EAC PRE-INTERNSHIP 2022

Autism
Spectrum
Disorder
Olivia Bernadette P. Reodique, OTRP
Diagnostic Criteria
according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction.

1. Deficit in socio-emotional reciprocity
2. Deficit in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social
interaction
3. Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding
relationships.
Diagnostic Criteria
according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

B. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, activities

1. Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects or
speech
2. Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or
ritualized patterns of verbal or nonverbal behavior
3. Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intenstity
or focus
4. Hyper- or hypoactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in
sensory aspect of the environment.
Diagnostic Criteria
according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

C. Symptoms must be present in early developmental period.

D. Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social,

occupational, or other important areas of current functioning.

E. Symptoms are not better explained by other developmental

disorders.
 Epidemiology
PREVALENCE
It is estimated that worldwide about
1 in 100 children has autism (WHO, 2022).

SEX DISTRIBUTION
4x more often in boys than in girls.
 Specifiers
Level 3:
"Requiring very substantial support"

Social communication:
Severe deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills
severe impairments in functioning
very limited initiation of social interactions
minimal response to social overtures from others

Restricted, repetitive behaviors:

extreme difficulty coping with change
markedly interfere with functioning in all spheres.
great distress/difficulty changing focus or actions
 Specifiers
Level 2:
"Requiring substantial support"

Social communication:
Marked deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills
social impairments apparent even with supports
limited initiation of social interactions
reduced or abnormal response to social overtures from others

Restricted, repetitive behaviors:

difficulty coping with change
appears frequently enough to be obvious to the casual observer
interfere with functioning in a variety of contexts
distress/difficulty changing focus or actions
 Specifiers
Level 1:
"Requiring support"

Social communication:
Without supports in place causes noticeable impairments
difficulty initiating social interaction
atypical/unsuccessful response to social overtures from others
may appear to have decreased interest in social interactions.

Restricted, repetitive behaviors:

significant interference with functioning in one or more contexts
difficulty switching between activities
problems of organization and planning hamper independence
 Childhood Autism
according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

Abnormal or impaired development in at least one of the following areas,

with onset prior to age 3:
receptive or expressive language as used in social communication
development of selective attachments or of reciprocal social interaction
functional or symbolic play
 Disorders included in
Autism Spectrum Disorder
according to International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10)

Atypical Autism
Criteria for autism except for age manifestation (at or after 3 years; ~3.9 years)
Criteria for autism except that it is unnecessary to meet the criteria for number of areas of
abnormality.
 Disorders included in
Autism Spectrum Disorder
according to International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10)

Rett's Syndrome
Apparently normal prenatal and perinatal period; and apparently normal psychomotor development
through the first 5 months and normal head circumference at birth.
Deceleration of head growth between 5 months and 4 years and loss of acquired purposeful hand
skills between 5 and 30 months of age that is associated with concurrent communication
dysfunction and impaired social interactions and appearance of poorly coordinated/unstable gait
and/or trunk movements.
Severe psychomotor retardation and stereotyped midline hand movements (hand-wringing or "hand
washing")
 Disorders included in
Autism Spectrum Disorder
according to International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10)

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

Apparently normal development for at least the first 2 years after birth as manifested by the
presence of age-appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication, social relationships, play, and
adaptive behavior.
 Disorders included in
Autism Spectrum Disorder
according to International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10)

Asperger's Syndrome
Criteria for autism except that it would be less usual to include either motor mannerisms or
preoccupations with part-objects or nonfunctional elements of play materials.
There is no clinically significant general delay in language, cognitive development or in the
development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction),
and curiosity about the environment in childhood.
Some Assessment Tools
Diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder - DSM-V
Childhood Autism Rating Scale
Sensory Profile
Short Sensory Profile
Sensory Integration and Praxis Test
Wee FIM (pediatrics)
Evaluation of Social Interaction
Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (POMPE-PEDI)
BEARS Sleep Screening Tool
Feeding Assessments
Intervention Focus
*STILL DEPENDS ON COLLABORATIVE GOAL

Sensory integration and regulation

Behavioral modification
Self-care activities
Safety and security
Social participation
 References
AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION. (2013). AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. DIAGNOSTIC
AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS (5TH ED.)
SADOCK, B. J., SADOCK, V. A., & RUIZ, P. (2015). KAPLAN & SADOCK'S SYNOPSIS OF
PSYCHIATRY: BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES/CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY (ELEVENTH EDITION.).
PHILADELPHIA: WOLTERS KLUWER.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. (2022, MARCH 30). AUTISM.
HTTPS://WWW.WHO.INT/NEWS-ROOM/FACT-SHEETS/DETAIL/AUTISM-SPECTRUM-
DISORDERS
Thank you!