Understanding anxiety in individuals with Autism

103 Pages·2017·10.22 MB·English

by  Sean Surfas

Understanding anxiety in
individuals with Autism

CASP Convention
2017

Sean Surfas Ph.D BCBA-D LEP

TOTAL Programs
[email protected]

626-355-5160
Outline of Topics

Definition of Autism and Asperger Syndrome


Behavioral Characteristics of Autism and Asperger

Syndrome

Emotional and Social: Therapeutic Issues:


Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Definition and Scope


Therapy Session and Interventions

Social Story for
Participants
When I go to a training, sometimes the

slides don’t match perfectly to what the
presenter says.
The presenter sometimes thinks of new

important things to add to make it an even
better presentation.
This might make me feel anxious or upset,

but I am OKAY!
I can try to take a deep breath and ask

questions if I don’t understand.
Famous Quote

“If you’ve seen one child with Asperger Syndrome
or autism, you have seen one child with Asperger
Syndrome or autism.”
Brenda Smith Myles (2000)
Prevalence
Best studies suggest AS considerably more

common than “classic” autism-estimates as high
as 1 out of every 250, according to various studies.
Much more common in boys (about one in ten are

female)
ASD’s fastest growing disability; more common

than Down syndrome, CP or childhood cancer
Quality of Life Issues
According to the National Autistic Society, over

50% pursue higher degrees, yet
12% hold full-time jobs

83% report less than two social contacts per month

3% live independently

Other studies suggest that 71% to 92% of adults with

AS suffer from a mood, anxiety or thought disorder
Brief History of Autism and
Asperger’s
1944 Hans Asperger , a Viennese pediatrician published

“Autistic Psychopathies in Childhood,” one year after Leo
Kanner’s first publication on autism in the United States.
Asperger recognized that autism could occur in

children of all mental abilities. He focused on:
Research with boys who had difficulties

“fitting in socially” but whom he described
as very intelligent children with unusual
abilities
He described all of the features of AS as

we now know it
Ahead of his time

Brief History, cont…
In 1979 Lorna Wing proposed a TRIAD of

impairments in autism, but with children who did
not meet Kanner’s criteria

Social Interaction

Social Communication

Social Imagination

Lorna Wing, 1983
Brief History, cont…

In 1981 Asperger’s work translated into English by

Lorna Wing
Wing outlined the clinical features of AS

1994 AS officially added to DSM

1996 Wing used term “Autism Spectrum”

Definition of Autistic-like Behaviors
from Calif. Ed Code
This is to be used to determine eligibility

for special education services rather than
for the purpose of diagnosis of Autistic
Spectrum Disorder
CCR & 3030(g) A pupil exhibits any

combination of the following autistic-like
behaviors, to include but not limited to:
1)An inability to use oral language for

appropriate communication
2)A history of extreme withdrawal or relating to

people inappropriately and continued
impairment in social interaction from infancy
through early childhood