ABAT Autism Core Knowledge 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Based on recent CDC surveillance data, approximately how many children in the US are identified with ASD?
- About 1 in 500 (0.2%)
- About 1 in 100 (1%)
- About 1 in 36 (approximately 2.8%) (Correct answer)
- About 1 in 10 (10%)
Correct answer: About 1 in 36 (approximately 2.8%)
The CDC's 2023 ADDM report estimated ASD prevalence at 1 in 36 children (approximately 2.8%), a significant increase from prior estimates.
Question 2: Current scientific consensus on the etiology of ASD indicates that:
- ASD is caused primarily by inadequate parenting practices
- ASD results from routine childhood vaccinations
- ASD arises from a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors (Correct answer)
- ASD is caused exclusively by prenatal viral infections
Correct answer: ASD arises from a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors
Large-scale genetic studies and epidemiological research support a multifactorial model in which many genes and certain environmental exposures interact to increase ASD risk.
Question 3: Which genetic condition has among the highest rates of co-occurrence with autism spectrum disorder?
- Down syndrome (Trisomy 21)
- Williams syndrome
- Fragile X syndrome (Correct answer)
- Prader-Willi syndrome
Correct answer: Fragile X syndrome
Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability, co-occurs with ASD in approximately 25-47% of affected males.
Question 4: Regarding ADHD and ASD co-occurrence, which statement is accurate?
- DSM-5 prohibits a simultaneous ADHD and ASD diagnosis
- ADHD co-occurs with ASD in fewer than 5% of cases
- ADHD co-occurs with ASD in approximately 30-50% of individuals (Correct answer)
- ADHD co-occurs only in ASD Level 1 individuals
Correct answer: ADHD co-occurs with ASD in approximately 30-50% of individuals
DSM-5 removed the prior exclusion, allowing dual diagnoses; epidemiological studies find ADHD in roughly 30-50% of individuals with ASD.
Question 5: Intellectual disability co-occurs with ASD in approximately what proportion of individuals?
- Fewer than 5%
- Approximately 30-40% (Correct answer)
- Approximately 70-80%
- 100% of individuals with ASD
Correct answer: Approximately 30-40%
Estimates consistently place the co-occurrence of intellectual disability in ASD at roughly 30-40%, meaning the majority of individuals with ASD have IQ scores in the average or above-average range.
Question 6: The reported male-to-female ratio in ASD diagnoses is approximately:
- 1:1 — equal rates across sexes
- 2:1 — twice as many males diagnosed
- 4:1 — four times as many males diagnosed (Correct answer)
- 10:1 — ten times as many males diagnosed
Correct answer: 4:1 — four times as many males diagnosed
Population-based studies consistently identify ASD at roughly a 4:1 male-to-female ratio, though growing evidence suggests females may be under-diagnosed due to camouflaging behaviors.
Question 7: Twin studies on ASD most strongly support which conclusion about heritability?
- Genetics play no significant role in ASD risk
- Environmental factors alone determine ASD onset
- Concordance rates are substantially higher in monozygotic than dizygotic twins (Correct answer)
- ASD occurs with equal probability in all sibling pairs
Correct answer: Concordance rates are substantially higher in monozygotic than dizygotic twins
Monozygotic twin concordance rates for ASD are considerably higher than dizygotic rates, indicating strong heritability while also leaving room for environmental contributions.
ABAT Autism Core Knowledge 3
Based on recent CDC surveillance data, approximately how many children in the US are identified with ASD?