by IABA Team | Oct 26, 2021
On the surface, social anxiety disorder and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may look the same. Both people with autism and those with social anxiety can experience social situations differently than others.
While social anxiety and ASD can occur together, they are very different conditions. In some cases doctors even get the two mixed up, leading to misdiagnosis.
Let’s take a look at both the similarities and differences between ASD and social anxiety.
Similarities of ASD & Social Anxiety
A major similarity between social anxiety disorder and ASD is that both conditions look different in every person. With that said, there are plenty of similarities, including symptoms and treatment services offered. It’s also important to understand that social anxiety is not a form of autism and vice versa.
Similar Symptoms
One reason social anxiety and autism are sometimes confused is that some symptoms appear the same.
According to some educational psychologists, overlapping symptoms of autism and social anxiety disorder can include:
- Limited social communication
- Nervousness
- Difficulty adapting to changing plans
- Lack of eye contact
ASD & Social Anxiety Diagnosis
A psychologist can diagnose autism and/or social anxiety disorder using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders 5th Edition (DSM-5). The DSM-5 is a handbook published by the American Psychiatric Association that helps healthcare professionals make diagnoses.
A healthcare professional will ask about symptoms and may observe a person in social situations before making a diagnosis. Sometimes a pediatrician or physician will recommend seeing a healthcare professional who can properly diagnose ASD, social anxiety, or other specific mental conditions. Ask your doctor for more information.
The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for autism include:
- Persistent differences in social communication, including but not limited to lack of back-and-forth conversations and differences in eye contact
- Repetitive patterns of behaviors, such as lining up toys
- Symptoms were present in early development, even if they went unnoticed
- Symptoms interfere with daily functioning, such as schoolwork
The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for social anxiety disorder include:
- Fear of judgment in social situations
- Consistent anxiety in social situations that does not fit the context
- Avoidance of social interaction
- Fear of social interaction that impedes day-to-day life
- Having fear for at least 6 months (and the fear cannot be attributed to another mental health condition, such as panic or substance use disorder, or a disease like Parkinson’s)
Note that social anxiety can develop in children or adults.
ASD & Social Anxiety: Brain Functions
The amygdala, which affects the brain’s response to fear, may play a role in both ASD and social anxiety disorder. Research is still ongoing. Ultimately, however, brain functioning is very different in social anxiety and ASD. The neurological causes of autism aren’t yet fully understood.
Treatment for ASD & Social Anxiety
There’s no cure for social anxiety or autism. In addition, not everyone wants to “manage” or “fix” characteristics associated with autism. People can live fulfilling lives with customized support and treatment tailored to their goals.
Treatment and support options for ASD include:
- Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Social skills training
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Occupational therapy*
*Occupational therapy is often a first-line service for autism. It may also be used to help people cope with social anxiety in some cases.
High-Functioning Autism Vs. Social Anxiety Disorder
The current diagnostic process for ASD involves three potential levels of support needed:
level 1: requiring some support
level 2: requiring substantial support
level 3: requiring very substantial support
Autism is neurologically based, which makes it different from social anxiety disorder, regardless of communication abilities or any overlap in symptoms.
Differences Between ASD & Social Anxiety
The main difference between ASD and social anxiety is that autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, while social anxiety is a mental health condition. Experts say it’s essential to get the diagnosis correct.
Though a formal diagnosis is best made by a licensed professional, understanding the differences between social anxiety and autism can empower parents to seek an evaluation. Because autism and social anxiety are distinct conditions, they have nuanced symptoms and diagnostic criteria.
ASD & Social Anxiety Symptoms
People with autism and those with social anxiety alike may seem to avoid eye contact. Importantly, however, autistic people aren’t necessarily “avoiding” eye contact out of nervousness or fear. They’re simply not making eye contact in the first place, which is a distinct difference.
Researchers have suggested that individuals with autism look toward a person more slowly, while people with social anxiety look away faster. ASD is a spectrum, meaning people may communicate in different ways. Some may not speak at all, while others may engage in one-sided conversations or miss social cues.
On the other hand, people with social anxiety intentionally avoid conversations because of fear.
