"You think it's hard now ... It gets much harder for our children": Youth with autism and their caregiver's perspectives of health care transition services
This study is among the first to qualitatively examine the health care transition experiences of youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their caregivers. We conducted four focus groups with youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (n = 13) and their caregivers (n = 19) and used thematic analysis strategies to identify key themes. Parents’ discussions emphasized (a) loss of relationship with provider and lack of support transitioning from pediatric to adult care, (b) providers’ lack of knowledge about Autism Spectrum Disorder, and (c) concerns about losing guardianship. Youth emphasized their confusion and anxiety a...
Source: Autism - October 9, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Cheak-Zamora, N. C., Teti, M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Effectiveness of a fundamental motor skill intervention for 4-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study
A wait-list control experimental design was employed to investigate the effectiveness of a fundamental motor skill intervention at improving the motor skills, adaptive behavior, and social skills of 4-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder (experimental n = 5, control n = 4); the impact of intervention intensity was also explored. The experimental group significantly improved their object manipulation and overall motor scores from pre- to post-intervention. The wait-list control design revealed no group-by-time interactions; however, with the groups combined time was a significant factor for all motor variables. T...
Source: Autism - October 9, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Bremer, E., Balogh, R., Lloyd, M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Brief measures of anxiety in non-treatment-seeking youth with autism spectrum disorder
This study investigated the accuracy of brief anxiety scales for non-treatment-seeking youth with autism spectrum disorder. In all, 54 youth (7–17 years; IQ: 67–158) with autism spectrum disorder and their parents completed (a) an expanded version of the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule—Child/Parent designed to capture typical and atypical fears and (b) brief scales of anxiety symptoms (Behavior Assessment Schedule for Children, Second Edition; Screen for Child Anxiety and Related Emotional Disorders; Negative Affective Self-Statement Questionnaire; Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale). The results indicat...
Source: Autism - October 9, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Kerns, C. M., Maddox, B. B., Kendall, P. C., Rump, K., Berry, L., Schultz, R. T., Souders, M. C., Bennett, A., Herrington, J., Miller, J. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
The development of co-speech gesture and its semantic integration with speech in 6- to 12-year-old children with autism spectrum disorders
This study examined gestural production among school-aged children in a naturalistic context and how their gestures are semantically related to the accompanying speech. Delay in gestural production was found in children with autism spectrum disorders through their middle to late childhood. Compared to their typically developing counterparts, children with autism spectrum disorders gestured less often and used fewer types of gestures, in particular markers, which carry culture-specific meaning. Typically developing children’s gestural production was related to language and cognitive skills, but among children with aut...
Source: Autism - October 9, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: So, W.-C., Wong, M. K.-Y., Lui, M., Yip, V. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Referential gaze and word learning in adults with autism
While typically developing children can use referential gaze to guide their word learning, those with autism spectrum disorder are often described to have problems with that. However, some researchers assume that the ability to follow gaze to select the correct referent can develop in autism later compared to typically developing individuals. To test this assumption, we compared the performance of adults with and without autism on a word learning task while recording their gaze behavior using an eye tracker. Results showed that both groups mostly chose the correct referent, but less so for the autism spectrum disorder grou...
Source: Autism - October 9, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Aldaqre, I., Paulus, M., Sodian, B. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Children with autism spectrum disorders who do not develop phrase speech in the preschool years
In this study, data collected at the 2-year follow-up were used. Three categories of expressive language were defined: nonverbal, minimally verbal, and phrase speech. Data from the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-II were used to classify expressive language. A secondary objective of the study was to analyze factors that might be linked to verbal ability, namely, child age, cognitive level, autism subtype and severity of core autism symptoms, developmental regression, epilepsy or other medical conditions, and intensity of intervention. The proportion of children who met the criteria for nonverbal, minimally verbal, and ph...
