Autism Fads – Flashcards

- Some medications seem to be safe in terms of toxicity - Effective in altering some aspects of behavior such as aggression, self-injury, stereotypy

- No meds effective in remediating the care social-communicative deficits. - Many studies have methodological issues - Lack of robust animal models - Botanical extracts, nutrients, hormones not as well tested

- It is a nutritional fad - Typically three injections of a polypeptide hormone that causes the pancreas to secrete digestive enzymes which help to process food in the small intestines; transdermal applications

- Absence of typical secretin stimulation may result in an up-regulation of the secretin receptors in the pancreas. - Two double blind placebo controlled studies have not supported its use - Lack of FDA approval; cost

Oxygen is delivered in a pressurized chamber with the goal of increasing oxygen absorption in bodily tissue

- An increase in the blood flow to the brain supplies the brain with more oxygen and glucose, giving the cells their needed energy to perform tasks. - To date there are no studies with strong experimental designs evaluating whether or not HBOT is effective - Equipment pose fire risk Treatment costing $150-900 per treatment or $14,000-17.000 for a home chamber.

An intervention in which the participant places magnets on his or her body, sleeps under a blanket with magnets or lies on a bed with magnets

- The purpose is to redirect energy flow in the body - There have been no scientific studies on the use of magnets for individuals with autism spectrum disorders

It involves physical manipulation of one sort or another

Activities necessary to restore neurological functioning (e.g. swinging, rolling, brushing, deep pressure, weighted vests, joint compression, sensory diet) implemented by an OT in several 30-60 min sessions per week

- Unusual sensory responses are related to sensory integration dysfunction which leads to a poor ability to focus, problem behavior, and cognitive deficits including language - Meta-analysis of 32 studies (Vargas & Camilli 1999) concluded that study quality negatively correlated with effectiveness - It is a very common intervention since 1970 - 82% of OTs always use SIT for children with autism

Clients tested for traumatizing frequencies which are then exposed to music in which these frequencies are modulated or filtered to help produce similar hearing sensitivities

- Suggested that children with ASD may experience heightened sensitivities to sound frequencies tolerated by others; this intolerance can cause learning disorder and behavior problems - Well-controlled studies failed to show positive effects; proponents selectively use poor controlled studies showing positive effects to support AIT - Cost between 2-3K

Interaction of persons with autism and dolphins or horses is presumed to increase learning, attention, and motor skills

- The dolphin's echo-location can change cellular metabolism in the human body - There are no controlled studies - Extremely high cost to family

Empirical evidence supports the effectiveness of some psychosocial interventions; important to note that they are not created equal.

- The caregiver holds the child very closely and very tightly while speaking in a comforting manner - The caregiver may not release his/her hold until the child "surrenders" and spontaneously looks into the caregiver's eyes - The caregiver then returns the child's gaze and exchange affection

- It is based on psychodynamics and attachment theory - There have been no scientific studies of holding therapy for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) - Safeguards need to be in place, resources; time

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Involves having an individual with ASD play with a therapist

- Based on psychoanalytic theory (developed by Bruno Bettelheim) - Play activities are thought to reveal past conflicts or traumas that the individual has experienced - Autism is not caused by past conflicts/traumas (Cantwell & Baker 1984) - Individuals may receive the most support when they display the most problems; this has been shown to reinforce the problems and thereby make them worse (Lovaas, Freitag, GOld & Kassorla, 1965) - Theory can make parents feel guilty, expensive

- Started at earliest age possible - intensive - parent training and support are critical - social and communication focus - Systematic, but individualized - Emphasis on generalization - American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (1999) - National Research Council (2001) - Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT)