288 results on '"*SCALES (Weighing instruments)"'
Search Results
2. A Retrospective Study of Amitriptyline in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- Author
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Bhatti, Irfan, Thome, Andrew, Smith, Patricia, Cook-Wiens, Galen, Yeh, Hung, Gaffney, Gary, and Hellings, Jessica
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ACADEMIC medical centers , *AUTISM , *BEHAVIOR , *HEALTH outcome assessment , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *TREATMENT effectiveness , *RETROSPECTIVE studies , *AMITRIPTYLINE , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
We performed a retrospective chart review of 50 youths with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), prescribed amitriptyline (AMI) for hyperactivity and impulsivity. Data was systematically extracted from 50 outpatient clinic charts, including AMI treatment duration, dose, trough levels and adverse events. Mean age was 9.4 years (4.6-17.9); 40 were males and 10 females. 30 % had failed atomoxetine and 40 % had failed ≥3 ADHD medications. Mean dose was 1.3 ± 0.6 mg/kg/day, mean trough level 114.1 ± 50.5 ng/ml, mean duration 3.4 years. Clinical Global Impressions Scale-Improvement (CGI-I) was ≤2 in 60 % of patients at the final visit, and in 82 % of patients for at least 50 % of follow-ups. Cautious use of low dose AMI shows promise for treatment-resistant youth with ASD accompanied by hyperactivity, impulsivity, aggression and self injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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3. Theory of Mind, Socio-Emotional Problem-Solving, Socio-Emotional Regulation in Children with Intellectual Disability and in Typically Developing Children.
- Author
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Baurain, Céline and Nader-Grosbois, Nathalie
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INTELLECTUAL disabilities , *CHI-squared test , *EMOTIONS , *CASE studies , *PROBLEM solving , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SOCIAL skills , *STATISTICS , *T-test (Statistics) , *DATA analysis , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *PSYCHOLOGY - Abstract
This study has examined the link between social information processing (SIP) and socio-emotional regulation (SER) in 45 children with intellectual disability (ID) and 45 typically developing (TD) children, matched on their developmental age. A Coding Grid of SER, focusing on Emotional Expression, Social Behaviour and Behaviours towards Social Rules displayed by children in three dyadic contexts (neutral, competitive or cooperative) was applied. Correlational analyses highlighted specific 'bi-directional' links between some abilities in SIP and in SER, presenting between-groups partial similarities and dissimilarities that allowed discussing the developmental delay versus difference hypotheses in ID children. Cluster cases analyses identified subgroups with variable patterns of links. In both groups, the SIP and some categories of SER varied depending on developmental age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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4. Parent and Pediatrician Perspectives Regarding the Primary Care of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
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Carbone, Paul, Murphy, Nancy, Norlin, Chuck, Azor, Virgina, Sheng, Xiaoming, and Young, Paul
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TREATMENT of autism , *PARENTS , *PEDIATRICIANS , *PRIMARY health care , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALE analysis (Psychology) , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *U-statistics , *DATA analysis , *MULTIPLE regression analysis , *PARENT attitudes , *PHYSICIANS' attitudes , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *CHILDREN - Abstract
Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) ( n = 144) and primary care providers (PCPs) ( n = 144) completed similar surveys assessing the ability of the PCP to address ASD-specific needs. Parents also rated their PCP's ability to deliver family-centered care. A majority of parents rated their PCP's ability as 'not good' in addressing 14 of 17 ASD-specific needs, while a majority of PCPs rated themselves as 'good' in addressing 10 of 17 areas. On 7 of 17 items, parents rated their PCPs lower than PCPs rated themselves. Parents who reported receiving family-centered care were more likely to rate the PCP's ability to meet ASD specific needs as 'good'. Both parents and PCPs identified areas for improvement in caring for children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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5. Reading Comprehension in Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Role of Oral Language and Social Functioning.
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Ricketts, Jessie, Jones, Catherine, Happé, Francesca, and Charman, Tony
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READING , *AUTISM , *LANGUAGE & languages , *REGRESSION analysis , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SOCIAL skills , *VERBAL behavior , *PHONOLOGICAL awareness , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Reading comprehension is an area of difficulty for many individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). According to the Simple View of Reading, word recognition and oral language are both important determinants of reading comprehension ability. We provide a novel test of this model in 100 adolescents with ASD of varying intellectual ability. Further, we explore whether reading comprehension is additionally influenced by individual differences in social behaviour and social cognition in ASD. Adolescents with ASD aged 14-16 years completed assessments indexing word recognition, oral language, reading comprehension, social behaviour and social cognition. Regression analyses show that both word recognition and oral language explain unique variance in reading comprehension. Further, measures of social behaviour and social cognition predict reading comprehension after controlling for the variance explained by word recognition and oral language. This indicates that word recognition, oral language and social impairments may constrain reading comprehension in ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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6. A Pilot Study of Parent Training in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Disruptive Behavior.
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Bearss, Karen, Johnson, Cynthia, Handen, Benjamin, Smith, Tristram, and Scahill, Lawrence
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TREATMENT of autism , *TREATMENT of behavior disorders in children , *PARENTING , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *PILOT projects , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Guidance on effective interventions for disruptive behavior in young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is limited. We present feasibility and initial efficacy data on a structured parent training program for 16 children (ages 3-6) with ASD and disruptive behavior. The 6-month intervention included 11 Core and up to 2 Optional sessions. The program was acceptable to parents as evidenced by an attendance rate of 84 % for Core sessions. Fourteen of 16 families completed the treatment. An independent clinician rated 14 of 16 subjects as much improved or very much improved at Week 24. Using last observation carried forward, the parent-rated Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Irritability subscale decreased 54 % from 16.00 (SD = 9.21) to 7.38 (SD = 6.15). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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7. Investigating the Measurement Properties of the Social Responsiveness Scale in Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
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Duku, Eric, Vaillancourt, Tracy, Szatmari, Peter, Georgiades, Stelios, Zwaigenbaum, Lonnie, Smith, Isabel, Bryson, Susan, Fombonne, Eric, Mirenda, Pat, Roberts, Wendy, Volden, Joanne, Waddell, Charlotte, Thompson, Ann, and Bennett, Teresa
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AUTISM , *CHI-squared test , *FACTOR analysis , *LONGITUDINAL method , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *DATA analysis , *STRUCTURAL equation modeling , *CROSS-sectional method , *RESEARCH methodology evaluation , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *CHILDREN ,RESEARCH evaluation - Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the measurement properties of the Social Responsiveness Scale in an accelerated longitudinal sample of 4-year-old preschool children with the complementary approaches of categorical confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis. Measurement models based on the literature and other hypothesized measurement models which were tested using categorical confirmatory factor analysis did not fit well and were not unidimensional. Rasch analyses showed that a 30-item subset met criteria of unidimensionality and invariance across item, person, and over time; and this subset exhibited convergent validity with other child outcomes. This subset was shown to have enhanced psychometric properties and could be used in measuring social responsiveness among preschool age children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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8. Relationship Between Children's Sleep and Mental Health in Mothers of Children with and Without Autism.
