AutismAutism and retardation
List the primary features of autism. Impaired social interaction and communication are the primary features of autism, with restricted and repetitive behavior occurring in many patients. Information processing is impaired in the brain, and the condition is life-long.
2. Which explanation for autism is no longer considered valid and lacks research support? That autism is caused by vaccines.
3. What forms of treatment are helpful for a person with autism? Early behavioral and cognitive intervention helps autistic children improve their social and communication skills, and some move on to become independent as adults, but this isn’t the norm.
4. List the criteria for a diagnosis of mental retardation: IQ below 70, evidence that the limitations were apparent in childhood, and significant limitations in two or more areas of adaptive behavior, such as social skills, memory skills, problem solving ability and self care.
5. Explain one way in which sociocultural biases in testing might pose problems for assessing mental retardation. IQ testing has come under the gun as being socioculturally biased and therefore causing some children to be labeled retarded when they didn’t speak the language at a level that would demonstrate their true IQ.
6. Of the four levels of mental retardation, into which category do most people with mental retardation fall? Mild level – IQ from 50-70
7. What are the main types of biological causes of mental retardation? Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome and Fragile X syndrome are the three most common causes for children born with it.
8. What is the only way to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome? Not drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
9. What are normalization and mainstreaming? These are educational terms that refer to the placement of those with disabilities into regular classrooms so that they can interact with and learn from and alongside typical classmates. Accommodations and...