AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: Case Examples and Analysis

This assignment, focusing on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), analyzes three case studies to identify potential symptoms and guide parents toward diagnosis and intervention. The paper explores the core deficits of ASD, including impaired social interaction, communication difficulties, and repetitive behaviors. Case examples highlight challenges in socializing and repetitive patterns, suggesting interventions like family training and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The author emphasizes the importance of early intervention to improve learning, social skills, and overall development. The conclusion reinforces the critical nature of early intervention for individuals with ASD. The assignment uses references from research papers on ASD and its interventions.

Running head: AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Discussion on Autism Spectrum Disorder
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Discussion on Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental and neurological disorder that
occurs at the initial stage of life, that is, childhood and lasts throughout the rest of the stages
of life. Due to a wide range of symptoms, the use of the word ‘spectrum’ is used to denote the
disorder. In the event of autism spectrum disorder, the child may face difficulty in learning,
communicating, or interacting with others (Kanner & Asperger, 2016). Presently, there is no
standard treatment to cure ASD and early intervention becomes extremely critical to improve
the child’s ability to learn new skills and grow like normal individuals.
Autism, also known as a pervasive or neurodevelopmental disorder, is characterized
by three core deficits, which includes stereotyped and repetitive patterns of interest or
behaviors, impaired communication, and impaired restricted and reciprocal social interaction
(Schmitt et al., 2019).
The following section of the paper will analyse three case studies to recognise any
potential symptoms of autism in the children and direct the parents to the standard procedure
of diagnosis and relevant recommendations.
Case Example 1
As per the description of Ben and his activities, few unusual behaviors can be noted
down. The lack of interest in socializing or interacting with the family members is
characteristic of autism spectrum disorder falling under the character deficit of impaired
reciprocal social interaction. With such characteristics, the child, when grown-up, may face
immense difficulty in sharing emotions and interests with others and maintain an adequate
amount of social interaction (Scandurra et al., 2019). Early intervention such as family
training can be critical to help reduce the child in improving skills of back & forth interaction
with the family members and others in later stages of life.

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Case Example 2
Carolyn from case example 2 is described to be a girl who likes to socialize with
others. However, the description of the child provides a hint of repetitive pattern of behavior.
Carolyn was found to have pervasive difficulties when she was 3 years old and is still facing
them after 9 years. Repetitive behavior observed in the child is circumscribed interest. As the
child has already grown up and moving towards adolescence, the parents should prepare for
Cognitive behavioral therapy of the children and start immediately with the intervention to
ensure speedier improvement of the child’s autistic behavior.
Case Example 3
Dennis is a bright boy, but from his description, significant evidence of the child’s
impaired ability to socialize and interacting is observed. Dennis is at earlier stages of
childhood, and it is the right time to intervene with the goal of improving the child’s ability to
feel confident in social situations and absorb the events around him with better
understanding. With the help of formal diagnosis and intervention such as Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy, the child will be able to socialize better in later stages of life (Spain &
Happé, 2019).
Conclusion
Autism Spectrum Disorders are critical disorders that begin in early childhood, and
the symptoms can remain the entire lifetime if not intervened properly. The above case
examples reflect one of the three core deficits of ASD and provide effective intervention
options for the parents to choose from.

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
References
Kanner, L., & Asperger, H. (2016). Introduction to Autism.
Scandurra, V., Emberti Gialloreti, L., Barbanera, F., Scordo, M., Pierini, A., & Canitano, R.
(2019). Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Adaptive Functions: A Study of Children
with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and/or Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD). Frontiers in psychiatry, 10, 673.
Schmitt, L. M., Bojanek, E., White, S. P., Ragozzino, M. E., Cook, E. H., Sweeney, J. A., &
Mosconi, M. W. (2019). Familiality of behavioral flexibility and response inhibition
deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Molecular Autism, 10(1), 47.
Spain, D., & Happé, F. (2019). How to Optimise Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for
People with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): A Delphi Study. Journal of
Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 1-25.