Deck 32: Autism Spectrum Disorders

Question 1

Explain how neuroimaging brought new results to the study of ASDs,and why it is not yet recommended for use in the diagnosis of ASDs.

Answer 1

Neuroimaging helps to identify the structural and functional differences in the brains of those with ASDs.Many of these differences may develop during the prenatal period.Since people with ASDs use different cognitive strategies and different brain areas for information processing,imaging the brain during cognitive tasks holds great potential for the identification of ASDs.Despite the recent advancements in neuroimaging for ASDs,there are no reliable markers for these disorders; therefore neuroimaging is not yet recommended as a diagnostic tool.

Question 2

Describe some of the environmental risk factors associated with ASDs.

Answer 2

Potential answers include the uterine environment during pregnancy,complications during pregnancy and delivery,maternal exposure to thalidomide,and maternal development of rubella (German measles)during pregnancy.Vaccines have been discussed as a potential environmental trigger but there is no scientific evidence to support this theory.

Question 3

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

Answer 3

C

Question 4

How can autism be differentiated from Asperger syndrome?

A)Autism can involve failure to develop age-appropriate relationships with peers while children with Asperger syndrome do develop age-appropriate relationships with peers.
B)Children with autism may have no spoken language or delayed language development while children with Asperger syndrome have no clinically significant delay in speech development.
C)Children with Asperger syndrome may have repetitive patterns of behavior while those with autism do not.
D)Children with Asperger syndrome may lack the ability for imaginative play while those with autism do not.

Question 5

Explain the diagnostic criteria and symptoms used to distinguish between autism and Asperger syndrome.

Question 6

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

Question 7

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

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

Question 8

Autism is characterized by ________.

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

Question 9

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

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

Question 10

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

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

Question 11

A large percentage of the public believes that vaccines have 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?

Question 12

What therapies can be used for those with ASDs?

Question 13

Based on the information presented in this chapter,you can conclude that the genetic basis of autism spectrum disorders must follow a ________ pattern of inheritance.

A)dominant
B)recessive
C)sex-linked
D)none of the above

Question 14

Children who have an ASD in which they can speak at length about their favorite topics would be diagnosed with ________.

A)autism
B)Asperger syndrome
C)PDD-NOS
D)fragile X syndrome