Autism

By Tagreed

contentintroduction

Previous studies

Relative between autism and cognitive

Causes of Autism

1- the major brain regions

Neurotransmitters-2

3 -Genetic causes

Autism’s therapy

Autism’s symptoms

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has diverse clinical manifestations, behavioral phenotypes, and developmental dimensions .

The range of autism severity in the three main domains.

social

communication

stereotyped behaviors is extensive.

introduction

cognitive level varies widely among individuals with autism. Cognition, symptom severity, and biological variables are thought to be the basis for subtyping in autism (Bolton et al., 1994; Fein et al., 1999).

Previous studies

Relative between autism and cognitive

Reports showed 70% with IQ below 70 (e.g. Bryson, Clark, & Smith, 1988)

A recent analysis of cognitive level in autism found correlations between overall cognitive level and social communicative functioning in preschool age children (Joseph, Tager-Flusberg, & Lord, 2002).

Discrepantly higher nonverbal abilities demonstrated significantly greater impairment in social functioning in school age but not in preschool-age children with autism (Joseph et al.,

2002).

Higher IQ measures, especially at older ages, were predictive of better progress in language, adaptive skills,

and school placement (Ben Itzchak & Zachor, 2006; Gillberg)

All patients with the diagnosis of autism should have a hearing evaluation before proceeding with any other evaluation.

The medical literature is replete with persons with hearing loss mistakenly diagnoses as having autism.

In addition to a hearing evaluation all children with impairment in their communication skills should undergo cognitive evaluation .

an electroencephalogram may be performed for patients in whom the suspicion of an epileptic form disorder is a concern .

Causes of Autism

1- the major brain regions

scientists have only recently been able to study the brain systematically.

computerized tomography (CT)

Computed tomography is a specialized form of X-ray, resulting in cross-sectional computerized images and occasionally 3Dimensional images of your head.

positron emission tomography (PET)

technique which produces a three-dimensional image or map of functional processes in the body.

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), A MRI scanner consists of a large and very strong magnet in which the patient lies. A radio wave antenna is used to send signals* to the body and then receive signals back. These returning signals are converted into pictures by a computer attached to the

scanner. .

single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

Various radioactive pharmaceuticals are injected into the blood and attach to targets in the brain’s gray matter for several hours. This allows researchers to image up to several hours after injection, yet study activity at the time of

injection.

The major brain regions that form the putative neural systems involved in the functions that are most impacted by the core features of autism.

Several brain regions have been implicated in social behavior through experimental animal studies

This includes

the cerebellum,

cerebral cortex

corpus callosum,

basal ganglia,

and brain stem.

Language function is distributed throughout several cortical and subcortical regions

Fore most for expressive language function is Broca’s area in the inferior frontal gyrus and portions of the supplementary motor cortex .

Wernicke’s area is essential for receptive language function ,

the superior temporal sulcus plays a role in both language processing and social attention .

the repetitive or stereotyped behaviors of autism share many similarities with the abnormal actions of obsessive-compulsive disorder that implicate regions such as the orbitofrontal cortex.

Other research is focusing on the role of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine.

Neurotransmitters-2

Many sciences have been suggested for this complex syndrome. Though it is associated with a high degree of heritability, specific genes have yet to be associated with autism

3 -Genetic causes

Genetic causes

chromosome 15 x chromosome chromosome 2

Sean Ennis is one of four research scientists that form the Irish Autism Genetics Collaboration (IAGC). Along with Professor Andrew Green, Sean’s collaborators include Professor Michael Gill and Dr Louise Gallagher of Trinity College Dublin

(TCD).

1-Autism on chromosome 2

Their research has provided evidence to support the role of Integrin Alpha 4 (ITGA4) as a candidate gene for autism.

The US based National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) established a partnership with the four National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The first phase of the project involved a genome scan, which highlighted several regions of interest.

focus on following up on regions of interest within the genome identified in phase I, by fine mapping linkage regions

The discovery of ITGA4 involvement in autism was achieved using both breakpoint analysis for a candidate region for autism on chromosome 2q31-q32 and further SNP analysis.

ITGA4 is involved in cell-adhesion and is expressed in the limbic brain, a region thought to be involved in the pathological process of autism .

Ennis said, “While we have known for some time that the chromosome 2q region is involved (in autism) and other studies have confirmed this,

the association of ITGA4 was an interesting and surprising finding”.

2-Autism on x chromosome

The X chromosome contains 1,098 genes, while the Y chromosome contains only 78.

One consequence is that boys have a higher incidence of mental retardation than girls. (Joseph, Dr Ian Jackson , 2002).

3-Autism on chromosome 15

Isodicentric chromosome 15 is the scientific name for a specific type of chromosome abnormality.

Individuals with isodicentric chromosome 15, or "idic(15)", have 47 chromosomes instead of the typical 46 chromosomes.

Most commonly, the region called 15q11-q13 is the portion of chromosome 15 duplicated .

duplications of Chromosome 15 diagnosed

The diagnosis of idic(15) is made through a blood test called a chromosome study, with FISH (Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization) confirming the diagnosis, by distinguishing idic(15) from other supernumerary marker chromosomes .

No pointing by one year.

No babbling by one year; no single words by 16 months .

no two-word phrases by 24 months

Any loss of language skills at any time

No pretend playing

Little interest in making friends

Extremely short attention span

No response when called by name; indifference to others

Little or no eye contact

repetative body movements, such as hand flapping, rockingIntense tantrums

Fixations on a single object, such as a spinning fan

Autism’s therapy

The first goal of therapy should be to improve functional communication

The purpose of speech-language therapy is to enhance intentional communication through the shared expression of ideas and desires, sharing information and interpersonal interaction.

increases social and communication skills

increases attention span and ability to stay focused on a task.

decreases autistic child's level of self-stimulation

encourages children to learn with tactile, colorful art materials

Floor time involves engaging a child at his or her current level of functioning, working with the unique features of the child’s nervous system, and utilizing intensive interactive experiences to enable him or her to master new capacities, especially in the areas of communication and social relatedness. (Dr. Stanley Greenspan , The Child with Special Needs , 2004).

Floor time

Ummm.…

This is not cancer

This is not AIDS

This is not a crisis

OUR child gives us joy that

words could never fully

express

Thank u…