Deck 9: Learners With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Question 1

A condition characterized by normal development for at least 2 and up to 10 years, followed by a significant loss of skills is

A)Asperger syndrome.
B)Rett syndrome.
C)childhood disintegrative disorder.
D)pervasive developmental disorder.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which term is used to describe disorders similar in many ways to autism?

A)autism spectrum disorder
B)autism-like disorder
C)autism behavior disorder
D)autism developmental disorder

Answer 2

A

Question 3

During the 1960s, which idea was popular among professionals trying to explain autism?

A)psychoanalytic idea that attributes cause to parents
B)biological basis that attributes cause to heredity
C)neurological basis that attributes cause to brain damage
D)childhood inoculations

Answer 3

A

Question 4

According to the APA, in order to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, an individual must meet each of these criteria EXCEPT

A)clinically significant, persistent defects in social communication and interactions
B)restricted, repetitive pattern of behavior, interests, and activities
C)symptoms must be present in early childhood
D)evidence of echolalia, a unique language pattern with repetition of words and phrases

Question 5

Asperger referred to the children he studied as having

A)schizophrenia.
B)childhood disintegrative disorder.
C)pervasive developmental disorder.
D)autistic psychopathy.

Question 6

A condition that is much like autism but usually without significant delays in cognition and language is

A)Asperger syndrome.
B)Rett syndrome.
C)childhood disintegrative disorder.
D)pervasive developmental disorder.

Question 7

Each of the following supports a neurological basis for autism EXCEPT

A)People with autism have a high incidence of brain seizures and cognitive deficits.
B)Postmortem and neurological imaging studies have implicated several areas of the brain that differ from those of people without disabilities.
C)People with autism may have experienced sudden, excessive brain growth followed by a deceleration in growth.
D)Studies show that when one sibling is diagnosed with autism, the chances are much higher that another sibling has autism.

Question 8

The seminal work in the field of autism began in what year?

A)1923
B)1933
C)1943
D)1953

Question 9

A condition in which persons display behaviors typical of autism but to a lesser degree and/or with an onset later than 3 years of age is

A)Asperger syndrome.
B)Rett syndrome.
C)childhood disintegrative disorder.
D)pervasive developmental disorder.

Question 10

Each of the following is a misconception about autism spectrum disorders EXCEPT

A)It is a single, well-defined category of disability.
B)People with autism spectrum disorders are all intellectually disabled.
C)People with autism are impaired in some cognitive areas but are highly intelligent or geniuses in others.
D)There is no evidence that bad parenting causes autism.

Question 11

Kanner's research with a group of children he called "autistic" indicated that these children could be set apart from children with schizophrenia in each of the following ways EXCEPT

A)Children with schizophrenia withdrew from the world at some point, while children with autism had no social connections to begin with.
B)Children with autism exhibited unique language patterns, such as echolalia.
C)Children with schizophrenia exhibited bizarre, repetitive physical movement.
D)Children with schizophrenia tended to deteriorate in their functioning over time, while children with autism did not.

Question 12

One characteristic that distinguished children studied by Kanner was

A)an inability to relate to others in an ordinary manner.
B)a need to be picked up or held by parents.
C)surprisingly normal language development.
D)an extreme dislike of repetition.

Question 13

Asperger identified children who had

A)average intelligence but channeled their intellectual pursuits into obsessive preoccupation in narrow areas.
B)above average intelligence but channeled their intellectual pursuits into obsessive preoccupation in narrow areas.
C)below average intelligence but remarkable ability in a particular area.
D)below average intelligence and a tendency toward violent, psychotic behavior.

Question 14

Each of the following is included within autism spectrum disorders EXCEPT

A)childhood disintegrative disorder.
B)pervasive developmental disorder.
C)Asperger syndrome.
D)Butler's disorder.

Question 15

Which statement about the prevalence rate of ASD is TRUE?

A)It is 4 times higher for girls than boys.
B)It is 4 times higher for boys than girls.
C)It is higher for Latinos than European Americans.
D)It is higher for African Americans than for European Americans.

Question 16

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, how many people have an autism spectrum disorder?

A)about 1 out of 110
B)about 1 out of 2,500
C)about 1 out of 333
D)about 1 out 91

Question 17

Most scientists argue that the dramatic increase in prevalence statistics for autism is due to each of the following EXCEPT

A)a widening of the criteria used for diagnosis.
B)a greater awareness of autism in general.
C)widespread use of vaccinations for babies.
D)"diagnostic substitution" (diagnosing with autism rather than intellectual disability).

