https://time.com/6551520/loneliness-autism-essay/
Cognitive dissonance on ADOS
But disappointed at a few things that caused a lot of cognitive dissonance for me.
Video of kid who repeated back 2-3 words of one question of the clinician before responding - behavior marked as “echolalia”. But NT folks do this all the time, eg: common tactic in interviews as it buys you time to think. In the NT world this is called "active listening" Yet given as a negative label of echolalia in an autistic child instead of useful social strategy.
"Severe autism has reduced in the last 40 years." Not accurate!! It's just that autism includes many other dx since DSM-V and expanded to accommodate all ages, resulting in a bigger pool, so obviously that %severe looks smaller.
The type of ADOS module used depends on the oral level of the child. Module 1 is the one used for non-verbal/ minimally verbal kids. Seemed to imply that oral communication mandatory for ADOS, cannot be coded if child uses AAC.
Justification given is that use of AAC means
- "It changes nature of eye contact."
- "Are they modulating eye contact in some way"
- "It changes the nature of what is happening."
- They are not making eye contact when they are looking at device.
- They are not doing social engagement with you while looking at device
- There may be some pre-made phrases on device they are making use of
So my question was whether ADOS then is not applicable to the 20-30% of autistics who have no to little spoken language.
Apparently ‘gestures’ are allowed but how much can you communicate with gestures unless you are fluent with ASL. And it is likely that kids with oral communication issues usually also have motor apraxia so their gesturing ability will not good as well.
Related Posts
Keynote at Duke ACE on Apr 3.
We are thrilled that Hari Srinivasan will deliver the keynote for our #AutismAcceptance Month Event, Wed, Apr 3 at 4pm EST. Hari Srinivasan is a self-advocate, neuroscience PhD student and @PDSoros Fellow at Vanderbilt, & ACE committee member. Register at
What is LTP and LTD and how do they relate to Autism?
PlainSpeak. In Plain Language for the Lay Reader
Our brain cells (neurons) connect with each other through synapses, which are like tiny bridges for communication. These connections can change in strength, helping us learn and remember. Two key ways these connections change are Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) and Long-Term Depression (LTD).
- LTP: This is when the connection between two neurons gets stronger. Think of it like a friendship that grows stronger the more you interact.
- LTD: This is when the connection weakens, similar to a friendship that fades when you stop interacting.
Hebbian Plasticity
Hebbian plasticity is a rule that explains how these changes happen: "cells that fire together, wire together." This means that if two neurons are active at the same time, their connection strengthens (LTP). If one neuron is active while the other is not, their connection weakens (LTD).
How LTP and LTD are Different in Autism
Research has shown that people with autism often have differences in how LTP and LTD work, which can affect learning and behavior:
Memory and Learning:
Movement and Coordination:
- The cerebellum, which helps control movement, shows problems with LTD in autism. This can lead to issues with coordination and motor skills (Fatemi et al., 2012) (Nature).
Genes and Synapses:
- Certain genes that help keep synapses strong and flexible can be different in people with autism. For example, genes like SHANK3 and NRXN1 are important for synaptic strength. Changes in these genes can disrupt the balance of LTP and LTD, affecting how neurons communicate (Durand et al., 2007; Südhof, 2008) (Frontiers) (Nature).
Role of Dopamine:
- Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that helps regulate mood and movement. It also affects LTP and LTD. In autism, dopamine might not work the same way, influencing learning and behavior (Yagishita et al., 2014) (Frontiers).
Understanding these differences helps scientists find better ways to support autistics, aiming to improve learning, memory, and coordination.
2 versions of this post
PlainSpeak. Plain Language for the Lay Reader
For the Academic/Scientific Audience
Remembering Judy. We miss you.
Remembering Judy who passed away a year ago this day. We miss you.
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Back in 2019 I had the opportunity to interview the legendary disability civil rights activist, Judy Heumann, for UC Berkeley's "The Daily Californian". Post: https://uniquelyhari.blogspot.com/2022/12/collaboration-cooperation.html
Other posts on Judy in this blog can be found at https://uniquelyhari.blogspot.com/search?q=heumann
Interoception
Interoception refers to the perception of internal bodily states and is a critical component of emotional awareness and regulation. In autism, interoceptive experiences can be distinct, potentially influencing the recognition and communication of needs and emotions (Quattrocki & Friston, 2014). This divergence in interoceptive processing underscores the complexity of understanding internal states and managing emotions in autism.
Your body position influences your emotional state
Research on posture and emotion has shown that adopting certain body positions can influence one's emotional state.
A study by Peper and Lin (2012) explored how body posture affects energy levels and the ability to generate positive and negative thoughts. They found that an upright posture can promote a more positive mood and energy levels, while a slumped posture can lead to increased feelings of depression.
A study by Peper and Lin (2012) explored how body posture affects energy levels and the ability to generate positive and negative thoughts. They found that an upright posture can promote a more positive mood and energy levels, while a slumped posture can lead to increased feelings of depression.
Peper, E., & Lin, I. (2012). Increase or decrease depression: How body postures influence your energy level. Biofeedback, 40(3), 125-130.
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