Social anxiety can be the result of trauma. A brain dealing with social anxiety may be compensating for something that happened or trying to prevent something from happening reoccurring. Social anxiety is different from autism because autism isn’t triggered by an event, experience, or trauma.
ASD & Social Anxiety Brain Functions
The amygdala may be implicated in both autism and social anxiety disorder, but current research supports the idea that autism is neurodevelopmental. There are comprehensive conclusions available concerning what causes ASD, but research is ongoing.
Social anxiety, on the other hand, is mental-emotional.
Please note that all of this information is for reference only. If you are concerned about your child, please contact your pediatrician or a mental healthcare specialist.
ABA Therapy from IABA Consultants
If you have questions regarding autism treatment, education, or plans using ABA therapy, we are here for you! Our goal is to make sure no family is turned away due to financial constraints. Our therapy team would love to talk to you. Find the location closest to you and give us a call. We’re here for you.
Originally Posted as How to Tell the Difference Between Social Anxiety and Autism at Healthline.com
by IABA Team | Oct 19, 2021
One of the challenges of modern life is the lure of having it all. We believe that if we can just manage our time, our child with autism can have the best experiences at school, at ABA therapy, with friends, and at home with family. When we’re spread too thin, though, we don’t benefit fully from anything. But when we learn to prioritize according to our values, we may not feel regret about making difficult choices and doing less.
Letting our values guide our choices is an unfamiliar concept for most of us — and it requires a little self-exploration to determine our priorities. But the rewards can be huge.
How COVID-19 Affected Priorities
Despite COVID’s continued impact, families are beginning to have more options for kids with autism. In-person school might be slotted in next to ABA therapy, and the combination can radically alter evening routines as everyone in the family also needs to take time to prepare to do it all again the following day. Here, families may struggle to decide which treatments to pursue for their child.
A family may see major benefits with ABA therapy but also recognize that COVID-related disruptions were very hard. Many parents think their child will benefit from going back to school, yet they don’t want to lose ABA therapy and they also want to have family time.
In a situation like this would a family benefit from having some of everything? Or would fewer activities that allow for richer experiences be better? In a lot of cases, efforts are not necessarily concentrated enough to have positive outcomes in any of the choices.
A tough decision is easier when a family can figure out what they really value. Evaluating what parts of in-school therapy, clinical therapy, and at-home therapy can help families decide what is most important for their child.
Developing Priorities for Children with ASD
As with everything else in life, values are not necessarily constant. This means we can adjust behaviors and choices to align with shifting values.
Determining our values can help steer us toward more fulfilling outcomes, even on a day-to-day basis. If your child is working toward learning to tie their shoes independently, for instance, repetition will help them achieve this more quickly. The downside to a lot of repetition is that you aren’t able to get other values-related tasks done. Putting the things you value most at the front of your list can help tackle important issues first.
The beauty of a values-based approach to lifestyle choices is that each parent’s values are personal and specific to them. There’s no comparison or measurement of personal values, so no guilt should be involved.
For example; if a parent can better approach each day when there’s no lingering laundry to fold, they’re not prioritizing laundry over children. But they are placing value on having an uncluttered mind so they can be more present in the moments that really matter.
ABA Therapy from IABA Consultants
If you have questions regarding autism treatment, education, or plans using ABA therapy, we are here for you! Our goal is to make sure no family is turned away due to financial constraints. Our therapy team would love to talk to you. Find the location closest to you and give us a call. We’re here for you.
Originally Posted as Values Can Help Clarify Choices With a Child With Autism, Chicago Parent, September 17, 2021
by IABA Team | Oct 12, 2021
Many parents of a child with ASD wonder what the best therapy method for their child is. In-home therapy (in tandem with other recommended programs) is a critical part of the development of any child with ASD.
In-home ABA therapy can be conducted by a licensed therapist or the parents on a daily basis. Let’s take a look at how in-home ABA therapy works and how it can benefit your child’s development.