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Hodge, Danelle, Hoffman, Charles, Sweeney, Dwight, and Riggs, Matt
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AUTISM , *CHI-squared test , *CHILD behavior , *STATISTICAL correlation , *MATHEMATICAL models , *MENTAL health , *MOTHERS , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SLEEP , *PSYCHOLOGICAL stress , *THEORY , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
The study employed 90 children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) who were matched to 90 typically developing children on age, gender, and ethnicity. Using structural equation modeling, maternal sleep and maternal stress mediated the relationship between children's sleep and mothers' mental health for mothers of children with and without ASDs. Mothers of children with ASDs reported more problems related to children's sleep, their own sleep, greater stress, and poorer mental health; however, children's sleep and maternal sleep were more closely related to maternal stress for mothers of typically developing children. Implications of these findings and future directions for research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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9. Inhibition of Return in Response to Eye Gaze and Peripheral Cues in Young People with Asperger's Syndrome.
- Author
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Marotta, Andrea, Pasini, Augusto, Ruggiero, Sabrina, Maccari, Lisa, Rosa, Caterina, Lupiáñez, Juan, and Casagrande, Maria
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ANALYSIS of variance , *ASPERGER'S syndrome , *ATTENTION , *AUTOMATIC data collection systems , *EYE movements , *PHOTOGRAPHY , *REACTION time , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SOCIAL skills , *WECHSLER Adult Intelligence Scale , *PROMPTS (Psychology) , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Inhibition of return (IOR) reflects slower reaction times to stimuli presented in previously attended locations. In this study, we examined this inhibitory after-effect using two different cue types, eye-gaze and standard peripheral cues, in individuals with Asperger's syndrome and typically developing individuals. Typically developing participants showed evidence of IOR for both eye-gaze and peripheral cues. In contrast, the Asperger group showed evidence of IOR to previously peripherally cued locations but failed to show IOR for eye-gaze cues. This absence of IOR for eye-gaze cues observed in the participants with Asperger may reflect an attentional impairment in responding to socially relevant information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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10. Syndrome Specificity and Mother-Child Interactions: Examining Positive and Negative Parenting Across Contexts and Time.
- Author
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Blacher, Jan, Baker, Bruce, and Kaladjian, Araksia
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ANALYSIS of covariance , *AUTISM , *CEREBRAL palsy , *CHI-squared test , *CHILD Behavior Checklist , *DEVELOPMENTAL disabilities , *MOTHER-child relationship , *SCIENTIFIC observation , *PARENTING , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *T-test (Statistics) , *DATA analysis , *EFFECT sizes (Statistics) , *DOWN syndrome , *AUTISM spectrum disorders , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
This study examined the extent to which child syndromes and observation context related to mothers' parenting behaviors. Longitudinal observations were conducted of parenting behavior across ages 3, 4, and 5 years during structured and unstructured activities. The 183 participants included mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, undifferentiated developmental delay, or typical cognitive development. Negative parenting behaviors were higher in structured activities and higher in mothers of children in all developmentally delayed groups. Positive parenting was higher in unstructured activities and especially high for mothers of children with Down syndrome. Despite differences found through direct observation of parenting children in different diagnostic groups, they are not as strong as syndrome-group differences found through more commonly used self-report questionnaires assessing domains like parenting stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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11. Learning Curve Analyses in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Are Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Truly Visual Learners?
- Author
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Erdődi, Lászlό, Lajiness-O'Neill, Renée, and Schmitt, Thomas
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ATTENTION-deficit hyperactivity disorder , *AUDITORY perception , *AUTISM , *CHI-squared test , *CONFIDENCE intervals , *INTELLECT , *LEARNING strategies , *MEMORY , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *VISUAL perception , *DATA analysis , *EFFECT sizes (Statistics) , *DATA analysis software , *DIGEORGE syndrome , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Visual and auditory verbal learning using a selective reminding format was studied in a mixed clinical sample of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ( n = 42), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder ( n = 83), velocardiofacial syndrome ( n = 17) and neurotypicals ( n = 38) using the Test of Memory and Learning to (1) more thoroughly characterize and examine the integrity of learning and memory processes, (2) to better understand the mechanisms of learning impairment, and (3) to inform instructional practices in ASD. Contrary to expectations, children with ASD demonstrated a relative weakness in the rate of acquisition of visual in contrast to verbal learning compared to neurotypicals. They also showed a complex pattern of consolidation. Overall, between-group differences were more likely to emerge during the visual learning task, suggesting that it may be more sensitive for detecting neurodevelopmental differences. The heuristic value of assessing memory and learning across multiple trials and comparing performance during immediate and delayed recall is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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12. Emotional Resonance Deficits in Autistic Children.
- Author
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Grecucci, Alessandro, Brambilla, Paolo, Siugzdaite, Roma, Londero, Danielle, Fabbro, Franco, and Rumiati, Raffaella
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AUTISM , *ANALYSIS of variance , *AUDIOVISUAL materials , *CHILD Behavior Checklist , *FACIAL expression , *FEAR , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *VIDEO recording , *TASK performance , *EFFECT sizes (Statistics) , *CONTROL groups , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
According to some theories imitation, defined as an action resonance mechanism, is deficient in autism. In contrast, other theories (e.g., the 'top down control of imitation' hypothesis) state that the problem is not in imitation per se but in the way social cues modulate imitative responses. In this study, 15 high-functioning children with autism and 15 matched controls were tested for their ability to imitate finger movements preceded by neutral and emotional facial expressions (primes) in a stimulus-response compatibility task. Hand movements performed after neutral expressions did not differ between the two groups (i.e., they both showed a normal imitative tendency). However, hand movements performed after emotional expressions significantly differed between the two populations, with controls, but not autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), showing enhanced imitation in the emotional condition. This study supports the view that, in ASD, imitation abilities are spared but they are not modulated according to the emotional and social context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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13. Broad Autism Phenotype in Typically Developing Children Predicts Performance on an Eye-Tracking Measure of Joint Attention.
