Autism Spectrum Disorder
Your client may have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), if they have impaired social interactions and communications, and shows stereotypes behaviours and interests.
ASD symptoms fall into three broad categories (DSM-5 combines the first two)
- Communication – Deficits vary greatly in scope and severity. Some children may show unusual speech patterns, others may speak too loudly or have lack of prosody. Others may fail to use body language or other nonverbal behaviour to communicate
- Socialization – Social skill weaknesses. Social maturation develops more slowly and this occurs throughout development. May develop social anxieties.
- Motor Behaviour – These symptoms include compulsive or ritualistic actions – rocking, twirling, hand flapping.
Symptoms of ASD range from mild to severe.
Recommend Reading – Strategies
- General strategies
- Supporting learning
- Supporting social skills
- Emotional and behavioural strategies
The following websites provide valuable information to parents of clients with ASD:
- Autism Calgary autismcalgary.com
- Autism BC website – has support groups and other resources: Providing Autism Support and Resources | AutismBC
- Autism Aspergers Friendship Society aafscalgary.com
- The Ability Hub theabilityhub.org
- Society for the Treatment of Autism https://www.autism.ca
For Parents:
- Blog: How to explain autism to kids
- A guide for Parents of Autistic Kids https://autisticadvocacy.org/book/start-here/
- https://autismlevelup.com
- https://ausometraining.com
- https://notanautismmom.com/2021/08/25/inclusive-childrens-books-on-autism-and-neurodiversity/
- childmind.org-When-and-How-Should-You-Tell-Kids-They-Have-Aspergers
For Clinicians
- The Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q): is a self-report measure of social camouflaging behaviours in adults.
- It may be used to identify autistic individuals who do not currently meet diagnostic criteria due to their ability to mask their autistic proclivities that it captures intentional camouflaging, and is not diagnostic of autism in and of itself, but may help explain why people who report internal experiences consistent with autism do not externally appear stereotypically autistic.
- It may also be elevated in people whose natural behaviors are more divergent from social norms for other reasons such as gender divergence or cultural background.
- So, it should not be used in isolation, but as part of a comprehensive battery to assess autism, especially in folks with more subtle presentations.
- For more on camouflaging, Book: ““Is this Autism?” Donna Henderson
Additional Information