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SOCIAL DIFFICULTIES OF LEARNING, ATTENTIONAL AND AUTISTIC DISORDERS: SCREENING AND TREATMENT, 2013 EDITION WEBSITE SLIDES. Kevin T. Blake, Ph.D., P.L.C. Tucson, Arizona Cross Country Education Brentwood, Tennessee.
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SOCIAL DIFFICULTIES OF LEARNING, ATTENTIONAL AND AUTISTIC DISORDERS: SCREENING AND TREATMENT, 2013 EDITION WEBSITE SLIDES Kevin T. Blake, Ph.D., P.L.C. Tucson, Arizona Cross Country Education Brentwood, Tennessee Cross Country Education
International Classifications of Diseases- 11th Edition (ICD-11)(WEBSITE-1) • Due to be published in 2015 • Is coordinating diagnostic terms with DSM-5. • American Psychological Association (APA) is very involved with development of ICD-11 and the Functional Mental and Medical Health Companion to ICD-11. • Psychologists will be strongly encouraged to use the ICD-11 by APA. Clay, R. A. (July 2010). Defining disease worldwide.: The 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases includes psychologists in key roles. Monitor On Psychology, 41 (7), 54. Goodheart, C. (October 16, 2010). Psychology Practice: Preparing for Tomorrow. Paper Presented at the 2010 Annual Arizona Psychological Association Convention, Tucson, AZ. Author (2012). The International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision is due by 2015 . Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization. From website: http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/revision/en/. Cross Country Education
AD/HD Genes (WEBSITE-2) • DRD4 – 7 + Repeat • DAT1 – 480 bp • DBH – Taql (A2 allele) • DRD2 • SNAP25 • MAO-A • 13 other possible genes Barkley, R.A. (2008). ADHD: Advances in, Nature, Diagnosis, and Etiology. Handout for seminar: Advances in ADHD: Theory, Diagnosis and Management. J & K Seminars, L.L.C., 1861 Wichersham Lane, Lancaster, PA 17603; 800-801-5415; www.jkseminars.com, p. 9 (Handout). Cross Country Education
Genetics and Dyslexia (WEBSITE-3) • Colorado Learning Disabilities Research Center: • Heritability linkage for dyslexia- Chromosomes 2, 3, 6, 15, 18 Olsen, R.K. (November 11, 2005). Norman Geshwin Lecture-Genes, environment and dyslexia. Paper presented at the 53rd Annual International Dyslexia Association Conference, Denver, CO. Cross Country Education
“Dr. Andrew Wakefield struck off medical register”(WEBSITE-4) “Andrew Wakefield, the doctor who triggered the MMR vaccine scare has been struck off the medical register…Dr. Wakefield has been found guilty of serious professional misconduct over “unethical” research that sparked unfounded fears that the vaccine was linked to bowel disease and autism…The panel is profoundly concerned that Dr. Wakefield repeatedly breached fundamental principles of research medicine…Immunization rates fell, leading to a resurgence of potentially deadly measles cases in recent years. The Lancet, which had withdrawn contested parts of the paper in 2004, subsequently retracted in full”. Sanchez, R. and Rose, D. (May 25, 2010). Dr. Andrew Wakefield struck off medical register. Timesonline, www.timesonline.co.uk/to/news/uk/article7134893.ece. Cross Country Education
Genes & ASD (WEBSITE-5) • Fragile X Syndrome (5 to 15%) • NLGN3 • NLGN4X • SHANK3 • NRXN1 • 5p14.1 • 16p11.2, Etc. Pinto, D., et al. (June 9, 2010). Functional impact of global rare copy number variations in autism spectrum disorders. Nature, www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature09146.html. Cross Country Education
Possible Medication for Fragile X(WEBSITE-6) Drug manufacturer Novartis stated it is developing a medication called AFQ056 which initial research demonstrated to have been very promising in treating Fragile X Syndrome. It may be that this medication help synapses reduce background noise. Harris, G. (April 29, 2010). Promise Seen in Drug for Retardation Syndrome. New York Times: www.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/health/research/30fragile.html. Author (May 13, 2010). Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of AFQ056 in Fragile X Patients: www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00718341. Cross Country Education
Americans with Disabilities Act, Amendment Act of 2008(WEBSITE: 7) The new act makes it easier for a person to establish they have a disability. It directed the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission to redefine the term “substantially limits.” The list of “major life activities” was expanded to include reading, bending, walking, communicating, etc. The bill included bodily functions like difficulties with the immune system, bowel functions, etc. People with “episodic disabilities” are now better protected. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission: www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/adaaa_notice.cfm. Cross Country Education