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Swanson, Meghan, Serlin, Gayle, and Siller, Michael
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GENETICS of autism , *ANALYSIS of variance , *ATTENTION , *AUDIOVISUAL materials , *EYE movements , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *ATTITUDES of mothers , *REPEATED measures design , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
We examined visual attention allocation during a set of social videos that are intended to elicit the coordination of attention with another person, compared to a control condition. Deficits in joint attention are a characteristic of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants included a diverse sample of 50 typically developing school-aged children between 3 and 9 years of age ( M = 6:3, SD = 1:8). Results demonstrated that gaze allocation differed significantly between the experimental and control condition. Further, individual differences in gaze allocation were significantly predicted by a parent-report measure evaluating features of the broad autism phenotype. This study contributes to a research program that aims to develop and validate an endophenotype measure of ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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14. A Parent-Mediated Intervention to Increase Responsive Parental Behaviors and Child Communication in Children with ASD: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
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Siller, Michael, Hutman, Ted, and Sigman, Marian
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EARLY intervention (Education) , *AUTISM in children , *CHI-squared test , *COMMUNICATION , *CONFIDENCE intervals , *LANGUAGE acquisition , *MOTHERHOOD , *PARENT-child relationships , *PARENTING , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *REGRESSION analysis , *RESEARCH funding , *STATISTICAL sampling , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *T-test (Statistics) , *VIDEO recording , *EFFECT sizes (Statistics) , *RANDOMIZED controlled trials , *INTER-observer reliability , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Longitudinal research has demonstrated that responsive parental behaviors reliably predict subsequent language gains in children with autism spectrum disorder. To investigate the underlying causal mechanisms, we conducted a randomized clinical trial of an experimental intervention (Focused Playtime Intervention, FPI) that aims to enhance responsive parental communication ( N = 70). Results showed a significant treatment effect of FPI on responsive parental behaviors. Findings also revealed a conditional effect of FPI on children's expressive language outcomes at 12-month follow up, suggesting that children with baseline language skills below 12 months ( n = 24) are most likely to benefit from FPI. Parents of children with more advanced language skills may require intervention strategies that go beyond FPI's focus on responsive communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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15. Identification of Expanded Alleles of the FMR1 Gene in the CHildhood Autism Risks from Genes and Environment (CHARGE) Study.
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Tassone, Flora, Choudhary, Nimrah, Tassone, Federica, Durbin-Johnson, Blythe, Hansen, Robin, Hertz-Picciotto, Irva, and Pessah, Isaac
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GENETIC testing , *ALLELES , *ANALYSIS of variance , *AUTISM , *CAPILLARY electrophoresis , *CHI-squared test , *CONFIDENCE intervals , *FISHER exact test , *FRAGILE X syndrome , *GENETIC mutation , *POLYMERASE chain reaction , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *COMORBIDITY , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neuro-developmental disorder characterized by intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Expansion of a CGG trinucleotide repeat (>200 repeats) in the 5′UTR of the fragile X mental retardation gene, is the single most prevalent cause of cognitive disabilities. Several screening studies for FXS, among individuals with ID from different ethnic populations, have indicated that the prevalence of the syndrome varies between 0.5 and 16 %. Because the high co-morbidity with autism, we have conducted a screening study of the cohort from CHARGE, a large-scale, population-based, case control study. We have identified six subjects carrying an expanded allele, which emphasize the importance of screening for FXS in a population with intellectual disabilities and ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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16. Parents' Perspectives on Participating in Genetic Research in Autism.
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Trottier, Magan, Roberts, Wendy, Drmic, Irene, Scherer, Stephen, Weksberg, Rosanna, Cytrynbaum, Cheryl, Chitayat, David, Shuman, Cheryl, and Miller, Fiona
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AUTISM , *GENETIC research , *INTERVIEWING , *RESEARCH methodology , *MOTIVATION (Psychology) , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SOUND recordings , *QUALITATIVE research , *THEMATIC analysis , *PARENT attitudes - Abstract
Genetic research in autism depends on the willingness of individuals with autism to participate; thus, there is a duty to assess participants' needs in the research process. We report on families' motives and expectations related to their participation in autism genetic research. Respondents valued having a genetic result, as it alleviates guilt, promotes awareness, and may be used to tailor interventions and for family planning. The act of participating was distinctly significant, as it provided personal control, a connection to autism experts, networking with families, and hope for the future. The results of this study highlight complex factors involved in families' decisions to participate in autism genetic research and provide points to consider for this population of research participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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17. Effects of Child Characteristics on the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised: Implications for Use of Scores as a Measure of ASD Severity.
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Hus, Vanessa and Lord, Catherine
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DIAGNOSIS of autism , *CHILD Behavior Checklist , *CHILD behavior , *CONFIDENCE intervals , *INTERVIEWING , *RESEARCH methodology , *REGRESSION analysis , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SEVERITY of illness index , *RESEARCH methodology evaluation , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *EVALUATION - Abstract
The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) is commonly used to inform diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Considering the time dedicated to using the ADI-R, it is of interest to expand the ways in which information obtained from this interview is used. The current study examines how algorithm totals reflecting past (ADI-Diagnostic) and current (ADI-Current) behaviors are influenced by child characteristics, such as demographics, behavioral problems and developmental level. Children with less language at the time of the interview had higher ADI-Diagnostic and ADI-Current. ADI-Diagnostic totals were also associated with age; parents of older children reported more severe past behaviors. Recommendations are provided regarding the use of the ADI-R as a measure of ASD severity, taking language and age into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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18. The Role of Parenting Stress in Discrepancies Between Parent and Teacher Ratings of Behavior Problems in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- Author
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Reed, Phil and Osborne, Lisa
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PSYCHOLOGICAL stress , *AUTISM , *STATISTICAL correlation , *PARENTING , *SCALE analysis (Psychology) , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *T-test (Statistics) , *DATA analysis , *BEHAVIOR disorders , *PARENT attitudes , *COLLEGE teacher attitudes , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *DISEASE complications , *CHILDREN - Abstract
The study assessed whether teacher and parent ratings of child behavior problems were similar for children with autism spectrum disorders. Two informants rated child behaviors in the same home environment, and the degree to which parenting stress impacted the similarity of the ratings was assessed. Overall behavior problem ratings did not differ between groups, but there was poor correspondence between the ratings for individual children, stress did not impact markedly on the discrepancies. Parent-teacher discrepancies in behavior ratings cannot be attributed entirely to differences in the assessment-environment, and there was little evidence of widespread impacts of parenting stress on these discrepant ratings. It was suggested that attention is needed in terms of the teacher characteristics when explaining such results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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19. The Role of Causal and Intentional Judgments in Moral Reasoning in Individuals with High Functioning Autism.
