407 -Understanding the Autism Spectrum
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Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LPC
Executive Director, AllCEUs
Host: Counselor Toolbox Podcast
Objectives
– It is called a “spectrum” disorder because people with ASD can have a range of symptoms
Symptoms
– Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following, currently or by history
– Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.
– Direct communication
– Honesty
– Nonjudgmental listening
– Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging, for example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication.
– They often think in pictures or video
Symptoms
– Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following, currently or by history
– Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging, for example, from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in  sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers.
– Less concern for what others may think of them can make them more independent thinkers
– Difficulty recognizing and processing the feelings of others, “mind-blindness” which may result in the inability to identify if another person’s behaviors are intentional or unintentional which can cause others to believe that the individual with autism does not have empathy or understand them. OR
– A fantastic ability to “read” people (Fiona and Sherlock “Elementary”)
Symptoms
– Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, as manifested by at least two of the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text):
– Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech (hand-flapping, rocking, jumping and twirling, arranging and rearranging objects and repeating sounds, words or phrases. Sometimes the repetitive behavior is self-stimulating, such as wiggling fingers in front of the eyes)
– Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns or verbal nonverbal behavior (e.g., extreme distress at small changes, difficulties with transitions, rigid thinking patterns, greeting rituals, need to take same route or eat food every day).
– Some individuals pay attention to minor details, but fail to see how these details fit into a bigger picture.
– Others have difficulty with complex thinking that requires holding more than one train of thought simultaneously
– Others have difficulty maintaining their attention or organizing their thoughts and actions.
Symptoms
– Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, as manifested by at least two of the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text):
– Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus (e.g, strong attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, ex