Cognitive Exceptionality

Autism / Down syndrome

Done by: Venice Gordon
ID # : SJ
 ICE BREAKER
(strips of paper will be place underneath some of the chairs. Persons will
be asked to feel below and answer or do the activities below)

1. What achievement are you proudest of so far this week?

2. Reveal something about yourself that others would be shocked to learn
3. What really made you laugh recently?
4. What would you most rather be doing right now?
5. What’s your favourite food of the season?
6. Where would you most like to go on vacation if money were no object?
7. What skills can you contribute to the team that may not be obvious to the rest of us?
 Introduction
The term cognitive exceptionalities refers to extreme scores on
intelligence tests—both very high and very low scores. Clinical
diagnoses of cognitive disabilities include autism, Down Syndrome,
traumatic brain injury (TBI), and even dementia. Less
severe cognitive conditions include attention deficit disorder (ADD),
dyslexia (difficulty reading), dyscalculia (difficulty with math), and
learning disabilities in general.
 Definition of autism
The Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) :Autism a range of neurodevelopmental
disorders predominantly characterized by impaired social functioning and
communication disturbances. Symptoms can include intense focus on one item,
unresponsiveness, lack of understanding social cues (like tone of voice or body
language), repetitive movements, or self-abusive behaviour like head-banging. The
severity of the symptoms varies widely among affected individuals. Other possible
symptoms include learning to speak relatively late, not playing interactively with
other children, avoidance of eye contact, lack of empathy, and social withdrawal.
Children with ASD who have not developed enough language skills may act out,
including screaming or crying, to express their needs. It is important to note that
people with ASD may vary widely in their level of functioning, and not all people
with ASD will experience all of the symptoms listed.
 Characteristics of autism

• The Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), commonly known as autism is

a disability in development that affects how a person communicates
and relates to people around them. Children and adults
with autism have difficulties with social interaction of everyday life.is
a complex, lifelong developmental disability that typically appears
during early childhood and can impact a person's social skills,
communication, relationships, and self-regulation.
 Symptoms of autism
• Babies lack development
• Abnormal Body Posturing or Facial
Expressions
• Abnormal Tone of Voice
• Avoidance of Eye Contact or Poor Eye
Contact
• Behavioural Disturbances
• Deficits in Language Comprehension
• Delay in Learning to Speak
• Flat or Monotonous Speech
• Inappropriate Social Interaction
• Intense Focus on One Topic
• Treatment for persons with autism
• The most effective
treatments available today are:
• applied behavioural analysis (ABA)
• occupational therapy
• speech therapy
• physical therapy,
• pharmacological therapy
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 Down syndrome

Down syndrome (DS), also called Trisomy 21, is a condition in which a

person is born with an extra chromosome. Chromosomes contain
hundreds, or even thousands, of genes. Genes carry the information that
determines your traits (features or characteristics passed on to you from
your parents). With Down syndrome, the extra chromosome causes
delays in the way a child develops, mentally and physically
Characteristics of Down Syndrome
Some common physical features of Down syndrome include:
• A flattened face, especially the bridge of the nose
• Almond-shaped eyes that slant up
• A short neck
• Small ears
• A tongue that tends to stick out of the mouth
• Tiny white spots on the iris (colored part) of the eye
• Small hands and feet
• A single line across the palm of the hand (palmar crease)
• Small pinky fingers that sometimes curve toward the thumb
• Poor muscle tone or loose joints
• Shorter in height as children and adults
 Physical Symptoms
Common physical signs of Down syndrome include:
• Decreased or poor muscle tone
• Short neck, with excess skin at the back of the neck
• Flattened facial profile and nose
• Small head, ears, and mouth
• Upward slanting eyes, often with a skin fold that comes out from the upper eyelid
and covers the inner corner of the eye
• White spots on the colored part of the eye (called Brush field spots)
• Wide, short hands with short fingers
• A single, deep, crease across the palm of the hand
• A deep groove between the first and second toes
Intellectual and Developmental Symptoms

Cognitive impairment, problems with thinking and learning, is common in

people with Down syndrome and usually ranges from mild to moderate.
Only rarely is Down syndrome associated with severe cognitive impairment.
• Other common cognitive and behavioral problems may include:
• Short attention span
• Poor judgment
• Impulsive behavior
• Slow learning
• Delayed language and speech development
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