In-Home ABA Therapy: How it Works
A huge benefit of in-home therapy is the comfort for both parents and children. If you sign up for professional in-home therapy, an ABA therapist will come to your home to work with your child. This minimizes driving time by seamlessly fitting therapy without travel into your everyday routine. In-home ABA therapy is very useful for families who have issues with transportation.
Buying therapy materials for professional in-home ABA therapy is not necessary. The therapist will use in-home materials & toys the child already has access to. ABA therapy tools for reinforcement can be almost anything: toys, snacks, social praise, etc.
ABA therapists assess what each child likes during every session. Reinforcement tools are an essential part of ABA therapy. These tools are used to help reinforce good behavior and teach a variety of different skills like communication, play, and peer interactions.
Certain behaviors may often occur in the home, making it important to change them in a familiar setting. Resisting instruction for daily tasks or problem behaviors with siblings during playtime are things that may not happen in a clinical setting.
BCBAs make assessments to pinpoint why problem behaviors happen and develop intervention strategies to treat problems as they occur. This gives many opportunities to target problematic behaviors and help change them.
During in-home sessions, an ABA therapist observes everyday interactions between the child and family members in real-time. This allows the therapist to provide quick feedback to parents on different approaches to creating parent-conducted treatment outside sessions.
In-home therapy can be used for toddlers, teens, and adults with Autism. Younger children from ages 2-5 who spend most of their time at home may benefit the most from in-home ABA therapy. A BCBA creates a treatment plan that best suits a child’s needs at home, allowing therapy to start in a familiar environment.
ABA Therapy & Family Support
Another advantage of in-home therapy is that parents and siblings can get involved in a child’s development. All family members are recommended to be active participants during in-home ABA therapy. This includes visiting relatives, grandparents, caregivers, and other regular visitors.
ABA therapists can provide support to families who want to learn more about their child’s therapy program, treatment, and development. Family engagement has been actively demonstrated to increase progress when everyone implements ABA therapy strategies outside professional sessions.
ABA therapists can guide families on how to use ABA therapy to increase appropriate behaviors while reducing problematic ones. At-home ABA therapy also helps develop sibling relationships by working on age-appropriate skills. Social activities with siblings like playing, sharing, and interacting can be strengthened by ABA therapy. Peer interactions are also encouraged among friends and close relatives.
ABA Therapy & Independent Living at Home
Independent living skills are best taught and reinforced at home. Personal hygiene skill reinforcement at home provides a natural environment for children to develop skills. Important tasks like brushing teeth, washing hands, washing face, are best reinforced where they regularly occur.
Independent living tasks are typically broken down into smaller steps with reinforcement being provided after each step is accomplished. Repeating the individual steps of a process followed by completing the process as a whole every day will help a child learn to be self-sufficient.
For early learners, in-home ABA therapy can also include daily routines. Things like toilet training, dressing, learning to tie shoes, can be taught and reinforced on a daily basis. Parents can select times that work best. Talking to your child’s BCBA can help you develop an effective schedule that will benefit your child.
Older children and teens will have different needs than younger kids. Tasks for older kids may include organizing or cleaning their room, preparing meals, and learning how to communicate (both verbally and through phones or other electronic devices).
Peer interaction for teens, things like board games, video games, or social outings with friends, can be very beneficial as well–just make sure to talk to all involved parties about any specific needs beforehand. Knowing what situations or places your teen is comfortable with can help set up a successful social outing.
Designing a template for how to develop social outings for your teen with their BCBA beforehand may help you avoid any undesirable situations. An ABA therapist can also help develop skills for situations where a teen must interact with others.
ABA Therapy from IABA Consultants
If you have questions regarding autism treatment, education, or plans using ABA therapy, we are here for you! Our goal is to make sure no family is turned away due to financial constraints. Our therapy team would love to talk to you. Find the location closest to you and give us a call. We’re here for you.
Sources
Achieve Beyond Pediatric Therapy
by IABA Team | Oct 5, 2021
Many people with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) need support when learning specific skills or new behaviors that are positive and functional. ABA therapy can be very effective with teaching skills in these common areas:
- General social skills
- Communication
- Self-help
- Motor skills
- Play skills
- Leisure activities
- Independent daily living
How is ABA Therapy Beneficial?
