Repetitive Behaviors and Autism

So I've talked about the first two areas of concern in autism, which are social interactions and communication.  The last area is repetitive behaviors.

As a recap, according to the DSM IV these are the requirements for a diagnosis of autism.

• At least two symptoms from the area of Social Interaction are present
• At least one symptom from the area of Communication is present
• At least one symptom from the area of Repetitive Behaviors is present
• A total of 6 (or more) items are present from the 3 areas listed above
• Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset prior to age 3 years:
• Social interaction
• Language as used in social communication
• Symbolic or imaginative play
• The disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett's Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

Ok, let's talk about Repetitive Behaviors.  Like I said above, at least one of the following is present.

• Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
• Apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
• Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole body movements)
• Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

What does this look like?

Restricted patterns of interest.  The key to this area is the intensity and focus.  We all have interests, but it is the intensity and focus on that interest that can become disruptive to every day life.  For some it may be a subject like trains, dinosaurs, trucks, star wars, etc.  It may become the only thing the individual will talk about and can have an effect on relationships and school depending on how focused they are on that subject.  For others it may be in lining things up, or matching objects.  This can affect ones life when the intensity is so strong that they have a meltdown every time things are not how they would like them to be lined up.  

Specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals.  Just like we have our own rules for things, and I'm sure that some individuals with autism don't understand our rules...some individuals with autism have their own rules and we just don't get it.  I had a student and his "rule" was that he had to enter the building through a certain door.  I didn't know about this "rule" and it took a while before I figured it out, but if he went through the right door instead of the left door (even if we already made it halfway down the hallway) he would have to turn around go back outside and come in through the left door.  This was a behavior that was specific, nonfunctional and turned into a ritual.

Repetitive motor mannerisms.  Many of us have little movements that we do when we are in stressful moments, or when we are trying to pay attention.  For example, when we are sitting in a meeting all day, we tend to get restless.  We start to bounce our leg, or tap our pencil on the desk.  Once again what this is looking at is the intensity and focus.  Many individuals with autism have repetitive behaviors that may begin as a coping mechanism for them but can easily turn into habit.  Some of these repetitive behaviors may be hand flapping, walking on tip toes, spinning, darting across the room, flicking their fingers in front of their eyes, etc.

Preoccupation with parts of objects.  Sometimes you will find that individuals with autism focus on parts of objects rather than looking at the object as a whole.  For example rather than playing with a toy car, the child may be overly focused on the tires.  Instead of using the toy functionally, they may only spin the tires.

Repetitive behaviors can be all consuming and may affect an individuals ability to function fully in their environment, however that information can be very useful as we learn to interact with each individual. 

If you have any concerns about your child's development, please contact your doctor.

Joy Mano

Utah PLAY Project Home Consultant

Early Childhood Autism Services

photo credit: KellBailey via photopin cc

So I've talked about the first two areas of concern in autism, which are social interactions and communication.  The last area is repetitive behaviors.

As a recap, according to the DSM IV these are the requirements for a diagnosis of autism.

• At least two symptoms from the area of Social Interaction are present
• At least one symptom from the area of Communication is present
• At least one symptom from the area of Repetitive Behaviors is present
• A total of 6 (or more) items are present from the 3 areas listed above
• Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset prior to age 3 years:
• Social interaction
• Language as used in social communication
• Symbolic or imaginative play
• The disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett's Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

Ok, let's talk about Repetitive Behaviors.  Like I said above, at least one of the following is present.

• Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
• Apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
• Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole body movements)
• Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

What does this look like?

Restricted patterns of interest.  The key to this area is the intensity and focus.  We all have interests, but it is the intensity and focus on that interest that can become disruptive to every day life.  For some it may be a subject like trains, dinosaurs, trucks, star wars, etc.  It may become the only thing the individual will talk about and can have an effect on relationships and school depending on how focused they are on that subject.  For others it may be in lining things up, or matching objects.  This can affect ones life when the intensity is so strong that they have a meltdown every time things are not how they would like them to be lined up.  

Specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals.  Just like we have our own rules for things, and I'm sure that some individuals with autism don't understand our rules...some individuals with autism have their own rules and we just don't get it.  I had a student and his "rule" was that he had to enter the building through a certain door.  I didn't know about this "rule" and it took a while before I figured it out, but if he went through the right door instead of the left door (even if we already made it halfway down the hallway) he would have to turn around go back outside and come in through the left door.  This was a behavior that was specific, nonfunctional and turned into a ritual.

Repetitive motor mannerisms.  Many of us have little movements that we do when we are in stressful moments, or when we are trying to pay attention.  For example, when we are sitting in a meeting all day, we tend to get restless.  We start to bounce our leg, or tap our pencil on the desk.  Once again what this is looking at is the intensity and focus.  Many individuals with autism have repetitive behaviors that may begin as a coping mechanism for them but can easily turn into habit.  Some of these repetitive behaviors may be hand flapping, walking on tip toes, spinning, darting across the room, flicking their fingers in front of their eyes, etc.