Americans with Disabilities Act, Amendments Act of 2008(WEBSITE: 8) • Congress made it easier for a person to seek protection under the ADA if they have a disability because the term disability is now interpreted more broadly. • The term “substantially limits” now requires a lower degree of functional limitations than has been applied in the courts. • “Substantially limits” is now to be considered more broadly. Cross Country Education
Americans with Disabilities Act, Amendments Act of 2008 (WEBSITE:9) • One still needs an “individualized assessment” to determine an impairment in a major life activity. • “Mitigating measures” like medication for ADHD no longer can be used to determine level of impairment (glasses and contacts excluded). • An impairment that is episodic or in remission is still considered a disability. • Determination of disability should not require extensive analysis. Cross Country Education
Americans with Disabilities Act, Amendments Act of 2008 (WEBSITE: 10) • Reading, standing, communicating, bowel movements, autoimmune functions, etc. are now considered “major life activities”. From: Fact Sheet on the EEOC’s Final Regulations Implementing the ADAAA: www1.eeoc.gov//laws/regulations/adaaa_fact_sheet.cfm?renderforprint=1 Cross Country Education
National Disability Rights Network(WEBSITE: 11) National Disability Rights Network900 Second Street, NE, Suite 211Washington, DC 2002P: 202-408-9514F: 202-408-9520TTY: 202-408-9521 Website: www.ndrm.org Cross Country Education
Section 504(WEBSITE: 12) • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: • http://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/reg/narrative.html • http://www.dol.gov/oasam/regs/statutes/sec504.htm Cross Country Education
IDEA-2004(WEBSITE: 13) • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA-2004): http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cregs%2C • The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: Provisions Related to Children With Disabilities Enrolled by Their Parents in Private Schools: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/lead/speced/privateschools/index.html Cross Country Education
School-To-Work Opportunities Act 0f 1994(WEBSITE: 14) • All students are to have an official transition plan to transition to the world of work/post-secondary education. www.dol.gov/elaws/esa/flsa/scope/ee15astw.asp Cross Country Education
Protecting Students with Disabilities(WEBSITE: 15) • Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights (OCR): • Flyer: Protecting Students with Disabilities; http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html • Office of Civil Rights: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/ Cross Country Education
Ostracism and the Brain(WEBSITE: 16) • All people, no matter what their psychological makeup feel the pain of rejection equally. • Within minutes ostracized people experience significantly lower self-esteem, a lack of meaning in their life, a lack of control, sadness and anger. • People can feel rejected even by people they do not know, or even hate. • Being rejected can lead to physical and psychological illness. Williams, K.D. (January/February, 2011). The Pain of Exclusion. Scientific American Mind, 21 (6), 30-37. Cross Country Education
Ostracism and the Brain(WEBSITE: 17) • “Even in a verbal or physical altercation, individuals are still connected. Total exclusion, however, severs all bonds. Social rejection also deals a uniquely harsh blow to self-esteem, because it implies wrongdoing”. (p. 34) • “After all, social exclusion interferes not only with reproductive success, but also with survival”. (p. 34) Williams, K.D. (January/February, 2011). The Pain of Exclusion. Scientific American Mind, 21 (6), 30-37. Cross Country Education
Ostracism and the Brain(WEBSITE: 18) • In an MRI study,…”As soon as students began to feel ostracized, the scanners registered a flurry of activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex – a brain region associated with the emotional aspects of physical pain”. (p. 34) • Also the insula activates and judges the severity of the pain. Williams, K.D. (January/February, 2011). The Pain of Exclusion. Scientific American Mind, 21 (6), 30-37. Cross Country Education