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Buon, Marine, Dupoux, Emmanuel, Jacob, Pierre, Chaste, Pauline, Leboyer, Marion, and Zalla, Tiziana
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AUTISM , *ASPERGER'S syndrome , *ANALYSIS of variance , *ETHICS , *FISHER exact test , *JUDGMENT (Psychology) , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *DATA analysis , *TASK performance , *REPEATED measures design , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *PSYCHOLOGY - Abstract
In the present study, we investigated the ability to assign moral responsibility and punishment in adults with high functioning autism or Asperger Syndrome (HFA/AS), using non-verbal cartoons depicting an aggression, an accidental harm or a mere coincidence. Participants were asked to evaluate the agent's causal and intentional roles, his responsibility and the punishment he deserves for his action. Adults with HFA/AS did not differ in judgments of suffering and causality from adults with typical development. However, subtle difficulties with judgments of intentional action and moral judgments were observed in participants with HFA/AS. These results are discussed in the light of emerging studies that deal with integrity of moral reasoning in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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20. Recreational Participation of Children with High Functioning Autism.
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Potvin, Marie-Christine, Snider, Laurie, Prelock, Patricia, Kehayia, Eva, and Wood-Dauphinee, Sharon
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AUTISM , *RECREATION , *ANALYSIS of variance , *CHI-squared test , *INTELLIGENCE tests , *INTERVIEWING , *MULTIVARIATE analysis , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *T-test (Statistics) , *U-statistics , *CROSS-sectional method , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
The recreation of children with High Functioning Autism (HFA) is not well understood. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare the recreational engagement of children with HFA and their typically developing peers. Children with HFA (n = 30) and peers (n = 31) were similar on key characteristics that may impact recreation except those related to the HFA attributes. Children with HFA differed from peers in terms of diversity ( p = .002), social aspects ( p = .006) and locations ( p < .001) of recreation. The two groups were not statistically different in personal intensity ( p = .684), enjoyment ( p = .239) or preferences ( p = .788) of recreation. A recreational profile was developed to benefit parents and clinicians in supporting the recreation of these children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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21. Comparing Spoken Language Treatments for Minimally Verbal Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- Author
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Paul, Rhea, Campbell, Daniel, Gilbert, Kimberly, and Tsiouri, Ioanna
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TREATMENT of autism , *EDUCATION of parents , *SPEECH therapy methodology , *ANALYSIS of variance , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *T-test (Statistics) , *PRE-tests & post-tests , *EDUCATIONAL outcomes , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *CHILDREN - Abstract
Preschoolers with severe autism and minimal speech were assigned either a discrete trial or a naturalistic language treatment, and parents of all participants also received parent responsiveness training. After 12 weeks, both groups showed comparable improvement in number of spoken words produced, on average. Approximately half the children in each group achieved benchmarks for the first stage of functional spoken language development, as defined by Tager-Flusberg et al. (J Speech Lang Hear Res, 52: 643-652, ). Analyses of moderators of treatment suggest that joint attention moderates response to both treatments, and children with better receptive language pre-treatment do better with the naturalistic method, while those with lower receptive language show better response to the discrete trial treatment. The implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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22. Neural and Behavioral Responses During Self-Evaluative Processes Differ in Youth With and Without Autism.
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Pfeifer, Jennifer, Merchant, Junaid, Colich, Natalie, Hernandez, Leanna, Rudie, Jeff, and Dapretto, Mirella
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ANALYSIS of covariance , *ANALYSIS of variance , *AUTISM , *MAGNETIC resonance imaging , *NEUROLOGIC manifestations of general diseases , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALE analysis (Psychology) , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SELF-evaluation , *STATISTICAL hypothesis testing , *STATISTICS , *T-test (Statistics) , *DATA analysis , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *DISEASE complications - Abstract
This fMRI study investigated neural responses while making appraisals of self and other, across the social and academic domains, in children and adolescents with and without autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Compared to neurotypical youth, those with ASD exhibited hypoactivation of ventromedial prefrontal cortex during self-appraisals. Responses in middle cingulate cortex (MCC) and anterior insula (AI) also distinguished between groups. Stronger activity in MCC and AI during self-appraisals was associated with better social functioning in the ASD group. Although self-appraisals were significantly more positive in the neurotypical group, positivity was unrelated to brain activity in these regions. Together, these results suggest that multiple brain regions support making self-appraisals in neurotypical development, and function atypically in youth with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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23. Age of First Words Predicts Cognitive Ability and Adaptive Skills in Children with ASD.
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Mayo, Jessica, Chlebowski, Colby, Fein, Deborah, and Eigsti, Inge-Marie
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ANALYSIS of variance , *AUTISM , *CHI-squared test , *COGNITION , *COMMUNICATIVE competence , *LANGUAGE acquisition , *MULTIVARIATE analysis , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *T-test (Statistics) , *DATA analysis , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *DISEASE complications - Abstract
Acquiring useful language by age 5 has been identified as a strong predictor of positive outcomes in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This study examined the relationship between age of language acquisition and later functioning in children with ASD ( n = 119). First word acquisition at a range of ages was probed for its relationship to cognitive ability and adaptive behaviors at 52 months. Results indicated that although producing first words predicted better outcome at every age examined, producing first words by 24 months was a particularly strong predictor of better outcomes. This finding suggests that the historic criterion for positive prognosis (i.e., 'useful language by age 5') can be updated to a more specific criterion with an earlier developmental time point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2013
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24. The Effects of Autism and Alexithymia on Physiological and Verbal Responsiveness to Music.
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Allen, Rory, Davis, Rob, and Hill, Elisabeth
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ALEXITHYMIA , *ANALYSIS of covariance , *ANALYSIS of variance , *AUTISM , *EMOTIONS , *FISHER exact test , *MUSIC , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *T-test (Statistics) , *DATA analysis , *REPEATED measures design , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *SYMPTOMS - Abstract
It has been suggested that individuals with autism will be less responsive to the emotional content of music than typical individuals. With the aim of testing this hypothesis, a group of high-functioning adults on the autism spectrum was compared with a group of matched controls on two measures of emotional responsiveness to music, comprising physiological and verbal measures. Impairment in participants ability to verbalize their emotions (type-II alexithymia) was also assessed. The groups did not differ significantly on physiological responsiveness, but the autism group was significantly lower on the verbal measure. However, inclusion of the alexithymia score as a mediator variable nullified this group difference, suggesting that the difference was due not to absence of underlying emotional responsiveness to music in autism, but to a reduced ability to articulate it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. Getting a Grip on Social Gaze: Control over Others' Gaze Helps Gaze Detection in High-Functioning Autism.