Preoccupation with parts of objects.  Sometimes you will find that individuals with autism focus on parts of objects rather than looking at the object as a whole.  For example rather than playing with a toy car, the child may be overly focused on the tires.  Instead of using the toy functionally, they may only spin the tires.

Repetitive behaviors can be all consuming and may affect an individuals ability to function fully in their environment, however that information can be very useful as we learn to interact with each individual. 

If you have any concerns about your child's development, please contact your doctor.

Joy Mano

Utah PLAY Project Home Consultant

Early Childhood Autism Services

photo credit: KellBailey via photopin cc

Communication and Autism

On Monday I focused on the area of Social Interactions in regards to the DSM IV (how autism is diagnosed.)  Today I'm would like to continue on to Communication.  As I said in my last post, just because someone has some of these characteristics, does not necessarily mean they have autism.  They must also meet the criteria in the areas of Social Interaction and Repetitive Behaviors.

According to the DSM IV, at least one of the following are present.

• Delay in or total lack of, the development of spoken language (also without gestural communication)
• Individuals with adequate speech have a marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain conversations
• Stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language
• Lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level

Spoken Language and Gestural Language.  Many times the lack of spoken language is the most obvious sign for parents that their child may have delays.  Typically, kids should have several  consistent words they are using by 18 months.  You would start seeing more gestural communication, like pointing, around 14 months.  Here is a great blog about language development (Playing With Words 365), and particularly, here is a post about red flags in communication.  It gives some great timelines on language development.

Initiating and Sustaining Conversations.  There are some kiddos who have tons of words they know, but making their words functional can be more difficult.  Conversations are a give and take process, we build relationships when we have good conversations.  Some kids may know how to talk, but they do not participate in a back and forth interactions with others.  Some kids are good at responding, and will answer questions, but will not go further than that.  Others will initiate, but will rarely let others respond, thus they are very good at the giving part, but not so much at the taking part.

Stereotyped and Repetitive Language.  Some parents will report that their children speak in movie quotes.  Sometimes it's in context with the situation, but a lot of times it is not.  Some kids may get fixated on certain phrases and will repeat them continuously.  Other kids will repeat what you say or other things they hear, this is called echolalia.  Echolalia includes when they immediately repeat what they hear, or they may also repeat what they heard hours ago.

Make-believe Play or Social Imitative Play.  Make-believe can be difficult for some kids with autism because it involves an understanding of what other people are feeling and doing.  It also requires imitation skills.  When playing with others in pretend play, this skill also requires that the child is able to see the points of view of other people and explain his/her point of view to them to create the experience that they want.  Many kids with autism prefer to play on their own, and may focus more on sensory type play.

Joy Mano

Utah PLAY Project Home Consultant

Early Intervention Services for Children with Autism

photo credit: Diego Dalmaso via photopin cc

On Monday I focused on the area of Social Interactions in regards to the DSM IV (how autism is diagnosed.)  Today I'm would like to continue on to Communication.  As I said in my last post, just because someone has some of these characteristics, does not necessarily mean they have autism.  They must also meet the criteria in the areas of Social Interaction and Repetitive Behaviors.

According to the DSM IV, at least one of the following are present.

• Delay in or total lack of, the development of spoken language (also without gestural communication)
• Individuals with adequate speech have a marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain conversations
• Stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language
• Lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level

Spoken Language and Gestural Language.  Many times the lack of spoken language is the most obvious sign for parents that their child may have delays.  Typically, kids should have several  consistent words they are using by 18 months.  You would start seeing more gestural communication, like pointing, around 14 months.  Here is a great blog about language development (Playing With Words 365), and particularly, here is a post about red flags in communication.  It gives some great timelines on language development.

Initiating and Sustaining Conversations.  There are some kiddos who have tons of words they know, but making their words functional can be more difficult.  Conversations are a give and take process, we build relationships when we have good conversations.  Some kids may know how to talk, but they do not participate in a back and forth interactions with others.  Some kids are good at responding, and will answer questions, but will not go further than that.  Others will initiate, but will rarely let others respond, thus they are very good at the giving part, but not so much at the taking part.

Stereotyped and Repetitive Language.  Some parents will report that their children speak in movie quotes.  Sometimes it's in context with the situation, but a lot of times it is not.  Some kids may get fixated on certain phrases and will repeat them continuously.  Other kids will repeat what you say or other things they hear, this is called echolalia.  Echolalia includes when they immediately repeat what they hear, or they may also repeat what they heard hours ago.

Make-believe Play or Social Imitative Play.  Make-believe can be difficult for some kids with autism because it involves an understanding of what other people are feeling and doing.  It also requires imitation skills.  When playing with others in pretend play, this skill also requires that the child is able to see the points of view of other people and explain his/her point of view to them to create the experience that they want.  Many kids with autism prefer to play on their own, and may focus more on sensory type play.

Joy Mano

Utah PLAY Project Home Consultant

Early Intervention Services for Children with Autism

photo credit: Diego Dalmaso via photopin cc