Access to services, quality of care, and family impact for children with autism, other developmental disabilities, and other mental health conditions
This cross-sectional study examined perceived access to services, quality of care, and family impact reported by caregivers of children aged 3–17 years with autism spectrum disorders, as compared to caregivers of children with other developmental disabilities and other mental health conditions. The 2009–2010 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs was utilized to examine the association between child’s special needs condition and three outcomes (N = 18,136): access to services (difficulty using services, difficulty getting referrals, lack of source of care, and inadequate insurance cove...
Source: Autism - September 19, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Vohra, R., Madhavan, S., Sambamoorthi, U., St Peter, C. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
US state variation in autism insurance mandates: Balancing access and fairness
This article examines how nations split decision-making about health services between federal and sub-federal levels, creating variation between states or provinces. When is this variation ethically acceptable? We identify three sources of ethical acceptability—procedural fairness, value pluralism, and substantive fairness—and examine these sources with respect to a case study: the fact that only 30 out of 51 US states or territories passed mandates requiring private insurers to offer extensive coverage of autism behavioral therapies, creating variation for privately insured children living in different US stat...
Source: Autism - September 19, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Johnson, R. A., Danis, M., Hafner-Eaton, C. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
Autistic expertise: A critical reflection on the production of knowledge in autism studies
In conclusion, I argue that autistic people have often become distrustful of researchers and their aims, and are frequently frozen out of the processes of knowledge production. Such a context results in a negative feedback spiral with further damage to the growth of interactional expertise between researchers and autistic people, and a breakdown in trust and communication leading to an increase in tension between stakeholder groups. The involvement of autistic scholars in research and improvements in participatory methods can thus be seen as a requirement, if social research in the field of autism is to claim ethical and e...
Source: Autism - September 19, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Milton, D. E. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
Assessing the influence of researcher-partner involvement on the process and outcomes of participatory research in autism spectrum disorder and neurodevelopmental disorders: A scoping review
This study sought to identify and characterize published participatory research partnerships between researchers and individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other neurodevelopmental disorders and examine the influence of participatory research partnerships on the research process and reported study outcomes. A search of databases and review of gray literature identified seven studies that described participatory research partnerships between academic researchers and individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other neurodevelopmental disorders. A comparative analysis of the studies revealed two key themes: (1) variat...
Source: Autism - September 19, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Jivraj, J., Sacrey, L.-A., Newton, A., Nicholas, D., Zwaigenbaum, L. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
Community engagement and knowledge translation: Progress and challenge in autism research
The last decade has seen significant growth in scientific understanding and public awareness of autism. There is still a long road ahead before this awareness can be matched with parallel improvements in evidence-based practice. The process of translating evidence into community care has been hampered by the seeming disconnect between the mainstream scientific research agenda and the immediate priorities of many communities. The need for community engagement in the process of translating knowledge into impact has been recognized. However, there remains little consensus or empirical data regarding the process of such engage...
Source: Autism - September 19, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Elsabbagh, M., Yusuf, A., Prasanna, S., Shikako-Thomas, K., Ruff, C. A., Fehlings, M. G. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
What should autism research focus upon? Community views and priorities from the United Kingdom
This study sought to establish whether the pattern of current UK autism research funding maps on to the concerns of the autism community. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with autistic adults, family members, practitioners and researchers to identify their priorities for research. We also captured the views of a large number of stakeholders via an online survey. There was a clear disparity between the United Kingdom’s pattern of funding for autism research and the priorities articulated by the majority of participants. There was general consensus that future priorities for autism research should lie in thos...
Source: Autism - September 19, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Pellicano, E., Dinsmore, A., Charman, T. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
Autism research beyond the bench
(Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - September 19, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Singh, I., Elsabbagh, M. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Group cognitive behavioural therapy and group recreational activity for adults with autism spectrum disorders: A preliminary randomized controlled trial
Although adults with autism spectrum disorder are an increasingly identified patient population, few treatment options are available. This preliminary randomized controlled open trial with a parallel design developed two group interventions for adults with autism spectrum disorders and intelligence within the normal range: cognitive behavioural therapy and recreational activity. Both interventions comprised 36 weekly 3-h sessions led by two therapists in groups of 6–8 patients. A total of 68 psychiatric patients with autism spectrum disorders participated in the s...
