sample report of an autistic patient

What is the purpose of this special report on autism?

The purpose of this special report is to summarize the latest understanding of autism’s commonly associated physical and mental health conditions, including how best to identify, treat and in some cases prevent them to improve overall health and quality of life. INTRODUCTION 2

How is the diagnosis of autism determined?

The diagnosis of autism is based on the specific behavioral evaluations such as Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) as stipulated in the Diagnosis Statistical Manual –IV (DSM-IV) (Bertoglio & Hendren, 2009).

What is the most common presentation of autism?

Symptomatically, reciprocal, social interaction is perhaps the most common presentation of autism. Children with autism are not able to understand various non-verbal communications cues such as gestures and facial expressions. The children do not show social or emotional reciprocity and do not always share in other people’s joy or sorrows.

What are the signs of autism in Sam?

Sam has a lifelong history and has been significantly affected by all of the signs of autism,DSM-IV-TRcode 299.00. He is displaying difficulties in the areas consis- tentwiththedisorder,namely, problemswithsocialinteraction,communication and stereotyped patterns of behaviors and interests. Sam has a significant history of socialization difficulties.

What is an autism diagnostic report?

The report is the outcome of the various tests someone undergoes that is suspected of having an autistic spectrum disorder. A child will undergo a CHAT screening test followed by an ASD assessment. An adult will undergo a similar type of screening.

What should an autism evaluation include?

Because ASD is a developmental disability, the evaluation will usually include tests of language, intelligence, behavior, and adaptive behavior (daily living skills and activities). Some tests are given directly to the child, and others are forms completed by the parent/caregiver.

How do you assess a patient with autism?

A comprehensive autism spectrum evaluation should include a developmental history, observations, direct interaction, a parent interview and an evaluation of functioning in the following areas: social, communication, sensory, emotional, cognitive and adaptive behavior. At times, additional assessments are indicated.

What are the top 5 signs of autism?

Signs of autism in childrennot responding to their name.avoiding eye contact.not smiling when you smile at them.getting very upset if they do not like a certain taste, smell or sound.repetitive movements, such as flapping their hands, flicking their fingers or rocking their body.not talking as much as other children.More items...

What are the 3 main symptoms of autism?

The symptoms to look out for in children for suspected autism are:Delayed milestones.A socially awkward child.The child who has trouble with verbal and nonverbal communication.

What assessments are used to diagnose autism in adults?

The Social Communication Questionnaire, Autism Spectrum Quotient, Adaptive Behavior Questionnaire, Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS) are commonly used. The latter two are the most comprehensive measures available.

How is autism scored?

Total scores can range from a low of 15 to a high of 60; scores below 30 indicate that the individual is in the non-autistic range, scores between 30 and 36.5 indicate mild to moderate autism, and scores from 37 to 60 indicate severe autism (Schopler et al.

How do psychologists assess autism?

However, unlike other genetic conditions, there is no blood analysis, brain scan, or other test that can diagnose autism. Instead, doctors and psychologists diagnose ASD by analyzing the patient's history and monitoring their behavior.

How do you prepare for an autism evaluation?

Here are five things I recommend you do to prepare:Learn more about autism. ... Gather your child's information. ... Learn what to expect at the evaluation. ... Arrange support. ... Get the ball rolling on intervention services.

What are the 4 types of autism?

Before 2013, healthcare professionals defined the four types of autism as:autism spectrum disorder (ASD)Asperger's syndrome.childhood disintegrative disorder.pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified.

How do you talk to autism?

Tips for Talking to Adults on the Autism SpectrumAddress him or her as you would any other adult, not a child. ... Avoid using words or phrases that are too familiar or personal. ... Say what you mean. ... Take time to listen. ... If you ask a question, wait for a response. ... Provide meaningful feedback.More items...

What does Level 1 autism look like?

Defining the Traits and Behaviors of Level 1 Autism Difficulty switching between activities. Problems with executive functioning which hinder independence. Atypical response to others in social situations. Difficulty initiating social interactions and maintaining reciprocity in social interaction.

