Factor structure and psychometric properties of the revised Home Situations Questionnaire for autism spectrum disorder: The Home Situations Questionnaire-Autism Spectrum Disorder
In this study, we further revised this instrument for use in autism spectrum disorder and examined its psychometric properties (referred to as the Home Situations Questionnaire-Autism Spectrum Disorder). To cover a broader range of situations and improve reliability, we prepared seven new items describing situations in which children with autism spectrum disorder might display non-compliance. Parents completed ratings of 242 children with autism spectrum disorder with accompanying disruptive behaviors (ages 4–14 years) participating in one of two randomized clinical trials. Results from an exploratory factor analysis...
Source: Autism - May 22, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Chowdhury, M., Aman, M. G., Lecavalier, L., Smith, T., Johnson, C., Swiezy, N., McCracken, J. T., King, B., McDougle, C. J., Bearss, K., Deng, Y., Scahill, L. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Estimation of the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in South Korea, revisited
Two-phase designs in epidemiological studies of autism prevalence introduce methodological complications that can severely limit the precision of resulting estimates. If the assumptions used to derive the prevalence estimate are invalid or if the uncertainty surrounding these assumptions is not properly accounted for in the statistical inference procedure, then the point estimate may be inaccurate and the confidence interval may not be a true reflection of the precision of the estimate. We examine these potential pitfalls in the context of a recent high-profile finding by Kim et al. (2011, Prevalence of autism spectrum dis...
Source: Autism - May 22, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Pantelis, P. C., Kennedy, D. P. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Why we need research about autism and ageing
(Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - May 22, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Michael, C. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Lay abstracts
(Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - April 19, 2016 Category: Neurology Tags: Lay abstracts Source Type: research
What do the general population know, believe and feel about individuals with autism and schizophrenia: Results from a comparative survey in Denmark
This study surveyed a convenience sample of the general adult population, within the Northern Region of Denmark, about their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about individuals with autism and schizophrenia. The respondents (N = 440) possessed basic knowledge and were able to differentiate between the two disorders. Schizophrenia was associated with perceived danger (32.8%), while autism was associated with high intelligence (40.1%) and creativity (27.3%). Respondents were more positive towards interacting with individuals with autism (p < 0.001), but desire for social distancing was pronounced for both disorders in more...
Source: Autism - April 19, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Jensen, C. M., Martens, C. S., Nikolajsen, N. D., Skytt Gregersen, T., Heckmann Marx, N., Goldberg Frederiksen, M., Hansen, M. S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
The experiences and needs of female adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder
There is limited large-scale research into the lived experiences of female adults who have an autism spectrum disorder with no co-occurring intellectual disability. Drawing on the findings of an Australia-wide survey, this report presents self-report data from n = 82 women with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder in the areas of health, education, employment, social and community activities. Where relevant, comparisons are provided with the male subset of the same study population; however, in the majority of analyses, no discernible gender differences emerged. The findings highlight the diverse and complex challenge...
Source: Autism - April 19, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Baldwin, S., Costley, D. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Medicaid 1915(c) Home- and Community-Based Services waivers for children with autism spectrum disorder
This research aims to describe the characteristics of 1915(c) Home- and Community-Based Services waivers for children with autism spectrum disorder across states and over time. While increasingly popular, little is known about these Medicaid waivers. Understanding the characteristics of these programs is important to clinicians and policymakers in designing programs to meet the needs of this vulnerable population and to set the stage for evaluating changes that occur with the implementation of health-care reform. Home- and Community-Based Services waiver applications that included children with autism spectrum disorder as ...
Source: Autism - April 19, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Velott, D. L., Agbese, E., Mandell, D., Stein, B. D., Dick, A. W., Yu, H., Leslie, D. L. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Deficits in metacognitive monitoring in mathematics assessments in learners with autism spectrum disorder
This study explored metacognitive monitoring in 28 (23 males and 5 females) participants with autism spectrum disorder and 56 (16 males and 40 females) typically developing controls who were being educated at the same level. Participants were asked a series of mathematics questions. Based upon previous research, after each question they were asked two metacognitive questions: (1) whether they thought they had got the answer correct or not (or ‘don’t know’) and (2) whether they meant to get the answer correct or not (or ‘don’t know’). Participants with autism spectrum disorder were signif...
