Question

Autism Spectrum Disorders are among the most pervasive mental disorders of childhood. Children and adolescents diagnosed with the autism spectrum disorders possess impairments in social communication and interaction, as well as, restricted and/or repetitive patterns of behavior, interest, or activities. As a future professional in the field, you might seek a variety of resources to ensure that the child or adolescent, as a member of a vulnerable population, receives the most appropriate level of care for assessment and diagnosis.

For this Discussion, consider the criteria for a diagnosis of an Autism spectrum disorder within children and adolescents. Also, think about how symptoms of other childhood disorders might complicate a diagnosis of an Autism spectrum disorder.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post an explanation of the various criteria for a diagnosis of an Autism spectrum disorder. Then, explain how the symptoms of other childhood disorders might complicate a diagnosis of Autism spectrum disorder. Provide an example.

Answer 1

Criteria for diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder according to DSM V is as follows:-

A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction manifested as

1. Deficits in social emotional reciprocity I.e inability to converse,reduce sharing of intersts, emotions or affect ,fail to respond to social interactions.

2.Deficits in non verbal communicative behaviours used for social interaction. I e not maintaining eye contact, not able to use body language or communicate with gestures.

3. Deficits in developing,maintaining and understanding relationship.

B. Resticted , repetitive patterns of behavior,interests or activities as manifested by at least two of the following:

1. Stereotyped or repetative behaviours.

2. Insistence on sameness,adherence to routine,ritualised patterns of verbal and nonverbal behaviour

3. Highly resticted and fixed interest that are of abnormal intensity.

4. Hyper or hyporeactive to sensory inputs or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment.

C. Symptoms must be present in early developmental period

D. Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational or other important ares of current functioning.

Other childhood disorders that may complicate the diagnosis of autism are:-

Intellectual disability: child with autism may be considered to be intellectually disabled, or vice versa. To differentiate it can be kept in mind that children with intellectual disability lack intelligence but are good at social interaction and reciprocate to emotions,also do not show any stereotyped or restricted behaviours.

2.Language disorders or social communication disorder:- children with autism has poor communication skills which can be mistaken to be language or communication disorder ,but in these disorders children usually does not show other resticted interest and poor social reciprocity.

3. Retts syndrome: Disruption of social interaction may be observed during regressive phase of Retts syndrome,however social communication develops slowly after this period.

Slective mutism : may simulate to be autism but in children with selective mutism,early development is not typically disturbed. The child exhibit normal communication in certain situations and remains mute in selective situations.