- Author
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Dratsch, Thomas, Schwartz, Caroline, Yanev, Kliment, Schilbach, Leonhard, Vogeley, Kai, and Bente, Gary
- Subjects
- *
TASK performance , *ANALYSIS of variance , *ATTENTION , *AUTISM , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALE analysis (Psychology) , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *PILOT projects , *DATA analysis , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
We investigated the influence of control over a social stimulus on the ability to detect direct gaze in high-functioning autism (HFA). In a pilot study, 19 participants with and 19 without HFA were compared on a gaze detection and a gaze setting task. Participants with HFA were less accurate in detecting direct gaze in the detection task, but did not differ in their ability to establish direct gaze in the setting task. In the main experiment, the results of the pilot study were replicated with 37 participants with and 39 without HFA, suggesting that individuals with HFA have a specific deficit in the passive perception of social cues as opposed to the active control, which seems to be intact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. Brief Report: Treating Stuttering in an Adult with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- Author
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Brundage, Shelley, Whelan, Cory, and Burgess, Cathleen
- Subjects
- *
STUTTERING , *AUTISM , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SOUND recordings , *DISABILITIES , *EFFECT sizes (Statistics) , *PRE-tests & post-tests , *INTER-observer reliability , *DATA analysis software , *MEDICAL coding , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *THERAPEUTICS - Abstract
Stuttering and autism can co-occur and when they do it presents a significant communication challenge. This study examined the effectiveness of a modified version of the fluency rules program (FRP; Runyan and Runyan, Stuttering and related disorders of fluency, in ) to reduce stuttering frequency in a man with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The participant's percentage of stuttered words (%SW) was calculated during conversational interactions with multiple conversation partners both within and outside of the clinic treatment sessions. Visual inspection methods revealed a reduction in %SW from an average of 14.5 %SW during baseline to 2.07 %SW during the withdrawal phase. The mean baseline reduction in %SW from baseline to the second treatment phase was 91.8 %. The FRP holds promise for reducing %SW in persons with ASD who stutter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
27. Who Participates in Support Groups for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders? The Role of Beliefs and Coping Style.
- Author
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Clifford, Tessen and Minnes, Patricia
- Subjects
- *
AUTISM , *PSYCHOLOGICAL adaptation , *ANALYSIS of variance , *PARENTS , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SUPPORT groups , *SOCIAL support , *STATE-Trait Anxiety Inventory , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
One hundred forty-nine parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) completed online questionnaires measuring their beliefs about support groups and ASD, coping style, social support, mood, and use of support groups. Those currently using parent support groups (PSGs) reported using more adaptive coping strategies than both parents who had never used PSGs and parents who had used PSGs in the past. Past PSG users reported that they did not find the groups as beneficial as current users, and parents who had never participated in PSGs reported difficulties with the accessibility of PSGs. Based on the current results, interventions for parents of children with ASD that are focused on meeting the needs identified by participating parents may be most effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. (Re-)conceptualisation in Asperger's Syndrome and Typical Individuals with Varying Degrees of Autistic-like Traits.
- Author
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Burnett, Hollie and Jellema, Tjeerd
- Subjects
- *
ANALYSIS of variance , *ASPERGER'S syndrome , *AUTISM , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *THOUGHT & thinking , *DATA analysis , *REPEATED measures design , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *DISEASE complications - Abstract
The abilities to form new concepts from scratch (conceptualisation), and to flexibly switch from one concept to another (re-conceptualisation), were investigated in adults with Asperger's Syndrome and in typically-developed adults with low and high autism spectrum quotients. In consecutively presented morphs, containing increasing percentages of animate or inanimate objects, the emerging objects had to be identified. The abilities to conceptualise and reconceptualise became increasingly impaired with increasing autistic(-like) traits. Across both tasks, all groups recognised animate objects quicker than inanimate objects. However, this 'animate advantage' was differently affected by the two tasks. In the Reconceptualisation task, the 'animate advantage' gradually disappeared with increasing autistic(-like) traits, whereas in the Conceptualisation task it remained present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. Social Responsiveness and Competence in Prader-Willi Syndrome: Direct Comparison to Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- Author
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Dimitropoulos, Anastasia, Ho, Alan, and Feldman, Benjamin
- Subjects
- *
ANALYSIS of covariance , *AUTISM , *PRADER-Willi syndrome , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALE analysis (Psychology) , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SOCIAL skills , *STATISTICS , *DATA analysis , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *DISEASE complications - Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a neurodevelopmental disorder primarily characterized by hyperphagia and food preoccupations, is caused by the absence of expression of the paternally active genes in the proximal arm of chromosome 15. Although maladaptive behavior and the cognitive profile in PWS have been well characterized, social functioning has only more recently been systematically examined. Findings to date indicate the social impairment exhibited may reflect specific difficulty interpreting and using social information effectively. In addition, evidence suggests that there is an increased risk of social deficits in people with the maternally-derived uniparental disomy (mUPD) subtype of PWS in comparison to those with 15q11-13 paternal deletion (DEL). Using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and the Social Competence Inventory, our goal was to compare social functioning in PWS to individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants with mUPD scored similarly to the ASD group across most SRS domains. All groups had difficulty with social competence, although the DEL group scored highest on prosocial behavior. Findings suggest further characterization of social behavior in PWS is necessary to aid in advancing the understanding of the contributions of genes in the 15q11-13 critical region to ASD susceptibility, particularly with respect to the overexpression of maternally expressed genes in this region, as well as aiding in awareness and development/implementation of interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. Disseminating ASD Interventions: A Pilot Study of a Distance Learning Program for Parents and Professionals.
- Author
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Wainer, Allison and Ingersoll, Brooke
- Subjects
- *
TREATMENT of autism , *AUTISM , *BEHAVIOR therapy , *COLLEGE students , *STATISTICAL correlation , *MEDICAL personnel , *PARENTS , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *T-test (Statistics) , *VIDEO recording , *PILOT projects , *DATA analysis , *INTER-observer reliability , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
There is a need for the adaptation of training in evidence-based interventions to non-traditional methods, particularly for individuals working with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). An internet-based self-directed distance learning program was created to teach reciprocal imitation training, a naturalistic behavioral intervention aimed at increasing imitation in children with ASD. A single-subject multiple-baseline design study evaluated the effect of the program on changes in therapist (sample 1) and parent (sample 2) knowledge and behavior, and changes in child behavior. Adult participants improved their knowledge and use of the intervention techniques, and child participants improved their rates of imitation. Results suggest that a self-directed distance learning program may be effective for disseminating evidence-based practices to individuals working with children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. The Role of Timing in Testing Nonverbal IQ in Children with ASD.