Source: Autism - April 19, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Brosnan, M., Johnson, H., Grawemeyer, B., Chapman, E., Antoniadou, K., Hollinworth, M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Which terms should be used to describe autism? Perspectives from the UK autism community
This study sought to elicit the views and preferences of UK autism community members – autistic people, parents and their broader support network – about the terms they use to describe autism. In all, 3470 UK residents responded to an online survey on their preferred ways of describing autism and their rationale for such preferences. The results clearly show that people use many terms to describe autism. The most highly endorsed terms were ‘autism’ and ‘on the autism spectrum’, and to a lesser extent, ‘autism spectrum disorder’, for which there was consensus across community ...
Source: Autism - April 19, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Kenny, L., Hattersley, C., Molins, B., Buckley, C., Povey, C., Pellicano, E. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Concerns of parents and teachers of children with autism in elementary school
Many consensus guidelines encourage parents and teachers to openly communicate about their concerns regarding their children. These guidelines attest to the importance of achieving consensus about what issues are most critical and how to address them. The purpose of this study was to examine whether parents and teachers (1) agree about their concerns for their children with autism and (2) when given the opportunity, whether they discussed these concerns. Participants were 39 parent–teacher dyads of children with autism in kindergarten-through-fifth grade autism support classrooms. Each parent and teacher was intervie...
Source: Autism - April 19, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Azad, G., Mandell, D. S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Perceived self-efficacy in parents of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder
Many parents of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder experience difficulty accessing appropriate services for their children, and may report low levels of parent self-efficacy. In an effort to identify the factors that contribute to the difficulties these families face, this study examined the role of demographic, systemic, and clinical need variables as they relate to parents’ experience of self-efficacy. Participants included 324 parents of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, 12–25 years of age. Results suggest that parent self-efficacy is related to a number of variables and not simply...
Source: Autism - April 19, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Weiss, J. A., Tint, A., Paquette-Smith, M., Lunsky, Y. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
The broad autism phenotype predicts relationship outcomes in newly formed college roommates
Although previous studies have reported that the broad autism phenotype is associated with reduced relationship quality within established relationships, understanding how this association emerges requires assessment prior to relationship development. In the present longitudinal study, college roommates with minimal familiarity prior to cohabitation (N = 162) completed the broad autism phenotype questionnaire and intermittently reported on their relationship quality and interpersonal behaviors toward their roommate over their first 10 weeks of living together. Actor–Partner Interdependence Models demonstrated that ro...
Source: Autism - April 19, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Faso, D. J., Corretti, C. A., Ackerman, R. A., Sasson, N. J. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Lets talk about it: Peer victimization experiences as reported by adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder experience high rates of peer victimization; yet, their personal experiences and perceptions of such victimization are not well understood. In this qualitative investigation, responses to questions about bullying and teasing were examined to gain insight into the perception of peer victimization as reported by adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. While the majority of participants provided examples of peer victimization, their situations differed from items typically assessed on bullying questionnaires. Participants were also able to provide explanations for why they believe ...
Source: Autism - April 19, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Fisher, M. H., Taylor, J. L. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
The relationship between waiting times and 'adherence to the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network 98 guideline in autism spectrum disorder diagnostic services in Scotland
The aim of this study was to explore the extent to which the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network 98 guidelines on the assessment and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder were adhered to in child autism spectrum disorder diagnostic services in Scotland and whether there was a significant relationship between routine practice which more closely reflected these recommendations (increased adherence) and increased waiting times. Retrospective, cross-sectional case note analysis was applied to data from 80 case notes. Adherence ranged from a possible 0 (no adherence) to 19 (full adherence). Overall, 17/22 of the recomme...
Source: Autism - April 19, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: McKenzie, K., Forsyth, K., OHare, A., McClure, I., Rutherford, M., Murray, A., Irvine, L. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
The effect of diagnostic labels on the affective responses of college students towards peers with 'Aspergers Syndrome and 'Autism Spectrum Disorder
Given the removal of Asperger’s Syndrome label in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fifth Edition, the impact of clinical labels upon the affective responses of college students was explored. A total of 120 college students read two vignettes depicting social interactions typical of a person with autism spectrum disorder. In one vignette, they were informed that the character was a typical college student and in the other, the character had a clinical disorder (either autism spectrum disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome or Schizophrenia). Participants’ affective responses were measured ...
Source: Autism - April 19, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Brosnan, M., Mills, E. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