Ostracism and the Brain(WEBSITE: 19) • “…social rejection and physical injury are not much different experiences and share underlying neural pathways”. (p. 35) • MRI studies have shown that painkillers can reduce the pain of social rejection. • To reduce the pain of social rejection people will agree, mimic, obey, or cooperate with the rejecting group. Even if it goes against their beliefs and/or judgment. Williams, K.D. (January/February, 2011). The Pain of Exclusion. Scientific American Mind, 21 (6), 30-37. Cross Country Education
Ostracism and the Brain(WEBSITE: 20) • Depressed and/or socially anxious people take longer to recover from ostracism than others. • “In extreme cases, ostracized humans may resort to aggressive or violent acts when they have lost hope of being included in any socially acceptable group”. (p. 36) Williams, K.D. (January/February, 2011). The Pain of Exclusion. Scientific American Mind, 21 (6), 30-37. Cross Country Education
Ostracism and the Brain(WEBSITE: 21) • What to do if you are ostracized: • Remove yourself from the situation and distract yourself. • Remind yourself of your strengths. • Exercise more control in your life; assert yourself. • Reconnect with family and friends. Williams, K.D. (January/February, 2011). The Pain of Exclusion. Scientific American Mind, 21 (6), 30-37. Cross Country Education
Psychosocial Impairment Scale(WEBSITE: 22) Barkley, R.A. (2011). Barkley Functional Impairment Scale: Rating Scale, Norms, Interpretive Guide. New York, NY: Guilford. Cross Country Education
Employment & AD/HD(WEBSITE: 23) • AD/HD workers have significantly lower salaries. • They are absent from the job more and are significantly more underproductive than non-AD/HD workers. • They have more on the job accidents. • On average AD/HD costs the household $10,000 per year of income. Ramsay, R. J. (2010). Non-Medication Treatments for Adult ADHD. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, p. 79. Cross Country Education
AD/HD & DSM-5 (WEBSITE: 24) In DSM-5 there will be one type of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and it will be Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Combined Type. What has been learned since 1994 when the DSM-IV was published through longitudinal studies is that what was called Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Hyperactive/Impulsive Type is the early manifestation of the Combined Type of… Cross Country Education
AD/HD & DSM-5 (WEBSITE: 25) …AD/HD in preschool and early grade school. As the child ages and his/her frontal lobe develops they gain more and more control of their hyperactive motor movements and start to appear like what was called (in DSM-IV and DSM-IV, TR) “Combined Type”. This process continues until their late 20s/early 30s when their frontal lobes are fully developed. By that time they appear to be “Inattentive Type”… Cross Country Education
AD/HD & DSM-5 (WEBSITE: 26) …When their current adult behavior is compared to their preschool behavior. Remember, when you diagnose some one with AD/HD, you compare them to their non-AD/HD age peers. Swanson, J., Hinshaw, S., Hechtman, L. and Barkely, R. (November 9, 2012). Research Symposium 1: Montreal Study; Milwaukee Study; Berkeley Girls ADHD Longitudinal Study (BGALS). Symposium presented at the 24th Annual CHADD International Conference, November 8-10, 2012, Burlingame, CA. Cross Country Education
AD/HD & DSM-5 (WEBSITE: 27) • Tzelepis stated she has only seen Combined Type adults in her work and doubts the Predominately Hyperactive-Impulsive Type exists in adults. • Tzelepis, A. and Mapou, R. (1997, May). Assessment. Paper presented at the Pre-Conference Professional ADD Institute of the 3rd Annual National ADDA Adult ADD Conference, St. Louis, MO. • Barkley, Murphy and Fischer make similar observations. • Barkley, R.A., Murphy, K.R., & Fischer, M. (2008). ADHD in Adults: What The Science Says. New York, NY: Guilford, • p. 37-38. Cross Country Education
AD/HD & DSM-5 (WEBSITE: 28) Brown called those who met DSM criteria for Hyperactive-Impulsive Type or Combined Type in Childhood, but only met criteria for Inattentive Type in Adulthood, ‘CROSSOVERS’. Brown, T.E. (1995). Differential Diagnosis of ADD Versus ADHD in Adults. In K.G. Nadeau (Ed.), A Comprehensive Guide to Attention-Deficit Disorder in Adults. New York: Bruner/Mazel, pp. 93-108. Cross Country Education
Longitudinal Studies of AD/HD (WEBSITE: 29) Barkley, R.A., Murphy, K.R., & Fischer, M. (2008). ADHD in Adults: What The Science Says. New York, NY: Guilford. Weiss, G., & Hechtman, L. (1993). Hyperactive Children Grown Up. New York, NY: Guilford. Cross Country Education