Source: Autism - July 16, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Hesselmark, E., Plenty, S., Bejerot, S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Lay Abstracts
(Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - July 16, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Lay Abstracts Source Type: research
The presence of migraines and its association with sensory hyperreactivity and anxiety symptomatology in children with autism spectrum disorder
This study provides preliminary evidence for a link between migraine headaches, sensory hyperreactivity, and anxiety symptomatology in autism spectrum disorders, which may suggest strategies for subtyping and exploring a common pathogenesis. (Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - July 16, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Sullivan, J. C., Miller, L. J., Nielsen, D. M., Schoen, S. A. Tags: Short Report Source Type: research
Three-item Direct Observation Screen (TIDOS) for autism spectrum disorder
We examined three groups of children (18–60 months) comparable in age (18–24 month, 24–36 month, 36–60 preschool subgroups) and gender distribution: n = 86 with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.) autism spectrum disorders; n = 76 with developmental delay without autism spectrum disorders; and n = 97 with typical development. The Three-Item Direct Observation Screen test included the following (a) Joint Attention, (b) Eye Contact, and (c) Responsiveness to Name. The parent Social Communication Questionnaire ratings had a sensitivity of .73 and specificity of .7...
Source: Autism - July 16, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Oner, P., Oner, O., Munir, K. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Group therapy for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder
Conclusions:
This pilot trial established that children and families were willing to be recruited and randomised, the outcome measures were acceptable, the format and content of the groups were feasible within UK child and adolescent mental health services, the intervention was appreciated by families and attrition was very small. (Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - July 16, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: McConachie, H., McLaughlin, E., Grahame, V., Taylor, H., Honey, E., Tavernor, L., Rodgers, J., Freeston, M., Hemm, C., Steen, N., Le Couteur, A. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
The Autism MEAL Plan: A parent-training curriculum to manage eating aversions and low intake among children with autism
Feeding problems represent a frequent concern reported by caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorders, and growing evidence suggests atypical patterns of intake may place this population at risk of nutritional and/or related medical issues, including chronic vitamin and mineral deficiencies, poor bone growth, and obesity. This combination of factors emphasizes a clear need to identify and disseminate evidence-based treatment of feeding problems associated with autism spectrum disorders. Behavioral intervention represents an effective treatment for chronic feeding concerns in this population; however, evidence has...
Source: Autism - July 16, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Sharp, W. G., Burrell, T. L., Jaquess, D. L. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Does facial expressivity count? How typically developing children respond initially to children with autism
We examined how videos of children with autism spectrum disorder were rated for expressivity by adults blind to the condition. We further investigated the friendship ratings given by 44 typically developing children to the same videos. These ratings were compared to friendship ratings given to video clips of typically developing children. Results demonstrated that adult raters, blind to the diagnosis of the children in the videos, rated children with autism spectrum disorder as being less expressive than typically developing children. These autism spectrum disorder children were also rated lower than typically developing c...
Source: Autism - July 16, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Stagg, S. D., Slavny, R., Hand, C., Cardoso, A., Smith, P. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Maternal verbal responses to communication of infants at low and heightened risk of autism
This study investigates mothers’ responses to infant communication among infants at heightened genetic risk (high risk) of autism spectrum disorder compared to infants with no such risk (low risk). A total of 26 infants, 12 of whom had an older sibling with autism spectrum disorder, were observed during naturalistic in-home interaction and semistructured play with their mothers at 13 and 18 months of age. Results indicate that overall, mothers of low-risk and high-risk infants were highly and similarly responsive to their infants’ communicative behaviors. However, examination of infant vocal and gestural commun...
Source: Autism - July 16, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Leezenbaum, N. B., Campbell, S. B., Butler, D., Iverson, J. M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