Source: Autism - October 9, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Norrelgen, F., Fernell, E., Eriksson, M., Hedvall, A., Persson, C., Sjolin, M., Gillberg, C., Kjellmer, L. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Interest level in 2-year-olds with autism spectrum disorder predicts rate of verbal, nonverbal, and adaptive skill acquisition
We examined whether level of interest during an Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule assessment at 2 years predicts subsequent rates of verbal, nonverbal, and adaptive skill acquisition to the age of 3 years. A total of 70 toddlers with autism spectrum disorder, mean age of 21.9 months, were scored using Interest Level Scoring for Autism, quantifying toddlers’ interest in toys, social routines, and activities that could serve as reinforcers in an intervention. Adaptive level and mental age were measured concurrently (Time 1) and again after a mean of 16.3 months of treatment (Time 2). Interest Level Scoring for Aut...
Source: Autism - October 9, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Klintwall, L., Macari, S., Eikeseth, S., Chawarska, K. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Social engagement with parents in 11-month-old siblings at high and low genetic risk for autism spectrum disorder
Infant siblings of children with an autism spectrum disorder are at heightened genetic risk to develop autism spectrum disorder. We observed high risk (n = 35) and low risk (n = 27) infants at 11 months during free play with a parent. Children were assessed for autism spectrum disorder in toddlerhood. High-risk infants with a later diagnosis (n = 10) were less socially engaged with their parents than were low-risk infants. Parent behavior during play did not vary by group. Within the high-risk group, ratings of social reciprocity at 11 months predicted Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule severity scores at follow-up, su...
Source: Autism - October 9, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Campbell, S. B., Leezenbaum, N. B., Mahoney, A. S., Day, T. N., Schmidt, E. N. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
MYmind: Mindfulness training for Youngsters with autism spectrum disorders and their parents
Discussion:
Mindfulness training for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder combined with Mindful Parenting is feasible. Although the sample size was small and no control group was included, the first outcomes of this innovative training are positive. (Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - October 9, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: de Bruin, E. I., Blom, R., Smit, F. M., van Steensel, F. J., Bogels, S. M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Conflict adaptation and congruency sequence effects to social-emotional stimuli in individuals with autism spectrum disorders
Conclusion:
Reduced selective attention toward socially relevant information may bias individuals with autism spectrum disorder toward more rapid processing and decision making even when conflict is present. Nonetheless, the loss of important information from the social stimuli reduces decision-making accuracy, negatively affecting the ability to adapt both cognitively and emotionally when conflict arises. (Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - October 9, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Worsham, W., Gray, W. E., Larson, M. J., South, M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Should all young children be screened for autism spectrum disorder?
(Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - October 9, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Mandell, D., Mandy, W. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Lay abstracts
(Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - September 22, 2015 Category: Neurology Tags: Lay abstracts Source Type: research
Group social skills interventions for adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review
Autism spectrum disorders are characterised by impairments in communication and social interaction. Social skills interventions have been found to ameliorate socio-communication deficits in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Little is known about the effectiveness of social skills interventions for adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (hf-ASD) – a clinical population who can present with more subtle core deficits, but comparable levels of impairment and secondary difficulties. A systematic review was undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of social skills interventions for...
Source: Autism - September 22, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Spain, D., Blainey, S. H. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
The use of eye-tracking to explore social difficulties in cognitively able students with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot investigation
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder do not just ‘grow out of’ their early difficulties in understanding the social world. Even for those who are cognitively able, autism-related difficulties continue into adulthood. Atypicalities attending to and interpreting communicative signals from others can provide barriers to success in education, employment and relationships. In the current study, we use eye-tracking during real social interaction to explore attention to social cues (e.g. face, eyes, mouth) and links to social awareness in a group of cognitively able University students with autism spectrum disord...
Source: Autism - September 22, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Hanley, M., Riby, D. M., Carty, C., Melaugh McAteer, A., Kennedy, A., McPhillips, M. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
Further understanding of complex information processing in verbal adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders
In this study, we provide further evidence of the difficulty relatively able older adolescents and adults with autism have with conceptual reasoning and provide evidence that this characterizes their difference from age- and ability-matched controls with typical development better than their differences in language. For verbal adults with autism, language may serve as a bootstrap or compensatory mechanism for learning but cannot overcome an inherent weakness in concept formation that makes information processing challenging as task demands increase. (Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - September 22, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Williams, D. L., Minshew, N. J., Goldstein, G. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