AD/HD & DSM-5 (WEBSITE: 30) Barkley wrote when the Combined Type changes to the Inattentive Type by adolescence or adulthood then the person should be thought of as having the Combined Type. Barkley, R.A. (2002). ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Children. Seminar presented, February 19-20, Phoenix, AZ., The Institute for Continuing Education, Fairhope, AL. Barkley, R.A. (2006). Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Third Edition. New York, NY: Guilford. Barkley, R.A., Murphy, K.R., & Fischer, M. (2008). ADHD in Adults: WhatThe Science Says. New York, NY: Guilford, p. 37-38. Cross Country Education
Inattentive AD/HD? (WEBSITE: 31) What about Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Inattentive Type? It is a separate and distinct disorder behaviorally, neuro-biologically and genetically from AD/HD. It will not be included in the DSM-5. In research it may be referred to as AD/HD, Inattentive (Restrictive) Presentation, Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and/or Crichton Syndrome. Barkley, R. A. (November 9, 2012). The Other Attention Disorder: Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (ADD/SCT) Vs. ADHD– Impairment and Management. Paper presented at the 24th Annual CHADD International Conference on ADHD, Burlingame, CA, November 8 – 10, 2012. Cross Country Education
DSM-5 & ASD (WEBSITE: 32) “Because autism is defined by a common set of behaviors, it is best represented as a single diagnostic category that is adapted to the individual’s clinical presentation by inclusion of clinical specifiers (e.g., severity, verbal abilities and others) and associated features (e.g., known genetic disorders, epilepsy, intellectual disability and others.) A single spectrum disorder is a better reflection of the state of knowledge about pathology and clinical presentation; previously, the criteria were equivalent to trying to “cleave meatloaf at the joints”. Author (2012). Autism Spectrum Disorder: DSM-5 Development. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association: http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevision/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=94# Cross Country Education
DSM-5 & ASD (WEBSITE: 33) • The current three domains of impairment will become two: • 1) Social/communication deficits • 2) Fixated interests and repetitive behaviors Cross Country Education
DSM-5 Severity of ASD (WEBSITE: 34) • Level 3 (Requiring Very Substantial Support): Very limited initiation and minimal response to others. Extremely difficult to refocus from fixed interests. • Level 2 (Requiring Substantial Support): Limited initiation and limited response to others. Difficult to redirect from fixed Interests. • Level 1 (Requiring Support): Without support has difficulty initiating and atypical response to others. Will resist efforts to redirect from special interests. Author (January 26, 2011). Autism Spectrum Disorder, Severity. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association: http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=94#. Cross Country Education
DSM-5 and Learning DisordersFrom May 2010 to May 2012(WEBSITE: 35) Types of Learning Disorders: • Dyslexia • Dyscalculia • Learning Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified Author (2010). Reading Disorder. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=84#. Author (2010). Mathematics Disorder. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=85#. Cross Country Education
DSM-5 & Learning Disorders (WEBSITE: 36)May 2012 to December 2012 • As of May 1, 2012 “Dyslexia” was going to replace “Reading Disorder”. Afterward the government and insurance companies warned the committee about raising the prevalence of disorders. The NICHD research indicated Dyslexia’s prevalence was about 15%, DSM-IV,TR’s Reading Disorder’s prevalence was estimated at 4%. After being consulted by Larry Silver, M.D. the committee decided to drop Dyslexia and Dyscalculia from DSM-5 and use Silver’s paradigm of Specific Learning Disorder (Reading), (Writing) and (Math) to insure lower prevalence rates and to match what most public schools in the USA call such disorders. Cross Country Education
DSM-5 & Learning Disorders (WEBSITE: 37)May 2012 to December 2012 Author (2010). Reading Disorder. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=84#. Author (2010). Mathematics Disorder. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=85#. Author (July, 2012). An Insightful Q&A with Dr. Larry Silver: An Inside Look At DSM-5. Pittsburg, PA: Learning Disabilities Association of America. From Website: http://www.ldanatl.org/legislative/pubs/120820_DSM-5_Q-A_with-Larry-Silver.pdf. Barkley, R. A. (November 9, 2012). The Other Attention Disorder: Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (ADD/SCT) Vs. ADHD– Impairment and Management. Paper presented at the 24th Annual CHADD International Conference on ADHD, Burlingame, CA, November 8 – 10, 2012. Cross Country Education