Question 18

Which statement about the causes of autism spectrum disorder is true?

A)Autism spectrum disorder is likely caused by parental attitudes and behavior.
B)Scientists have established unequivocally that the cause is neurological.
C)Psychoanalytic ideas attribute autism to brain malfunction.
D)Childhood inoculations have been proven to cause autism in some cases.

Question 19

Which term was once commonly applied to mothers of children with autism?

A)warmhearted moms
B)refrigerator moms
C)coldhearted moms
D)neglectful moms

Question 20

The words "autistic" and "autism" come from the Greek word autos, meaning

A)cars.
B)withdrawn.
C)others.
D)self.

Question 21

A person whose sensory perceptions are so abnormal that he or she could appear to be deaf or blind would be

A)hyporesponsive.
B)hyperresponsive.
C)overresponsive.
D)hypersensitive.

Question 22

Neurological research that involves the brain and head size of people with autism strongly suggests that for many

A)their brains are larger than average at birth.
B)their brains increase in size after about age five years.
C)their brains grow suddenly and excessively in the first two years of life.
D)their brains reach maximum size around age two or three years.

Question 23

Which of the following statements illustrates evidence for autism having a hereditary component?

A)"Refrigerator mothers" have been shown to have had mothers who were also "cold" and uninvolved.
B)Identical twins are much more likely to both have autism than are fraternal twins.
C)When one family member has autism, the chances are 10 times higher that another family member has autism than in the population as a whole.
D)Family members of those with autism are less likely to have a preference for routines than people in general.

Question 24

Children with autism have impaired communication; as many as 50 percent are thought to

A)be mute.
B)lack communicative intent.
C)display stereotypic behavior.
D)exhibit echolalia.

Question 25

The three most prominent theories that identify the major impairments attributed to autism spectrum disorders include each of the following EXCEPT

A)executive functions.
B)family systems.
C)weak central coherence.
D)theory of mind.

Question 26

Each of the following is a characteristic that applies generally to individuals who may be said to exhibit autism spectrum disorder EXCEPT

A)impaired social responsiveness.
B)impaired communication.
C)stereotyped and ritualistic behavior.
D)broad range of interests.

Question 27

Which of the following statements about intelligence and autism is true?

A)Intelligence does not appear to be affected by autism.
B)About 20% of individuals with autism have mental retardation as well.
C)People with autism are unusually intelligent as a group.
D)The majority of individuals with autism display cognitive deficits similar to those with intellectual disabilities.

Question 28

The desire to communicate for social reasons is

A)pragmatic language.
B)communicative intent.
C)echolalia.
D)conversational impetus.

Question 29

What percentage of children with autism appears to experience autistic regression?

A)10-27%
B)20-47%
C)30-57%
D)40-87%

Question 30

Jeremy has severe autism. He does not interact with others socially and his intellectual functioning appears to be very low. However, Jeremy has extraordinary ability as a pianist (though he is not interested in performing for other people). Which term best describes Jeremy?

A)Asperger syndrome
B)Rett syndrome
C)autistic savant
D)autistic genius

Question 31

Executive functions include all of the following EXCEPT

A)ability to conceptualize stimuli as a whole.
B)working memory.
C)the ability to plan ahead.
D)self-regulation of emotions.

Question 32

What percentage of the population of those with autism is thought to be autistic savant?

A)about 10%
B)about 25%
C)about 75%
D)about 50%

Question 33

The social skills that are not taught directly but people are assumed to know, or social rules or conventions that most of us learn incidentally, are what is referred to as the

A)hidden curriculum.
B)secret curriculum.
C)social curriculum.
D)undisclosed curriculum.

Question 34

The natural inclination for most people to bring order and meaning to information in their environment by perceiving it as a meaningful whole rather than as disparate parts is

A)lateral coherence.
B)central coherence.
C)lateral adherence.
D)central synthesis.

Question 35

People with Asperger syndrome tend to be

A)overly literal but very illogical
B)logical and able to see situations in a nuanced way
C)focused on emotion over logic, and are quite literal.
D)overly literal and focused on logic over emotion.

Question 36

A mixing of sensory or cognitive systems whereby stimulation of one elicits stimulation of the other is

A)mirror neurons.
B)synaesthesia.
C)hyperresponsiveness.
D)hyposensitivity.

Question 37

Most children with autism can be diagnosed by the age of

A)12 years
B)9 years
C)6 years
D)3 years

Question 38

Repetitive, ritualistic motor movements such as twirling, flapping hands, and rocking are known as

A)impaired social responsiveness.
B)impaired communication.
C)stereotypic behaviors.
D)preoccupation with objects.

