Home | Autism Speaks. Retrieved November 17, 2011, from http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism