Lecture on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Introduction

• Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder.
• Characterized by:
  • Difficulties in social communication.
  • Restricted interests and activities.
• Recognized early in childhood.
• Known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) reflecting variation in symptoms and severity.

Core Diagnostic Criteria

• Difficulties in social communication
  • Verbal and nonverbal communication affected.
  • Delays in speech development common.
  • Difficulty understanding non-verbal cues like body language and facial expressions.
  • Trouble with sarcasm, context, and vocal intonation.
  • Difficulty with social rules (e.g., greetings, turn-taking).
  • Feelings of loneliness/isolation despite desire for relationships.
• Restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities
  • Need for sameness and routines.
  • Specific fixations (e.g., re-watching the same movie).
  • Stereotyped movements (e.g., hand flapping).
  • May include self-injurious behavior.
• Additional signs:
  • Sensory perception disturbances.
  • Motor signs (e.g., poor coordination).
  • Occasionally savant abilities.

Diagnosis

• Both core criteria must be present from early childhood.
• Historical distinctions (e.g., Asperger's) removed in DSM-5.

Prevalence and Causes

• Prevalence: 0.1% - 2%.
• Increasing due to better diagnosis awareness.
• Highly heritable with some genetic links.
• More common in boys.
• No link to vaccines.

Development and Prognosis

• Chronic, persistent course.
• Wide variability in impairment.
• Natural lessening of symptoms over time in some cases.

Treatment

• Behavioral training for adaptive skills.
• Speech and language therapy.
• Individualized education programs.
• Medications for comorbid conditions, not core symptoms.

Conclusion

• ASD features an autistic aloneness and insistence on sameness.
• Severity varies widely, emphasizing the spectrum nature.
• Neurodiversity perspective emphasizes differences, not just disability.

Additional Resources

• Consider further learning with books like "Memorable Psychiatry."

Note

These notes are a summary of key points from a lecture on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), covering diagnostic criteria, symptoms, prevalence, treatment, and considerations for understanding and supporting individuals with ASD.