What does a T score of 60 mean?

Furthermore, the greater number of subscales that show clinically relevant elevation (i.e T-Scores above 60), the greater likelihood that the Conners’ 3 scores indicate a moderate to severe problem.

What is the DSM 5 for autism?

John meets sufficient DSM-5 criteria for a provisional diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder; requiring substantial support for both deficits in social communication, as well as restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour.

What are the DSM 5 criteria for autism?

There are seven DSM-5™ criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder, separated into two domains: Social Communication and Interaction (A) and Restricted, Repetitive Patterns of Behaviour (B). To meet the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder, all three criteria from the Social Communication and Interaction domain (A) and at least two criteria from the Restricted, Repetitive Patterns of Behaviour domain (B) must be met.

Does PECS provide micro strategies?

Please note, PECS does not provide micro-strategies (e.g., sit student at front of classroom, etc) as part of their recommendations. PECS provides recommendations on what further assessment is required, what intervention is necessary, and who is the most appropriate to provide the assessment/intervention recommended.

Does John use gestures?

John does not use simple gestures to direct others attention or to request something (e.g., pointing at a toy, reaching up to be picked up, waving bye-bye to let others know that he wants to go)

Who should see John?

John should be seen by a Child Psychiatrist/Paediatrician for the purpose of a formal decision of a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, and consideration of the comorbidity and differential diagnosis implications identified.

What percentage of people with autism have ADHD?

Over the last decade, studies have suggested that between 30 and 61 percent of people with autism also have symptoms of ADHD. (Goldstein 2004, Lee 2006, Gadow 2006, Romero 2016) By contrast, the CDC estimates that ADHD affects 6 to 7 percent of the general population. (Perou 2013)

What percentage of children have depression?

Depression affects an estimated 7 percent of children and 26 percent of adults with autism. (Greenlee 2016, Croen 2015) This compares to 2 percent of children and close to 7 percent of adults in the general U.S. population. (Perou 2013, NIMH 2015) A recent report in the journal Pediatrics found that the rate of depression among children with autism rose dramatically with age, from just under 5 percent in grade-schoolers to just over 20 percent in teenagers. (Greenlee 2016) It likewise rose with intellectual ability (IQ), as well as the presence of one or more of the medical conditions that commonly accompany autism – particularly seizures and gastrointestinal issues.

How many times is autism risk?

As a group, people who have autism are more than twice as likely to die prematurely. For some subgroups, the risk can be up to 10 times that of the general population.

How many children with autism are overweight?

Of the 5,053 children with autism in the study, nearly a third (32 percent) of 2 to 5 year olds were overweight, compared to less than a quarter (23 percent) of 2- to 5-year-olds in the general population. Sixteen percent of 2- to 5-year-olds with autism were medically obese, compared to 10 percent of 2- to 5-year- olds in the general population. The investigators found that the likelihood of being overweight or obese increased with the number of psychoactive behavioral medicines a child or teen was taking. Some of these children were taking as many as five. (Hill 2015)

What is autism spectrum disorder?

Autism is a spectrum disorder – meaning it has many forms that affect people in a variety of ways and in varying degrees. Each person’s experience with autism presents unique challenges, as well as strengths, which define the type of support needed to lead a fulfilling life.

How does anxiety affect autism?

Anxiety can trigger strong internal sensations of tension that include a racing heart, muscle tightness and stomachache. In someone with autism, these feelings can prompt an increase in self- soothing, repetitive behaviors (flapping, rocking, spinning, etc.) and/or destructive or self-harming behaviors (shredding clothing, head banging, etc.). Similarly, anxiety can be the underlying cause of new resistance to what had been an enjoyed activity (a trip to the beach, a birthday party, school, etc.).

What is an EEG for autism?

