Autism VIDEO: Autism Every Day edevents/autism_every_day.php edevents/autism_every_day.php.

AutismAutism

VIDEO: Autism Every DayVIDEO: Autism Every Day

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What is Autism?What is Autism?

Autism is a neurological disorder Autism is a neurological disorder that is categorized under the that is categorized under the umbrella of umbrella of Pervasive Development Pervasive Development DisordersDisorders

Characterized by Characterized by “severe and “severe and pervasive impairment in several pervasive impairment in several areas of development”areas of development”

Autism Society of AmericaAutism Society of America

Causes?Causes?

There is no single know cause for There is no single know cause for the development of autismthe development of autism

Generally accepted by the Generally accepted by the medical community…medical community…– brain structure and function is brain structure and function is

abnormal, as detected with the use abnormal, as detected with the use of neuroimagingof neuroimaging

Causes?Causes?

Researchers continue to investigate a Researchers continue to investigate a number of theories regarding causes number of theories regarding causes of autismof autism– Heredity; geneticHeredity; genetic– Problems during pregnancy and deliveryProblems during pregnancy and delivery– Viral infections and metabolic Viral infections and metabolic

imbalancesimbalances– Exposure to environmental toxinsExposure to environmental toxins– Vaccinations (MMR in particular)Vaccinations (MMR in particular)

Causes?Causes?

Autism does appear to occur Autism does appear to occur more frequently in individuals more frequently in individuals with certain medical conditionswith certain medical conditions– Fragile X syndromeFragile X syndrome– Tuberous sclerosisTuberous sclerosis– Congenital Rubella SyndromeCongenital Rubella Syndrome– Untreated Phenylketonuria (PKU)Untreated Phenylketonuria (PKU)

(ASA)(ASA)

PrevalencePrevalence

Autism is the most prevalent of the PDDAutism is the most prevalent of the PDD

According to the CDC, 2-6 individuals per According to the CDC, 2-6 individuals per 1000 have an autism spectrum disorder1000 have an autism spectrum disorder

In 2003 ~141,022 children were served In 2003 ~141,022 children were served under the autism classification for special under the autism classification for special education serviceseducation services

CDCCDC

1/166 children?1/166 children?

Oregon Oregon 1/120 children1/120 childrenMaine Maine 1/1381/138Indiana Indiana 1/1691/169Wisconsin Wisconsin 1/1961/196California California 1/227 1/227 New York New York 1/241 1/241 Illinois Illinois 1/280 1/280 Iowa Iowa 1/342 1/342 Colorado Colorado 1/5431/543

Hollenbeck, DF. Public Schools Autism Prevalence Report Series, http://www.fightingautism.org/idea/, 2004.

Other facts…Other facts…

Autism is four times more prevalent in Autism is four times more prevalent in malesmales

According to the US Department of According to the US Department of Education, autism rates are growing at Education, autism rates are growing at 10-17% per year 10-17% per year


The Debate…The Debate…

There is currently some debate There is currently some debate regarding the true increase in the regarding the true increase in the number of children born with autismnumber of children born with autism

Some researchers believe the Some researchers believe the drastic increase in prevalence may drastic increase in prevalence may be due to a broadened definition of be due to a broadened definition of the disorderthe disorder

(APA)(APA)

In 1980 when autism was first In 1980 when autism was first introduced as a diagnosis (DSM-III) introduced as a diagnosis (DSM-III) anyone with normal intelligence was anyone with normal intelligence was automatically disqualifiedautomatically disqualified

In 1994 (DSM-IV), the diagnosis included In 1994 (DSM-IV), the diagnosis included individuals with high intelligence but individuals with high intelligence but with significant impairments in the areas with significant impairments in the areas of:of:– CommunicationCommunication– Social interactionSocial interaction– Behavioral flexibilityBehavioral flexibility

Disorders Categorized Disorders Categorized Under PDDUnder PDD

1.1. Autistic DisorderAutistic Disorder

2.2. Asperger’s DisorderAsperger’s Disorder3.3. Childhood Disintegrative disorder Childhood Disintegrative disorder

(CDD)(CDD)

4.4. Rett’s DisorderRett’s Disorder5.5. PDD-Not Otherwise Specified PDD-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)(PDD-NOS)


Each of these disorders have Each of these disorders have specific diagnostic criteria that specific diagnostic criteria that have been outlined in the have been outlined in the American Psychological American Psychological Association’s Diagnostic and Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Disorders (DSM-IV-TR)(DSM-IV-TR)

AutismAutism

Autism is a spectrum disorderAutism is a spectrum disorder– may demonstrate any combination of may demonstrate any combination of

behaviors, or defining characteristics to behaviors, or defining characteristics to varying degrees varying degrees

Two children with the diagnosis of autism Two children with the diagnosis of autism may behave in a completely different may behave in a completely different manner and have varying capabilitiesmanner and have varying capabilities

(ASA)(ASA)

Sensory Integration Sensory Integration








Sensory IntegrationSensory Integration




























Autism – Sensory Autism – Sensory IntegrationIntegration Throws their senses “off” causing Throws their senses “off” causing

them to be over or under activethem to be over or under active

May experience things like seams or May experience things like seams or tags in clothing as painful tags in clothing as painful – Very sensitive to light touch Very sensitive to light touch (~ (~

Chiropractic?)Chiropractic?)

