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Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism & Engineering and Computing

Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism & Engineering and Computing. Felicity Millman. Autism History. Pre 1943 - described as emotionally disturbed or intellectually disabled 1943 - Autism / Kanners Syndrome described by Dr Leo Kanner

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Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism & Engineering and Computing

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  1. Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism &Engineering and Computing Felicity Millman

  2. Autism History • Pre 1943 - described as emotionally disturbed or intellectually disabled • 1943 - Autism / Kanners Syndrome described by Dr Leo Kanner • - Aspergers syndrome described by Dr Hans Asperger • 1970’s - Pervasive Developmental Disorder accepted in the US • 1980 – Autism included in the DSM as a diagnostic category • 1994 – Aspergers Syndrome included in the DSM IV.

  3. What are Autism and Asperger’s? • DSM-IV classification (APA, 1994). • 1. Qualitative impairments in communication • 2.Qualitative impairment in social interaction. • 3. Restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests and activities(APA, 1994).

  4. Social interaction Communication Imaginative play Pervasive Developmental Disorders Autism Asperger’s Childhood Disinteregrative Disorder Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified: including Atypical Autism

  5. Autism in the Lifespan • Autism is a complex behavioural syndrome • onset in childhood • lasting throughout the lifespan

  6. The Autism Epidemic? • Autism is a prevalent disorder • estimates ranging from approximately 0.7 – 76 per 10000 individuals (Bauman & Kemper, 2004). • Rates of diagnosis have increased over the last 20 years, however this is not a true increase in prevalence.

  7. MMR and Autism? • The MMR childhood vaccination has been anecdotally but not scientifically associated with onset of autism • Coincidence of timing • An immune response to the vaccination? • Exposure to thermisol (mercury)?

  8. Behavioural Associations • intellectual disability • seizure disorders • abnormalities of motor behaviour • impaired motor planning • abnormal responses to sensory stimuli including pain, touch and noise. • sleep and eating disturbances • mood and affect disturbances • self-injurious behaviour • aggression and hyperactivity • (Bauman & Kemper, 2004, Schreck, Williams and Smith, 2004).

  9. Biological Associations • auditory processing disturbances • seizure disorders • food and environmental sensitivities • larger head circumference • increased white matter in the brain • reduction in number of Purkinje cells in the brain • gastrointestinal dysfunction, • hyperserotoninemia • abnormal lymphocyte functions. • hormones / neurotransmitter levels.

  10. Autism Heritability: • Autism is recognised as highly heritable • classical autism concordance rates are approximately 60% for Monozygotic twins and 0% for Dizygotic twins. • Gender bias: 4 males to each female affected. • High rates of twins with Autism.

  11. Autism genetics • Regions on every chromosome have been implicated in Autism at various stages. • Most commonly associated: • 5HTT (serotonin transporter) 17q11-12 • GABRB3 (GABA receptor B3) 15q11-13 • RELN (reelin protein) 7q22-33 • C4B and HLA (immune system) 6p21.3 • OXTR (oxytocin receptor) 3p25-26

  12. Autism Genetics • Autism is polygenic. • There is no single causative gene for Autism. • Genes work in a system • No gene exists or act alone • Environment may have effect on gene • Penetrance and expressivity.

  13. Autism diagnosis • Symptom clustering? • Genetic associations? • Autism Subtypes?

  14. Autism Diagnosis: • Reconfiguration of understanding of disease status over last 50 years: • How good is our current classification? • Should we only be using classical symptoms for diagnosis or should we also include associated symptoms? Dementia praecox Childhood schizophrenia Autism Pervasive Develop Disorder

  15. Autism Interventions • Behavioural • Applied Behavioural Analysis • Medications • Antidepressants • Atypical Anti-psychotics • Anti- epileptics • Melatonin • Diet • Complimentary and Alternative Medicine

  16. Prognosis • Level of functioning • Co morbidities • Family functioning • Early Intervention • Support and funding.

  17. Impacts of Autism • Financial Costs • Medication • Behavioural intervention • Education • Hospitalization • Parental care • Respite care • Social Costs • Time • Limited activities • Family structure

  18. Autism, Asperger’s and Profession • Parents and grandparents of children who are Autistic or Asperger’s are over-represented in the fields of: • Engineering • Physics • Accounting • Computer Programming • Science

  19. Autism, Asperger’s and Profession cont. • Folk physics and folk psychology • Hyper-male (extreme male brain theory) • Systemizing and empathising • Assortive mating theory • Jobs for people with autism spectrum disorders.

  20. Understanding Autism • Prevention • Early intervention and treatment • Genetic Counseling • Understanding of other disorders ie Schizophrenia • Quality of life for individuals with ASD and their family members.

  21. Questions ?

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