Question 39

The way people use language in social situations is

A)communicative intent.
B)semantics.
C)pragmatics.
D)syntax.

Question 40

The process by which one alerts another to a stimulus via nonverbal means, such as gazing or pointing, is called

A)attention prompting.
B)prompt attention.
C)joint attention.
D)joint prompting.

Question 41

Planning for transition to adulthood for people with Asperger syndrome is largely concerned with issues of

A)supported living.
B)competitive employment.
C)residential placement.
D)social interaction.

Question 42

Only occasionally are the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder noticed before a child is two years old.

Question 43

Social interaction problems for persons with Asperger syndrome tend to increase as they reach adolescence and adulthood.

Question 44

In many ways, outcomes for persons with autism are similar to those with

A)learning disabilities.
B)intellectual disabilities.
C)emotional or behavioral disorders.
D)attention deficit hyperactivity disorders.

Question 45

Educators of students with autistic spectrum disorder are putting increasing emphasis on applying behavioral psychology in

A)structured settings and controlled environments.
B)normalized situations and normalized locations.
C)natural settings and natural interactions.
D)natural settings and in-vitro interactions.

Question 46

Functional behavioral assessment is used to reduce or eliminate negative behaviors. The purposes the behaviors serve for a person are

A)antecedents.
B)setting events.
C)consequences.
D)motivations.

Question 47

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)includes each of the following components EXCEPT

A)using structured lessons.
B)limited use of reinforcement.
C)focus on functional skills.
D)require continuous assessment of progress.

Question 48

According to the National Research Council, each of the following is considered an essential feature of effective educational programs for preschool children with autistic spectrum disorders EXCEPT

A)entry into intervention programs as soon as diagnosis is seriously considered.
B)inclusion of a family component, including parent training.
C)low student/teacher ratios in the classroom.
D)active engagement in intensive instructional programming for at least 10 hours per week.

Question 49

People with autism have a high incidence of brain seizures and cognitive deficits.

Question 50

There are no standardized assessments available for outcome measures for people with autism.

Question 51

Most people with autism exhibit remarkable ability or talent in particular splinter skills, such as playing music, drawing, or calculating

Question 52

The majority of people with autistic spectrum disorders have autism rather than Asperger syndrome.

Question 53

Two critical areas of assessment for students with autism spectrum disorders are

A)progress in academic skills and functional skills.
B)progress in academic skills and social/adaptive behavior.
C)progress in language development and functional skills.
D)progress in language development and social/adaptive behavior.

Question 54

Autism has been a separate category under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)since 1990.

Question 55

What is currently the most popular placement for students with autism?

A)self-contained classroom
B)separate schools
C)resource rooms
D)general education classrooms

Question 56

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)focuses on

A)teaching pivotal skills like motivation.
B)improving relatively severe language problems.
C)teaching pivotal skills like self-management.
D)teaching to more actively initiate responses.

Question 57

Evidence strongly indicates that there is a connection between the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine and autism.

Question 58

Some people with autism are highly intelligent and high achieving.

Question 59

The most popular placement for students with autism is the general education classroom.

Question 60

Jean is a young woman with Asperger syndrome. Her coworker recently lost a family member to cancer. Jean expounded on her knowledge of the cause and effects of the illness, but did not offer condolences, nor did she notice the discomfort she was causing her coworker. Jean's inability to perceive the feelings or to understand the emotional state of her coworker is related to

A)theory of central coherence.
B)theory of empathy.
C)theory of mind.
D)theory of executive functioning.

Question 61

What is meant by the term "hidden curriculum"? Provide two examples from your own experience.

Question 62

What characteristics should early education and interventions for students with autism have?

Question 63

Describe three strategies to help a student with autism be more included in a general
education classroom.

Question 64

What features should be present in a transition plan for students with autism spectrum disorders?

Question 65

Why is "autism" more appropriately thought of in terms of the broader phrase "autism spectrum disorder"?

Question 66

Why has autism been "fertile ground for faddish and unproven treatment methods?"

Question 67

What areas particularly need to be assessed for students with autism spectrum disorders, what are appropriate methods of assessment, and what special concerns are there regarding assessment?

Question 68

What is the early intensive behavioral interventions (EIBI)program, and why are professionals cautious about recommending it?

Question 69

Briefly describe attempts to construct a unifying theory of autism spectrum disorders.

Question 70

Describe how you could use a system like the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)to improve the functional communication of a person with autism.