Sensitivities to smell, sounds, and light Sensitivities to smell, sounds, and light are also commonare also common

Autism – Common Autism – Common TraitsTraits Insistence on sameness; resistance to Insistence on sameness; resistance to

changechange Difficulty in expressing needsDifficulty in expressing needs Using gestures or pointing instead of Using gestures or pointing instead of

wordswords Repeating words or phrases in place of Repeating words or phrases in place of

normal languagenormal language Preference to being alone, aloof manner Preference to being alone, aloof manner TantrumsTantrums Difficulty mixing with othersDifficulty mixing with others

Not wanting to cuddle or be cuddledNot wanting to cuddle or be cuddled Little or no eye contactLittle or no eye contact Unresponsive to normal teaching methodsUnresponsive to normal teaching methods Sustained odd playSustained odd play Spinning objectsSpinning objects Obsessive attachment to objectsObsessive attachment to objects Apparent over/under sensitivity to painApparent over/under sensitivity to pain No real sense of fear or dangerNo real sense of fear or danger Noticeable extreme over or under activityNoticeable extreme over or under activity Uneven gross/fine motor skillsUneven gross/fine motor skills No response to verbal cues; acts as if deaf No response to verbal cues; acts as if deaf

although hearing tests in normal rangealthough hearing tests in normal range

Asperger’s SyndromeAsperger’s Syndrome

Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome share common characteristics:share common characteristics:– Deficits in non-verbal communication (facial Deficits in non-verbal communication (facial

expression, body language)expression, body language)– Preference for interacting with objects rather Preference for interacting with objects rather

than peersthan peers– Deep immersion in a single field of interest Deep immersion in a single field of interest – Strict adherence to a daily routineStrict adherence to a daily routine– Repetitive motions, such as hand flapping or Repetitive motions, such as hand flapping or

finger twistingfinger twisting(DSM-IV-R)(DSM-IV-R)


One aspect that differentiates One aspect that differentiates Asperger’s syndrome is Asperger’s syndrome is language language developmentdevelopment– Autistic children commonly demonstrate Autistic children commonly demonstrate

language delayslanguage delays– Children with Asperger’s syndrome often Children with Asperger’s syndrome often

grasp language quite quickly; sometimes grasp language quite quickly; sometimes advanced development for their age groupadvanced development for their age group

*Note, however, that they do not master *Note, however, that they do not master the usual give and take of conversation…the usual give and take of conversation…

(APA)(APA)


Tendency to talk exclusively and at Tendency to talk exclusively and at great length about their favorite great length about their favorite topicstopics– Dead presidentsDead presidents– MeteorologyMeteorology– Rain Man (the movie)Rain Man (the movie)

May develop an impressive May develop an impressive vocabularyvocabulary

(APA)(APA)

Myths & Myths & MisconceptionsMisconceptions

““Autistic children don’t make eye contact”Autistic children don’t make eye contact” Many autistic children do make eye contactMany autistic children do make eye contact

– perhaps less often or in a different mannerperhaps less often or in a different manner

““Autistic children don’t communicate”Autistic children don’t communicate” Communication skills may include the use Communication skills may include the use

of sign language, pictures, or some form of of sign language, pictures, or some form of functional language developed by the childfunctional language developed by the child

““Autistic children will grow out of it”Autistic children will grow out of it” Although symptoms may lessen as the Although symptoms may lessen as the

child grows, they never “outgrow” autismchild grows, they never “outgrow” autism (ASA)(ASA)

““Austistic children can’t love”Austistic children can’t love” Often they can and do show affection Often they can and do show affection

– in their own termsin their own terms It is not uncommon for them to It is not uncommon for them to

develop greater awareness and develop greater awareness and attachment to their families and other attachment to their families and other significant caregivers as they grow significant caregivers as they grow olderolder

(ASA)(ASA)

Autism and Autism and ChiropracticChiropractic

Everyone can benefit from Everyone can benefit from chiropractic care including those chiropractic care including those with pervasive developmental with pervasive developmental disordersdisorders

Theory:Theory: remove subluxation ~>allow full flow of remove subluxation ~>allow full flow of

nerve impulses ~>improved function nerve impulses ~>improved function (increased neurological integration)(increased neurological integration)

Aguilar AL, et al. Chiropractic Care Aguilar AL, et al. Chiropractic Care and Behavior in Autistic Chidren. and Behavior in Autistic Chidren. JCCP 2000; 5(1), 293-304.JCCP 2000; 5(1), 293-304.

multiple case study (26 children) multiple case study (26 children)

significant improvement in significant improvement in behavior under chiropractic care behavior under chiropractic care

changes in physiologic responses changes in physiologic responses were also notedwere also noted– decreased incidence of ear infections, decreased incidence of ear infections,

insomnia, enuresis, and incontinenceinsomnia, enuresis, and incontinence

Autism VIDEO: Autism Every Day edevents/autism_every_day.php edevents/autism_every_day.php.

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