An introduction to autism

Aims 

This course aims to:   

• provide a basic level of understanding about what ASD is and how it manifests  
   
• provide information about the diagnostic and aetiological aspects of ASD  
   
• provide understanding that will support and facilitate more fruitful interactions with people with ASD 

Content 

Autism is a developmental disorder that was first documented by Leo Kanner in 1943. The term in its original form was used to capture something of the withdrawn behaviour and separateness that is central to the condition. Autism typically affects a person’s ability to communicate and form relationships with other people and generally respond appropriately with their environment. In clinical terms it involves a tripartite of features (1) impairment in social interaction, (2) impairment in communication (3) presence of restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests and activities (APA, 1994). Autism is normally diagnosed in childhood and cases number approximately 15 per 10,000. A condition closely related to autism is Asperger syndrome (AS), first described in 1944. Diagnostically, the only difference between the two conditions is the absence, in AS, of any significant delay in language or cognitive development. It remains unclear as to whether autism and AS really constitute two distinct conditions or whether the difference is only quantitative. Currently, these two conditions are regarded as being part of a broader category know as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite the research of the last 80 years, autism remains a puzzle. Most people have heard of it yet many remain unclear about what it actually is. Even one of the most talented researchers in the field has referred to it as ‘the enigma’. 

Presentation of the course  

The five sessions will involve lecture presentation of material but will involve a high degree of group discussion and debate.  

Course sessions 

1. Introduction - defining ASD and exploring diagnostic / prevalence issue.   
    
2. Exploring ASD at the cognitive level – features and causation.  
    
3. Exploring ASD at the biological level – features and causation.  
    
4. ‘Treatment’ approaches of the past and current interventions and approaches.  
    
5. The ontology of ASD - revisiting the cognitive level and reflecting on the concept. 

Learning outcomes 

You are expected to gain from this series of classroom sessions a greater understanding of the subject and of the core issues and arguments central to the course.  

The learning outcomes for this course are:  

• to gain an understanding of what the autism spectrum is and how it manifests on the behavioural level  
   
• to understand how such behaviours are used to formulate a diagnosis  
   
• to understand how ASD manifests on other levels of functioning eg in terms of cognition and brain function  
   
• to gain an appreciation of the complexity of ASD and how this relates to intervention approaches 

Required reading 

Baron-Cohen, Simon, Mindblindness: An Essay on Autism and Theory of Mind (Massachusetts: Institute of Technology Press 1997)  

Typical week: Monday to Friday 

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students.   

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to your learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events. 

Evaluation and Academic Credit  

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.  

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay. 

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit. 

Certificate of attendance 

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.