- Author
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McGonigle-Chalmers, Margaret and McSweeney, Meabh
- Subjects
- *
ANALYSIS of variance , *AUTISM , *CONFIDENCE intervals , *STATISTICAL correlation , *INTELLIGENCE tests , *NONVERBAL communication , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *T-test (Statistics) , *TIME , *DATA analysis , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
15 School-aged high functioning children on the autistic spectrum were compared with a neurotypical cohort on the WISC-III and the KABC-II, to determine the impact of the relatively more strict timing criteria of the former test on the evaluation of nonverbal intelligence. Significant group effects, showing lower performance by the ASD group were found for three of the five sub-tests for the WISC but not for the KABC, peaks and troughs were more evident for the WISC, and the evaluation of intellectual level was also markedly lower for ASD children on the WISC-III as opposed to the KABC-II. The results are discussed in terms of how speed of processing can impact on how children with ASD are 'matched' against neurotypical samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. Virtual Reality Social Cognition Training for Young Adults with High-Functioning Autism.
- Author
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Kandalaft, Michelle, Didehbani, Nyaz, Krawczyk, Daniel, Allen, Tandra, and Chapman, Sandra
- Subjects
- *
AUTISM , *CONFIDENCE intervals , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALE analysis (Psychology) , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SOCIAL skills education , *SOUND recordings , *VIRTUAL reality , *PILOT projects , *EFFECT sizes (Statistics) , *SOCIAL learning theory , *PRE-tests & post-tests , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *DISEASE complications - Abstract
Few evidence-based social interventions exist for young adults with high-functioning autism, many of whom encounter significant challenges during the transition into adulthood. The current study investigated the feasibility of an engaging Virtual Reality Social Cognition Training intervention focused on enhancing social skills, social cognition, and social functioning. Eight young adults diagnosed with high-functioning autism completed 10 sessions across 5 weeks. Significant increases on social cognitive measures of theory of mind and emotion recognition, as well as in real life social and occupational functioning were found post-training. These findings suggest that the virtual reality platform is a promising tool for improving social skills, cognition, and functioning in autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. Is Maternal Influenza or Fever During Pregnancy Associated with Autism or Developmental Delays? Results from the CHARGE (CHildhood Autism Risks from Genetics and Environment) Study.
- Author
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Zerbo, Ousseny, Iosif, Ana-Maria, Walker, Cheryl, Ozonoff, Sally, Hansen, Robin, and Hertz-Picciotto, Irva
- Subjects
- *
INFLUENZA complications , *AUTISM risk factors , *DEVELOPMENTAL disabilities , *CONFIDENCE intervals , *EPIDEMIOLOGY , *FEVER , *INTERVIEWING , *MULTIVARIATE analysis , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *LOGISTIC regression analysis , *DATA analysis , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *PRENATAL exposure delayed effects , *DISEASE complications , *PREGNANCY , *DISABILITIES - Abstract
We analyzed data from case groups of 538 children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and 163 with developmental delays (DD), and from 421 typically developing controls to assess associations with maternal influenza or fever during pregnancy. Exposure information was obtained by telephone interviews, and outcomes were clinically confirmed. Though neither ASD nor DD was associated with influenza, both were associated with maternal fever during pregnancy: OR's (odds ratios) were 2.12 (95 % CI 1.17, 3.84) and 2.50 (95 % CI 1.20, 5.20) respectively. However, the fever-associated ASD risk was attenuated among mothers who reported taking antipyretic medications (OR = 1.30, 95 % CI 0.59, 2.84), but remained elevated for those who did not (OR = 2.55, 95 % CI 1.30, 4.99). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Brief Report: Compliance and Noncompliance to Parental Control Strategies in Children with High-Functioning Autism and Their Typical Peers.
- Author
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Bryce, Crystal and Jahromi, Laudan
- Subjects
- *
ANALYSIS of covariance , *AUTISM , *CHILD behavior , *PARENTING , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *VIDEO recording , *INTER-observer reliability , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *SEQUENCE analysis - Abstract
The present study examined children's compliance and noncompliance behaviors in response to parental control strategies in 20 children with high-functioning autism (HFA) and 20 matched typically-developing children. Observational coding was used to measure child compliance (committed, situational), noncompliance (passive, defiance, self-assertion, negotiation) and parent control strategies (commands, reprimands, positive incentives, reasoning, bargaining) in a clean-up task. Sequential analyses were conducted to identify parent behaviors that temporally predicted child compliance or noncompliance. Children with HFA were significantly more noncompliant and less compliant immediately following parents' indirect commands than typically-developing children, even after controlling for receptive language. These results add to the existing literature on the efficacy of control strategies for children with autism, and have important implications for caregiver interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. Pivotal Response Treatment for Infants At-Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Study.
- Author
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Steiner, Amanda, Gengoux, Grace, Klin, Ami, and Chawarska, Katarzyna
- Subjects
- *
EARLY intervention (Education) , *AUTISM , *SIBLINGS , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *VIDEO recording , *PILOT projects , *PARENT attitudes , *PARENTING education , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *CHILDREN , *PREVENTION - Abstract
Presently there is limited research to suggest efficacious interventions for infants at-risk for autism. Pivotal response treatment (PRT) has empirical support for use with preschool children with autism, but there are no reports in the literature utilizing this approach with infants. In the current study, a developmental adaptation of PRT was piloted via a brief parent training model with three infants at-risk for autism. Utilizing a multiple baseline design, the data suggest that the introduction of PRT resulted in increases in the infants' frequency of functional communication and parents' fidelity of implementation of PRT procedures. Results provide preliminary support for the feasibility and utility of PRT for very young children at-risk for autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. Implicit Social Learning in Relation to Autistic-Like Traits.