Suspicion of seizures warrants prompt evaluation by a neurologist, who may order an electroencephalogram (EEG), a noninvasive process that involves placing electrodes on the head to monitor activity in the brain. By analyzing EEG patterns, the neurologist can identify seizures and other altered brain activity of concern. Often patients who have autism need EEG protocols that address their sensory and communication challenges. (Katz 2015)(See resource section for more information on autism-friendly EEG procedures.)

What is Sally's cognitive development?

Sally’s Cognitive Development was found to be at a level appropriate for her age. While She demonstrated even development across all cognitive areas, two specific areas of weakness were noted. Sally was found to have particular difficulty with visual discrimination and mental construction. This appears to be mitigated with the addition of time and structure to the task.

What is Sally's self-concept?

Sally’s self-concept was found to be moderately impaired with evidence that She estimates herself to be inferior to others and inadequate to the demands of life. Her responses indicate that these beliefs are mainly due to her poor school performance rather than a global sense of inferiority. Sally also appears to be significantly confused about her identity and her potential role as an adult. The results also indicate that She attempts to present herself with an somewhat masculine attitude as a way to compensate for her feelings of vulnerability. Sally is currently experiencing a high level of introspection and appears to be ruminating about the past in a negative and painful way.

What is Sally's intellectual functioning?

Sally’s general intellectual functioning was measured to fall within the Average range with her overall thinking and reasoning abilities exceeding those of approximately 30 percent of her same-age peers. Although She performed slightly better on verbal than on nonverbal reasoning tasks, there was no significant difference between Sally's ability to reason with or without the use of words.

What is Sally's performance on visual motor coordination?

Sally’s performance on measures of visual-motor coordination indicated that She was not experiencing any serious neurological problems at the time of her examination. Her ability to coordinate her visual perceptions with the movements of her hands was in the average range and appropriate for someone her age. There were no unusual circumstances or disruptions during her testing which might have interfered with Sally giving her best performance. The results of the cognitive and academic sections of this report are held to be a valid measure of Sally’s functioning at the time of her examination. However, it appears that Sally has a tendency to minimize her problems, and in some cases resort to denial, affected the validity of socioemotional measures given. Her self report indicates a possible effort to appear less in need than She actually is. This was especially evident in situations where the questions had obvious intentions to tap feelings of depression and anxiety. Others measures that did not rely on her self-report, or were not obvious in their intent, indicated a higher degree of problems than her self report. Due to the consensus of the information obtained by objective (non-self report) methods, they will make up the bulk of the results presented in these sections.

What are Sally's physical characteristics?

Notable physical characteristics included height and weight in the upper percentiles making her look older than her stated age. Sally’s grooming appeared adequate and She wore her hair short. Her activity level during her evaluation was normal and her speech was clear and unremarkable. No unusual mannerisms were noted and her eye contact was within normal limits. No overt indicators of aggression or impulsivity were noted during the examination. Sally’s mood and affect were observed to be normal and congruent. Likewise, there were no undue signs of anxiety, hostility, or irritability. Sally was cooperative throughout the evaluation and appeared to give her best effort to all of the tasks presented. In fact, Sally demonstrated an admirable level of persistence in solving difficult problems. Finally, her reactions to failure and frustration were normal and appropriately modulated.

What is Sally's learning disability?

These processing disabilities have resulted in a Specific Learning Disability in Reading. The Reading and Writing Aptitude profile summarizes her strengths and weaknesses in reading and should be useful to her teachers in planning a remediation program.

Is ADHD a unitary disorder?

The ADHD PROFILE recognizes that ADHD is not a unitary disorder but rather a collection of symptoms which vary in intensity from person to person. The profile has been designed so that someone reviewing the results of the testing can see at a glance the severity of the core ADHD symptoms.

Is Sally a poor reader?

Sally’s achievement scores are summarized in the graph that follows. They reveal that Sally is a very poor reader and should be diagnosed as having a Specific Learning Disability in Reading. The finding that her Listening Comprehension score is superior indicates that she does not have a generalized receptive language problem but one specific to reading. Good ability was also found in Expressive Language (oral and written) and Math.