Describe one risk factor and one clinical feature of autism in infants or children and one effective parenting or coping strategy that may be used for parents/caregivers or siblings of persons with autism spectrum disorder

Describe one risk factor and one clinical feature of autism in infants or children and one effective parenting or coping strategy that may be used for parents/caregivers or siblings of persons with autism spectrum disorder

Risk Factor- Advanced maternal age. Prenatal exposure to air pollution or certain pesticides. Maternal obesity, diabetes, or immune system disorders. Extreme prematurity or very low birth weight (Cooper et al., 2018).

Clinical Feature- Delayed language skills

Coping Strategy- Coping mechanisms that are often demonstrated by parents when caring for their child with ASD include support from family, friends, social support groups, other parents of children with ASD, service providers, advocacy, and religion.

Treatment Plan

The antipsychotic drugs risperidone and aripiprazole demonstrate improvement in challenging behavior that includes emotional distress, aggression, hyperactivity, and self-injury, but both have high incidence of harms (Cooper et al., 2018). No current medical interventions demonstrate clear benefit for social or communication symptoms in ASDs. Evidence supports early intensive behavioral and developmental intervention, including the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)/Lovaas model and Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) for improving cognitive performance, language skills, and adaptive behavior in some groups of children (Cooper et al., 2018).

Discussion #3

Case Overview

Echo Richard aged 3 ½, a first-born child, was referred at the request of his parents because of his uneven development and abnormal behavior. Richard appeared to be self-sufficient and aloof from others. His babbling had no conversational intonation. At age 3 he could understand simple practical instructions. He was intensely attached to a miniature care, which he held in his hand, day, and night, but the never played imaginatively with this or any other toy. His speech consisted of echoing some words and phrases he had heard in the past, with the original speaker’s accent and intonation; he could use one or two such phrases to indicate his simple needs. He did not communicate by facial expression or use gesture or mime, except for pulling someone along and placing his or her hand on an object he wanted. He was fascinated by bright lights and spinning objects, and would stare at them while laughing, flapping his hands, and dancing on tiptoe. The major management problem was Richard’s intense resistance to any attempt to change or extend his interests. Removing his toy car, disturbing his puzzles or patterns, even retrieving, for example, an egg whisk or a spoon for its legitimate use in cooking, or trying to make him look at a picture book precipitated temper tantrums that could last an hour or more, with screaming, kicking, and the biting of himself or others. These tantrums could be cut short by restoring the status quo.

Mental Status Exam with Target Symptoms  

Eye contact -poor -less than 3 seconds

Interest in others-only passively responds – aloof from others

Pointing skills -only follows point

Language -single words

Pragmatics of Language n/a

Repetitive behaviors /stereotypy- insists on routine

Unusual or encompassing preoccupations – He was intensely attached to a miniature care, which he held in his hand, day, and night, but the never played imaginatively with this or any other toy.

Unusual sensitivities

Main Diagnosis

Autism Spectrum Disorder

DSM-5 criteria require that a child has persistent impairment in social communications and interactions across multiple contexts as well as restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities; that symptoms should present in early childhood and cause significant functional impairments; and that the impairments are not better explained by intellectual disability.

Differential Diagnoses

Rett Syndrome

ADHD

Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests

Blood Tests -Thyroid Panel,T4,T3 CBC, CMP

Hearing Tests

Genetic Tests

CT Brain

 Treatment Plan

As methods to identify ASD at a very young age have developed, possibilities for effective early intervention with infants and toddlers increased dramatically. Treatments for ASD are directed at maximizing the child’s potential and helping the child and family cope more effectively with the disorder. Treatments for ASD focus on the specific social, communication, cognitive and behavioral deficits displayed by the children with this disorder. Current treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) seek to reduce symptoms that interfere with daily functioning and quality of life. ASD affects each person differently, meaning that people with ASD have unique str