- Author
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Hudson, Matthew, Nijboer, Tanja, and Jellema, Tjeerd
- Subjects
- *
ANALYSIS of variance , *AUTISM , *INTERPERSONAL relations , *LEARNING , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SOCIAL skills , *PROMPTS (Psychology) , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *SYMPTOMS - Abstract
We investigated if variation in autistic traits in the typically-developed population (using the Autism-spectrum Quotient, AQ) influenced implicit learning of social information. In the learning phase, participants repeatedly observed two identities whose gaze and expression conveyed either a pro- or antisocial disposition. These identities were then employed in a gaze-cueing paradigm. Participants made speeded responses to a peripheral target that was spatially pre-cued by a non-predictive gaze direction. The low AQ group ( n = 50) showed a smaller gaze-cueing effect for the antisocial than for the prosocial identity. The high AQ group ( n = 48) showed equivalent gaze-cueing for both identities. Others' intentions/dispositions can be learned implicitly and affect subsequent responses to their behavior. This ability is impaired with increasing levels of autistic traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. Understanding Parent-Child Social Informant Discrepancy in Youth with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- Author
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Lerner, Matthew, Calhoun, Casey, Mikami, Amori, and De Los Reyes, Andres
- Subjects
- *
AUTISM , *ANALYSIS of variance , *CONFIDENCE intervals , *PARENTS , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SELF-evaluation , *SOCIAL skills , *STATISTICS , *T-test (Statistics) , *DATA analysis , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
We investigated discrepancies between parent- and self-reported social functioning among youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Three distinct samples showed discrepancies indicating that parents viewed their children as performing one standard deviation below a standardization mean, while youth viewed themselves as comparably-skilled relative to peers. Discrepancies predicted lower parental self-efficacy, and lower youth-reported hostile attributions to peers, marginally-lower depression, and decreased post-treatment social anxiety. Discrepancies predicted outcomes better than parent- or youth-report alone. Informant discrepancies may provide valuable additional information regarding child psychopathology, parental perceptions of parenting stress, and youth treatment response. Findings support a model where abnormal self-perceptions in ASD stem from inflated imputation of subjective experiences to others, and provide direction for improving interventions for youth and parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Dialogic Linkage and Resonance in Autism.
- Author
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Hobson, R., Hobson, Jessica, García-Pérez, Rosa, and Du Bois, John
- Subjects
- *
AUTISM , *CONVERSATION , *FISHER exact test , *INTERPERSONAL relations , *INTERVIEWING , *LINGUISTICS , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *U-statistics , *VIDEO recording , *INTER-observer reliability , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *DISEASE complications - Abstract
We evaluated how children with autism make linguistic adjustments when talking with someone else. We devised two novel measures to assess (a) overall conversational linkage and (b) utterance-by-utterance resonance within dialogue between an adult and matched participants with and without autism (n = 12 per group). Participants with autism were less able to establish 'cognitive linkage' with an interlocutor. As predicted, only among children with autism was there a positive correlation between the ability to link in with speaker's meanings and ratings of emotional connectedness with the conversational partner. Participants with autism were not less likely to show a basic form of dialogic resonance across successive utterances (the 'frame grab'), but more often elaborated their responses in an atypical manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. An Early Social Engagement Intervention for Young Children with Autism and their Parents.
- Author
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Vernon, Ty, Koegel, Robert, Dauterman, Hayley, and Stolen, Kathryn
- Subjects
- *
AUTISM , *TREATMENT of autism , *AFFECT (Psychology) , *COMMUNICATION , *INTERPERSONAL relations , *LANGUAGE & languages , *PARENTS , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SOCIAL skills , *STATISTICS , *INTER-observer reliability , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *CHILDREN - Abstract
The social vulnerabilities associated with young children with autism are recognized as important intervention targets due to their influence on subsequent development. Current research suggests that interventions that combine motivational and social components can create meaningful changes in social functioning. Simultaneously, it is hypothesized that parent delivery of such strategies can invoke increases in these core social behaviors and parent engagement. This study examined the effects of teaching parents to implement a social engagement intervention with their children. The results indicated that the use of this parent-delivered social intervention led to (a) increases in their children's use of eye contact, directed positive affect, and verbal initiations, (b) increases in parent positive affect and synchronous engagement, and (c) generalized increases in parent and child behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Brief Report: The Relationship Between Language Skills, Adaptive Behavior, and Emotional and Behavior Problems in Pre-schoolers with Autism.
- Author
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Park, Carlie, Yelland, Gregory, Taffe, John, and Gray, Kylie
- Subjects
- *
ADAPTABILITY (Personality) , *AFFECTIVE disorders , *AUTISM , *BEHAVIOR disorders in children , *COMMUNICATIVE competence , *DEVELOPMENTAL disabilities , *LANGUAGE & languages , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *MULTIPLE regression analysis , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *DISEASE complications - Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between structural language skills, and communication skills, adaptive behavior, and emotional and behavior problems in pre-school children with autism. Participants were aged 3-5 years with autism ( n = 27), and two comparison groups of children with developmental delay without autism ( n = 12) and typically developing children ( n = 20). The participants were administered standardised tests of structural language skills, and parents completed the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales and the Developmental Behaviour Checklist. Results indicated that for children with autism, communication skills, and in particular receptive communication skills, were associated with social and daily living skills, and behavior problems. Receptive structural language skills were associated with expressive communication skills. There were no associations found between structural language skills and social or daily living skills, nor behavior problems. The results of this study suggest that communication skills are more closely linked to functional and behavioral outcomes in autism than structural language skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. Assessing Autistic Traits in a Taiwan Preschool Population: Cross-Cultural Validation of the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS).