The basis of ABA therapy is to identify why a person engages in a particular behavior followed by creating environments that support effective, lasting change for the better. When new, helpful behaviors bring about good results, old, unhelpful behaviors begin to decrease.
ABA therapy provides beneficial information on:
- Why behaviors occur
- How certain environments can affect behavior
- The best way to create a beneficial, long-lasting therapy plan
- The most effective therapy models for changing individual behavior
ABA Therapy Expectations
ABA therapy can be conducted in clinics, schools, outside settings, and inside the home. ABA programs are managed by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), who are Masters-level professionals and direct care providers. In most cases BCBAs are Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), which is a national certification.
The role and responsibilities of the BCBA include:
- Developing a treatment plan
- Helping parents and other caregivers manage treatment plans
- Developing and conducting progress assessments
- Monitoring work conducted by other direct care providers
Depending on the intensity of the treatment, BCBAs may work with the child and direct care anywhere from multiple days per week to a few days per month.
Direct care providers are closely monitored by BCBAs to make sure the correct therapy program is being followed. It is imperative that any comprehensive ABA therapy programs are followed by all caregivers, from teachers to parents. Talking to your BCBA will help you understand their therapy program.
Typical therapy sessions include play, practicing daily activities like toileting or dressing, and structured teaching activities. ABA Sessions are customized for each child’s strengths and needs and designed to improve the quality of life for both the child and their family.
Helping parents with continuing therapeutic practices at home is a critical part of ABA therapy. Without continued reinforcement, certain behaviors may take longer to learn or even regress.
ABA Therapy from IABA Consultants
If you have questions regarding autism treatment, education, or plans using ABA therapy, we are here for you! Our goal is to make sure no family is turned away due to financial constraints. Our therapy team would love to talk to you. Find the location closest to you and give us a call. We’re here for you.
Sources
Arizona Autism United
by IABA Team | Sep 27, 2021
The likelihood that a person with autism has another condition correlates strongly with the age at which they received their autism diagnosis, according to a new study. The study also noted that girls with autism are more likely than neurotypical girls to have other conditions, to a degree not seen in boys.
Study factors included whether a person with autism’s age at ASD diagnosis or birth sex changed their chance of having any of 11 common comorbid conditions (including epilepsy, anxiety, and ADHD). The study drew on data from around 16,000 people with autism and more than 650,000 neurotypical people up to 16 years old.
Among people included in the study who received late ASD diagnoses (11 to 15 years old) 26% of girls and 13% of boys were also diagnosed with a comorbid condition. The trend for intellectual disability in the study was the opposite with 40% of people with an early autism diagnosis having an intellectual disability, compared to just 10% percent of people with a late autism diagnosis.
Looking at Gender and ASD Comorbidities
For 11 co-occurring conditions considered by study researchers, the age of autism diagnosis was the single biggest predictor of whether a participant had that condition. Gender was another major factor.
Among individuals with autism, girls were 2.2X more likely to have anxiety than boys. By contrast, anxiety is about 1.4X higher in neurotypical girls than neurotypical boys. And while neurotypical boys are 2.6X more likely to have ADHD than neurotypical girls, the ratio dropped within the ASD population. Boys with Autism are just 1.6X more likely than girls with autism to have ADHD.
Looking at the ASD Spectrum Index
86 percent. That is the proportion of people with autism who show “a fair to very good level of objective psychosocial functioning,” according to a study that tracked the jobs. The happiness and close friendships of 917 adults — 425 men and 492 women — were tracked over a six-year period. These study results appeared in the journal Autism in June 2021.
The results of recent studies have started taking closer looks at both the age of ASD diagnoses and the gender of people with ASD. The early data shows promising results in the differences between boys and girls with ASD.
ABA Therapy from IABA Consultants
If you have questions regarding autism treatment, education, or plans using ABA therapy, we are here for you! Our goal is to make sure no family is turned away due to financial constraints. Our therapy team would love to talk to you. Find the location closest to you and give us a call. We’re here for you.
Sources
Spectrumnews.org, Community Letter
Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, July 2021
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, July 2021
Health Services Research, July 2021