DSM-5 & Learning Disorders (WEBSITE: 38) May 2012 to December 2012 • The International Dyslexia Association sent 12,000 plus petitions explaining the need to leave dyslexia in the DSM-5. • The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity sent in 8629 petitions in support of including dyslexia. Author (No Date). IDA Position Statement on DSM-5. From website: http://www.interdys.org/IDAPositionDSM5.htm. Burgess, T. (December 1, 2012). Dyslexia is Out of DSM-5: Psychiatrists Voted Saturday, December 1, 2012. Examiner.com. From website: http://www.examiner.com/article/dyslexia-is-out-of-dsm-5-psychiatrists-voted-saturday-dec-1-2012. Cross Country Education
DSM-5 & Learning Disorders (WEBSITE: 39)May 2012 to December 2012 At the last minute Sally Shaywitz, M.D. and Bennett, Shaywitz, M.D. of Yale, Ruth Colker, J.D. of Ohio State University Law School and Jo Anne Simon, J.D. of Yale Law School submitted the following document to the DSM-5 Committee. (See next slide) Cross Country Education
DSM-5 & Learning Disorders (WEBSITE: 40)May 2012 to December 2012 Comments on Proposed DSM-5 Criteria for Specific Learning Disorder from a Legal and Medical/Scientific Perspective Professor Ruth Colker, J.D. Distinguished University Professor Heck-Faust Memorial Chair in Constitutional Law The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Professor Sally Shaywitz, M.D. The Audrey G. Ratner Professor in Learning Development Co-Director, Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity Yale University School of Medicine Professor Bennett Shaywitz, M.D. The Charles and Helen Schwab Professor in Dyslexia and Learning Development Co-Director, Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity Yale University School of Medicine Jo Anne Simon, J.D. Attorney and Adjunct Associate Professor, Fordham University School of Law Lead Counsel, Bartlett v. New York State Board of Law Examiners From website: http://dyslexia.yale.edu/CommentsDSM5ColkerShaywitzSimon.pdf. Cross Country Education
DSM-5 & Learning Disorders (WEBSITE: 41)May 2012 to December 2012 (“The Next Day”) “DSM- 5 Update from Lee Grossman, IDA Interim Executive Director and CEO IDA is closely monitoring the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) proposed revision to its' Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnostic criteria. We are pleased to share that it appears that the DSM-5 Committee will have the term dyslexia within the list of specific learning disorders. We appreciate the Committee's work and thank them for listening to the concerns of our constituents and the LD community. We will continue to monitor this and will pass on updates from the DSM-5 Committee's decisions as those are available”. Grossman, l. (December 3, 2012). DSM-5 Update. IDA In an Instant. Baltimore, MD: International Dyslexia Association. Cross Country Education
DSM-5 & “Specific Learning Disorder” as of December 5, 2012 (WEBSITE: 42) • Specific Learning Disorder • Dyslexia/Specific Reading Disorder • Oral Language • Mathematics • Written Language Author (July, 2012). An Insightful Q&A with Dr. Larry Silver: An Inside Look At DSM-5. Pittsburg, PA: Learning Disabilities Association of America. From Website: http://www.ldanatl.org/legislative/pubs/120820_DSM-5_Q-A_with-Larry-Silver.pdf. Grossman, l. (December 3, 2012). DSM-5 Update. IDA In an Instant. Baltimore, MD: International Dyslexia Association. Colker, R., Shaywitz, S., Shaywitz, B., Simon, J.A., (No Date) Comments on Proposed DSM-5 Criteria for Specific Learning Disorder from a Legal and Medical/Scientific Perspective. Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity. From Website: http://dyslexia.yale.edu/CommentsDSM5ColkerShaywitzSimon.pdf. Grohol, J.M. (December 5, 2012). Final DSM Approved by American Psychiatric Association. World of Psychology: PsychCentral From website: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/12/02/final-dsm-5-approved-by-american-psychiatric-association/. Cross Country Education
