Kaileigh Sweeney, SN University of Rhode Island Mentor: Carolyn Hames

Kaileigh Sweeney, SN
University of Rhode Island

Mentor: Carolyn Hames
 1/110 children in the US are diagnosed with an Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
 More common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes,
and pediatric AIDs combined
 Prevalence increasing 10-17% annually
 More common in boys

 A generalterm used to describe a group of
developmental disorders called Pervasive
Developmental Disorders (PDD).
 Wide spectrum of disorders
Mild to severe impairments

Low functioning to high functioning
Controversial terminology
Also known as:
 Severe end of the spectrum
 Extensive impairments in all areas of development
 Little or no language
 Little awareness
 “autism symptoms” are visibly apparent

 Mild end of the spectrum
 Intelligence level average or above average
 Impaired social skills

 Desire to communicate
 “don’t know how to go about it”
• Idiopathic:
– Multiple theories:
1) Genetics
2) Heredity
3) Inflammation of CNS
4) Exposure
• Environmental: maternal rubella or cytomegalovirus
• Chemical: thalidomide or valproate during pregnancy
• NOT CAUSED BY BAD PARENTING!

• Early Diagnoses promote positive outcome
• Symptoms noticed typically when child is 24-48 months
• No medical test
• Observed behavior
• Educational testing
• Psychological testing
• Modified Checklist of Autism in Toddlers (MCHAT)
– Other screening tools available for older children
• *from birth to 36months every child should be screened for

developmental milestones
• Valid for toddlers 16-30 months
• List of questions
• Answers determine need for referral to a developmental
specialist
– Developmental pediatrician
– Neurologist
– Psychiatrist
• Scoring: child requires follow up if
– Answered “No” to 2 or more critical questions or Answered “No” to
3 questions
Please fill out the following about how your child usually is. Please try to answer every question. If the behavior
is rare (e.g., you've seen it once or twice), please answer as if the child does not do it. (critical questions in red)
1. Does your child enjoy being swung, bounced on your knee, etc.? Yes No
2. Does your child take an interest in other children? Yes No
3. Does your child like climbing on things, such as up stairs? Yes No
4. Does your child enjoy playing peek-a-boo/hide-and-seek? Yes No
5. Does your child ever pretend, for example, to talk on the phone or take
care of a doll or Yes No
pretend other things?
6. Does your child ever use his/her index finger to point, to ask for something? Yes No
7. Does your child ever use his/her index finger to point, to indicate interest
in something? Yes No
8. Can your child play properly with small toys (e.g. cars or blocks) without just Yes No
mouthing, fiddling, or dropping them?
9. Does your child ever bring objects over to you (parent) to show you something? Yes No
10. Does your child look you in the eye for more than a second or two? Yes No
11. Does your child ever seem oversensitive to noise? (e.g., plugging ears) Yes No
12. Does your child smile in response to your face or your smile? Yes No
13. Does your child imitate you? (e.g., you make a face-will your child imitate it?) Yes No
14. Does your child respond to his/her name when you call? Yes No
15. If you point at a toy across the room, does your child look at it? Yes No
16. Does your child walk? Yes No
17. Does your child look at things you are looking at? Yes No
18. Does your child make unusual finger movements near his/her face? Yes No
19. Does your child try to attract your attention to his/her own activity? Yes No
20. Have you ever wondered if your child is deaf? Yes No
21. Does your child understand what people say? Yes No
22. Does your child sometimes stare at nothing or wander with no purpose? Yes No
23. Does your child look at your face to check your reaction when faced with Yes No
something unfamiliar?
Also known as:
 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
 Often called “high functioning autism”
 Most diagnoses made between 3-9 years
 Capable of functioning in everyday life
 Individuals Diagnosed have:

 Normal to advanced intelligence level
 Normal to advanced verbalization skills
 Severely Impaired Social Skills
• Scripted, robotic, or repetitive speech
• Inappropriate social interactions
• Conversations revolving around self
• Lack of “common sense”
• Problems with reading, math, or writing skills
• Obsessions with complex topics
• Average to below level non-verbal communicative skills
• Verbal cognitive skills are usually above average
• Awkward movements
• Odd behaviors/mannerisms
 Requires input from “healthcare team”
 Doctors, teachers, psychologist, therapist, parents
 Social skills training
 Alternative therapies
 Medications
- Antidepressants (social isolation)

