Michelle (SpoonieSisterShop) What is ASD?ASD stands for Autism Spectrum Disorder which is a neurodevelopmental disability. The term neurodevelopmental is defined as “relating to or involving the developmental of the nervous system.” (Oxford Languages) Neurodevelopmental disabilities, like autism, affect the development of one’s nervous system; and this results in abnormal brain function. This can include speech & language difficulties, motor skill challenges, behavioural differences, and cognitive impairments. Why Learn About ASD?According to the World Health Organization, the global prevalence of autism is 1 in 100 children. A study by Zeidan et al. states that this represents an increase in measured ASD prevalence worldwide. As such, it is important for individuals to better their knowledge of autism to help raise awareness. By raising awareness, one can help create safe communities for individuals on the spectrum. So, where to begin? Laura Porter / Verywell Autism Diagnosis CriteriaThe 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) lists two categories of symptoms for an autism diagnosis. In addition, it explains that an individual must present every symptom listed in category A, and a minimum of 2 out of the 4 listed symptoms in category B. The two categories are: · PERSISTENT DEFICITS IN SOCIAL COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL INTERACTION ACROSS CONTEXTS, NOT ACCOUNTED FOR BY GENERAL DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS [Category A] · RESTRICTED, REPETITIVE PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR, INTERESTS, OR ACTIVITIES [Category B] Category A features three distinct symptoms: 1. Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity 2. Deficits in non-verbal communicative behaviours used for social interaction 3. Deficits in developing and maintaining relationships Category B features the following symptoms: 1. Stereotyped or repetitive speech, motor movements, or use of objects 2. Excessive adherence to routines, ritualized patterns of verbal or non-verbal behaviour, or excessive resistance to change 3. Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus 4. Hyper‐or hypo‐reactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of environment Claire Jack (Psychology Today) Examples of ASD Manifestations To better understand how autism manifest itself in individuals, here are some examples of behaviours that fall under each DSM-V ASD symptom. Category A 1. Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity a. Lack of ‘proper’ greetings when initiating conversation [eg. no ‘hello’ before discussing a topic] b. No clear end to communication [eg. not saying goodbye] c. Lack of back-and-forth communication [eg. answering a question but not following up with another] d. Little to no sharing of emotions [prompted or unprompted] e. Not responding to their name 2. Deficits in non-verbal communicative behaviours a. Abnormalities in eye contact [eg. no eye contact or too much eye contact] b. Flat affect ie. lack of facial expressions c. Lack of hand gestures to indicate needs [eg. not pointing at an object when it is desired] d. Little to no use of purposeful body language [eg. many autistic individuals move their eyes around a lot during conversations which can be misinterpreted as ‘rolling their eyes’] e. Difficulty reading other people’s emotions 3. Deficits in developing and maintaining relationships a. Difficulties making friends resulting in smaller friend groups b. Difficulties participating in certain social contexts [eg. imaginative play as elementary aged kids] c. Presumed lack of interest in peers [eg. losing touch with people for long periods of time] d. Missing social cues [eg. not knowing when & how to respond to someone’s question to spare their feelings] e. Extreme levels of emotionality [eg. deep interest in one’s significant other] And more … Category B 1. Stereotyped or repetitive speech, motor movements, or use of objects a. Echolalia ie. pointless repetition of noises & phrases one hears [eg. saying a TV catchphrase multiple times throughout the day with no prompt] b. Stimming ie. repetitive motor movements that help one process stimuli [eg. hand flapping, rocking back & forth, head nodding] c. Use of very formal language in everyday parlance d. Atypical play with objects [eg. organizing toys by colour or size for entertainment] e. Repeat simple movements [eg. pacing] 2. Excessive adherence to routines, ritualized patterns of verbal or non-verbal behaviour, or excessive resistance to change a. Intense need for regularly scheduled activities [eg. morning/nighttime routines] b. Need for careful planning before events [eg. having a planned meeting place & time] c. Dislike for surprises d. Irregulated emotional responses to large life-changing events [eg. meltdowns during moves] e. Numerical patterns [eg. separating candies into specific number groups (like 5 per group)] 3. Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus a. Many autistic people have special interests which are topics in which they are intensely invested b. Common examples of special interests include: psychology, insects, animals, etc. c. These interests can be so intense that autistic people have seemingly no interest in other topics d. These interests are deemed highly restricted in that autistic people will often show a drastic positive change in behaviour when one of their interests is mentioned e. These interests are deemed fixated in that they are often very niche or specific [eg. a specific era of history like war times] 4. Hyper‐or hypo‐reactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of environment a. Many autistic people experience sensory issues wherein they are sensitive to certain stimuli [eg. feeling highly disturbed from touching certain textures like microfibers] b. On the other hand, some autistic people may be sensory seeking in that they crave more environmental stimuli [eg. having multiple forms of audio-visual stimuli on simultaneously (TV & phone)] c. Apparent indifference to some stimuli [eg. having a high pain threshold] d. Extreme levels of reactivity to temperature [eg. always feeling cold] e. Heightened senses [eg. hearing very quiet sounds] And more … Key Notes & RemindersIt is important to note that, while one must display signs of autism during childhood to be diagnosed, being late diagnosed does not mean they suddenly became autistic. All autistic people are born autistic, and thus their understanding & perception of our world is coloured by their disability from the start. It is also important to note that one’s support needs may change throughout one’s life. Regardless of the level of one’s support needs, they are always autistic; and it always hinders their life in one way or another. Also, as stated in its name, ASD is a spectrum disorder. This means that not all autistic individuals will experience autism in the same way. While they share distinctive traits of the diagnosis, the specific behaviours that result from their brain chemistry covers a wide range. For example, some people on the spectrum may have very adverse reactions to spicy food whereas others may consider some spicy foods as ‘safe foods.’ When learning about ASD, consider the voices of actually autistic individuals. Seek content that is created by people within the autistic community. This can include TikTok creators, blog writers, diagnosed researchers. For more information, we suggest visiting the following website: Embrace Autism Support If you are on the autism spectrum and are looking for support in Ontario, Canada, consider booking a consultation with Inner Oak Therapy. We offer the following services that could be beneficial: Child/Adolescent Therapy, and Individual Therapy. In addition, we provide Parent & Family Therapy that can help further support autistic individuals in multiple contexts including the home. AuthorWritten by Gabrielle Bulman Thomas
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