DSM-5 & Nonverbal LD? (WEBSITE: 43) “Social Communication Disorder (SCD) is an impairment of pragmatics and is diagnosed based on difficulty in the social uses of verbal and nonverbal communication in naturalistic contexts, which affects the development of social relationships and discourse comprehension and cannot be explained by low abilities in the domains of word structure and grammar or general cognitive ability”. Rule out ASD, “restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities as part of the autism spectrum”. Author (December 9, 2010). Social Communication Disorder. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association: http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevision/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=489#. Author (July, 2011). Recent Updates to Proposed Revisions for DSM-5. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association: http://www.dsm5.org/Pages/RecentUpdates.aspx. Cross Country Education
DSM-5 & Nonverbal LD (WEBSITE: 44) Rosemary Tannock, Ph.D. who was on the DSM-5 development committee and responsible for communication disorders said the DSM-5 would have the following: • Speech Disorder • Language Disorder • Pragmatic Communication Disorder • Communication Disorder No mention of Social Communication Disorder was mentioned. Tannock, R. (November 9, 2012). Understanding Speech & Language Problems in ADHD. Paper presented at the 24th Annual CHADD International Conference, November 8-10, 2012, Burlingame, CA. Cross Country Education
Williams Syndrome(WEBSITE: 45) “Williams Syndrome is a genetic condition that is present at birth and can affect anyone. It is characterized by medical problems, including cardiovascular disease, developmental delays and learning disabilities. These occur side by side with striking verbal abilities, highly social personalities and an affinity for music… Individuals with Williams Syndrome have very endearing personalities. They have a unique strength in their expressive language skills and are extremely polite. They are typically unafraid of strangers and show a greater interest in contact with adults than with their peers”. Author (No Date). What Is Williams Syndrome? From Williams Syndrome Association website: http://www.williams-syndrome.org/what-is-williams-syndrome. Cross Country Education
Williams Syndrome(WEBSITE: 46) Williams Syndrome is a rare condition caused by missing genes. Parents may not have any family history of the condition. However, a person with Williams syndrome has a 50% chance of passing the disorder on to each of his or her children. Williams Syndrome occurs in about 1 in 8,000 births. One of the 25 missing genes is the gene that produces elastin, a protein that allows blood vessels and other tissues in the body to stretch. It is likely that having only one copy of this gene results in the narrowing of blood vessels seen in this condition. A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia (November 14, 2011). Williams Syndrome (Williams-Beuren Syndrome). Bethesda, MD: National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine. From website: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002105/. Cross Country Education
Williams Syndrome(WEBSITE: 47) Those with Williams Syndrome have brains that are 20% smaller, particularly in the back of the brain which includes the occipital and parietal lobes. The temporal lobes are either normal in size or larger than normal. Their planumtemporale is larger than normal and hence they often have perfect pitch. Finally, they use their cerebellum, brain stem and amygdala to process music thus it provides them an uniquely emotional experience when they hear it. Sacks, O. (2007). Musicophilia:Tales of Music and the Brain. New York, NY: Alfred A Knopf. Cross Country Education
ASD and Williams Syndrome(WEBSITE: 48) ASD and Williams Syndrome, “two sides of the same coin,” Allan Reiss Stanford Medical School professor said. Social behavior and communication are underdeveloped in ASD and overdeveloped in Williams Syndrome. Inman, E. (May 20, 2010). New Findings About Williams Syndrome May Shed Light On Autism Research. The Stanford Daily. From website: http://www.stanforddaily.com/2010/05/20/new-findings-about-williams-syndrome-may-shine-light-on-autism-research/. Cross Country Education
Mirror Neurons (WEBSITE: 49) • There are visual and audiovisual mirror neurons in the brain in several places. • Areas involved in the brain: • Inferior Frontal Gyrus: guidance of movement/assessment of intentions • Anterior Cingulate Cortex: regulation of empathy • Angular Gyrus: semantic comprehension combining sensory input • Insula/Amygdala: pain & disgust • Rizzolatti, G., Fogassi, L. and Gallese, V. (November, 2006). Mirrors in The Mind. Scientific American, 296 (5), pp. 54-61. • Ramachandran, V.S. and Oberman, L.M. (November, 2006). Broken Mirrors. Scientific American, 296(5), pp. 62-69. Cross Country Education