 Pervasive Developmental Disorder
 Similar to autism
 Affects girls almost exclusively
 Early growth and development
 Followedby slowed growth and
development
 Prevalence: 1/10,000 children in the United States
 Severity Ranges from Mild to Severe
 Toe walking
 Lack of eye contact
 Hypotonia (weakened muscle tone)
 Difficulty interacting
with others
 Hand flapping
 Begins with normal
development
 Apraxia (loss of purposeful movements)
 NO CURE
 Physical therapy
 Motor skills
 Occupational therapy
 Life skills
 Speech therapy
 Splints
 Sensory therapy
 Medical interventions
 Antiepileptic
 Normal development until 3 to 4 years old
 Then children lose
 Language skills
 Motor skills
 Social skills
 Delay or lack of spoken language
 Impairment in non-verbal behaviors
 Inability to maintain conversation
 Lack of play
 Loss of motor, social, & communication skills
 Loss of bowel/bladder control

 Medication
 Behavior therapy
 Socialskills
 Speech therapy
 Physical therapy
 Obtain history
 Family history
 When did symptoms begin?
 Motor skills
 Language skills
 Personality
 Behavior
 Social skills/interactions
 Decrease stimulation
 Privateroom
 Avoid extraneous auditory and visual distractions
 Encourage comforting possessions (toys, blanket, etc) which
may decrease anxiety
 Minimize touching child
 Minimize eye contact
 NO CURE
 Parent education/training
 Specialized educational training
 Language therapy
 Social skills training
 Psychotherapy
 Cognitive/behavioral therapy
 Medications
 Varies from case to case based on severity and type of
autism.
 Some children improve with therapy and medication
management
 Learning about autism helps improve quality of living
for child diagnosed with autism and family members
 Each child requires individualized assessment &
treatment
 Not all children with ASD are the same
 EDUCATION
 Teach family members signs and symptoms
 Help parents understand it is NOT a result of “bad parenting
 Family Support
 Behavioral Modification Programs
 Medications
 Promote positive reinforcement
 Increase social awareness
 Teach verbal communication
skills
 Decrease unacceptable behavior
 *Providing a structured routine for the child to follow

is critical in management of ASD*
 Treat symptoms
 Hyperactivity
 Depression
 Anger
 Aggression
 Self-injurious behavior
 Children with autism may not have a typical response to
medication
 Monitoring Crucial
 lowest dose possible to be affective
 Stimulants
 Ritalin
 Decrease impulses and hyperactivity
 Antidepressants
 Valium, Ativan
 SSRIs:
 Zoloft,Prozac, Luvox
 Treat anxiety, depression, OCD
 Help decrease repetitive behaviors
 Improve eye contact
 Antipsychotics:
 Haldol, Risperdol, Zyprexa, Geodon
 Treat behavioral problems
 Decrease brains use of Dopamine
 Anticonvulsants:
 Tegretol,Lamictal, Topamax
 Monitor drug serum levels

Kaileigh Sweeney, SN University of Rhode Island Mentor: Carolyn Hames

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Kaileigh Sweeney, SN

University of Rhode Island

 More common in boys

Mild to severe impairments

 “autism symptoms” are visibly apparent

 Impaired social skills

• NOT CAUSED BY BAD PARENTING!

• Symptoms noticed typically when child is 24-48 months

• *from birth to 36months every child should be screened for

 Most diagnoses made between 3-9 years

 Capable of functioning in everyday life

 Individuals Diagnosed have:

- Antidepressants (social isolation)

 Lack of eye contact

 Hypotonia (weakened muscle tone)

 Begins with normal

 Inability to maintain conversation

 Loss of motor, social, & communication skills

 Loss of bowel/bladder control

 Specialized educational training

 Social skills training

 Teach verbal communication

 *Providing a structured routine for the child to follow

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