Deck 26: Special Topic: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Question 1

Autism is characterized by ________.

A) impaired communication skills
B) unusual patterns of behavior
C) poor social skills
D) all of the above

Answer 1

D

Question 2

A large percentage of the public believes that vaccines play a role in the development of autism. What information would you use to explain to a friend that there is no scientific evidence to suggest that vaccines cause autism? What resources might you use to support your explanation?

Answer 2

Possible answers include the following. (1) The suggestion of a link between autism and the MMR vaccine initially came from a 1998 paper, and most of the authors of that paper have since retracted the interpretation of such a link. Further, in 2010, the editors of the journal that published the paper fully retracted it from the published record.
(2) All data on the topic of vaccines and autism have been frequently reviewed by the Institute of Medicine, which concluded that there is no link between the MMR vaccine and autism and no link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism. Therefore, there is no reason to change childhood immunization schedules. You would use information from peer-reviewed research journals and reliable medical websites.

Question 3

Sandy could be very disruptive in her first-grade class. She sometimes would scream and use foul language when she was frustrated; she mostly kept her hands to her side while interacting with her friends in the playground; and she would stare right into the eyes of her teacher when he was explaining lessons. Her teacher, at his wit's end, complained to the principal that Sandy was autistic. Do you agree or disagree with the teacher? Explain your answer.

Answer 3

Every one of these complaints is different from those found in autism, but she may have some other disability.

Question 4

Which of these statements concerning autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is false?

A) ASDs affect girls more frequently than boys.
B) Symptoms typically appear by age 1 to 3 years.
C) They last a lifetime.
D) They can be associated with other medical conditions.

Question 5

Hypotheses for the cause of autism spectrum disorders include or have included in the past ________.

A) vaccinations
B) aberrant parenting
C) genetics
D) all of the above

Question 6

How could you ethically design a scientific study to determine whether mercury-containing vaccines cause ASD?

Question 7

What therapies can be used for individuals with ASDs?

Question 8

The most reliable diagnostic tool for autism spectrum disorders is ________.

A) neuroimaging
B) observation
C) genetic testing
D) the use of screening tests

Question 9

Describe some of the environmental risk factors associated with ASDs.

Question 10

Explain the two main types of studies that showed the genetic basis of ASDs.

Question 11

Which of the following is not one of the diagnostic criteria for ASDs?

A) impairments in social behavior
B) impairments in communication
C) aggressive behaviors
D) repetitive behaviors

Question 12

Which of the following is most likely to increase the risks of ASD?

A) poor parenting
B) exposure to environmental chemicals during pregnancy
C) vaccination with the MMR vaccine
D) all of the above

Question 13

This mercury-containing chemical was once found in vaccines and thought to cause autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

A) thiamin
B) thimerosol
C) PDD-NOS
D) thalidomide

Question 14

Normally, children cannot easily make understandable sentences until they are ________.

A) 8 months old
B) 12 months old
C) 24 months old
D) 36 months old

Question 15

Which of the following is most likely an accurate description of the genetic influences on ASD?

A) monozygotic
B) recessive, sex-linked
C) autosomal and epistatic
D) probably multi-genetic