- Author
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Wang, Jessica, Lee, Li-Ching, Chen, Ying-Sheue, and Hsu, Ju-Wei
- Subjects
- *
DIAGNOSIS of autism , *ANALYSIS of variance , *CAREGIVERS , *STATISTICAL correlation , *CULTURE , *PARENTS , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *DATA analysis , *INTER-observer reliability , *RECEIVER operating characteristic curves , *RESEARCH methodology evaluation , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,RESEARCH evaluation - Abstract
The cross-cultural validity of the Mandarin-adaptation of the social responsiveness scale (SRS) was examined in a sample of N = 307 participants in Taiwan, 140 typically developing and 167 with clinically-diagnosed developmental disorders. This scale is an autism assessment tool that provides a quantitative rather than categorical measure of social impairment in the general population. SRS total and subscale scores distinguished significantly between autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disorders ( p < 0.01). Total SRS scores and sensitivity and specificity of the scale for diagnosing developmental disorders in the Taiwan study were similar to those observed in Western studies. These findings support the cross-cultural validity of the SRS scale for detecting autistic traits and for distinguishing between autism and other neuropsychiatric conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
42. Convergent and Discriminant Validity and Reliability of the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- Author
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Storch, Eric, Wood, Jeffrey, Ehrenreich-May, Jill, Jones, Anna, Park, Jennifer, Lewin, Adam, and Murphy, Tanya
- Subjects
- *
ANXIETY diagnosis , *ANALYSIS of variance , *AUTISM , *CHILD Behavior Checklist , *STATISTICAL correlation , *DISCRIMINANT analysis , *RELIABILITY (Personality trait) , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *STATISTICS , *T-test (Statistics) , *INTER-observer reliability , *RESEARCH methodology evaluation , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *DISEASE complications , *CHILDREN ,RESEARCH evaluation - Abstract
The psychometric properties of the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS), a clinician-administered measure for assessing severity of anxiety symptoms, were examined in 72 children and adolescents diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The internal consistency of the PARS was 0.59, suggesting that the items were related but not repetitive. The PARS showed high 26-day test-retest (ICC = 0.83) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.86). The PARS was strongly correlated with clinician-ratings of overall anxiety severity and parent-report anxiety measures, supporting convergent validity. Results for divergent validity were mixed. Although the PARS was not associated with the sum of the Social and Communication items on the Autism Diagnostic Observation System, it was moderately correlated with parent-reported inattention, aggression and externalizing behavior. Overall, these results suggest that the psychometric properties of the PARS are adequate for assessing anxiety symptoms in youth with ASD, although additional clarification of divergent validity is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. A Comparative Study: Completion of Fine Motor Office Related Tasks by High School Students with Autism Using Video Models on Large and Small Screen Sizes.
- Author
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Mechling, Linda and Ayres, Kevin
- Subjects
- *
FINE motor ability , *AUDIOVISUAL materials , *AUTISM , *COMPARATIVE studies , *HIGH school students , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALE analysis (Psychology) , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SOCIAL skills , *TASK performance , *PRE-tests & post-tests , *INTER-observer reliability , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to compare fine motor task completion when using video models presented on a smaller screen size (Personal Digital Assistant) compared to a larger laptop screen size. The investigation included four high school students with autism spectrum disorders and mild to moderate intellectual disabilities and used an adapted alternating treatments design with baseline, extended baseline, comparison, and final treatment conditions. Results showed that although independent completion of fine motor office related tasks increased under both procedures, use of video models on the larger screen resulted in a higher percentage of correct responses across all four students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
44. Looking beyond Maternal Sensitivity: Mother-Child Correlates of Attachment Security among Children with Intellectual Disabilities in Urban India.
- Author
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John, Aesha, Morris, Amanda, and Halliburton, Amy
- Subjects
- *
INTELLECTUAL disabilities , *ATTACHMENT behavior , *ATTITUDE (Psychology) , *CHANGE , *STATISTICAL correlation , *EMOTIONS , *MOTHER-child relationship , *SCIENTIFIC observation , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *REGRESSION analysis , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SOUND recordings , *STATISTICS , *TEACHERS , *TRANSLATIONS , *INTER-observer reliability , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *PSYCHOLOGY ,RESEARCH evaluation - Abstract
This study examined correlates of attachment security among children with intellectual disabilities in urban India. Survey and observational data were gathered from 47 children, mothers, and teachers on children's attachment security, adaptive functioning, and mother-child emotional availability. The data were analyzed to examine whether child emotional availability mediates the links between maternal emotional availability and child attachment security, and between child functioning and attachment security. The results supported full mediation, indicating that children's emotional availability was a primary mechanism through which maternal emotional availability and child functioning were linked to attachment security among children in our sample. The study findings are discussed in the context of implications for family interventions and research on socio-emotional development among children with intellectual disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
45. Flexible Visual Processing in Young Adults with Autism: The Effects of Implicit Learning on a Global-Local Task.
- Author
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Hayward, Dana, Shore, David, Ristic, Jelena, Kovshoff, Hanna, Iarocci, Grace, Mottron, Laurent, and Burack, Jacob
- Subjects
- *
ANALYSIS of variance , *AUTISM , *LEARNING , *REACTION time , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *VISUAL perception , *PROMPTS (Psychology) , *REPEATED measures design , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
We utilized a hierarchical figures task to determine the default level of perceptual processing and the flexibility of visual processing in a group of high-functioning young adults with autism (n = 12) and a typically developing young adults, matched by chronological age and IQ (n = 12). In one task, participants attended to one level of the figure and ignored the other in order to determine the default level of processing. In the other task, participants attended to both levels and the proportion of trials in which a target would occur at either level was manipulated. Both groups exhibited a global processing bias and showed similar flexibility in performance, suggesting that persons with autism may not be impaired in flexible shifting between task levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
46. Reasoning on the Basis of Fantasy Content: Two Studies with High-Functioning Autistic Adolescents.
- Author
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Morsanyi, Kinga and Handley, Simon
- Subjects
- *
ANALYSIS of covariance , *ANALYSIS of variance , *AUTISM , *CRITICAL thinking , *FANTASY (Psychology) , *LOGIC , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *T-test (Statistics) , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Reasoning about problems with empirically false content can be hard, as the inferences that people draw are heavily influenced by their background knowledge. However, presenting empirically false premises in a fantasy context helps children and adolescents to disregard their beliefs, and to reason on the basis of the premises. The aim of the present experiments was to see if high-functioning adolescents with autism are able to utilize fantasy context to the same extent as typically developing adolescents when they reason about empirically false premises. The results indicate that problems with engaging in pretence in autism persist into adolescence, and this hinders the ability of autistic individuals to disregard their beliefs when empirical knowledge is irrelevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
47. Brief Report: Concurrent Validity of the Leiter-R and KBIT-2 Scales of Nonverbal Intelligence for Children with Autism and Language Impairments.
- Author
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Scattone, Dorothy, Raggio, Donald, and May, Warren
- Subjects
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AUTISM , *STATISTICAL correlation , *INTELLIGENCE tests , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *T-test (Statistics) , *EFFECT sizes (Statistics) , *RESEARCH methodology evaluation , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
The concurrent validity of the KBIT-2 Nonverbal IQ and Leiter-R Brief IQ was evaluated for two groups of children: those with high functioning autism and those with language impairments without autism. Fifty-three children between the ages of 4 and 13 years of age participated in the study. The correlation between the scales was large (r = .62) and no statistical difference was found between the means. However, large intraindividual differences were found for 11 children who received scores at least 10 points higher on the Leiter-R Brief IQ, 5 of those scored beyond 20 points higher than nonverbal scores on the KBIT-2. Conversely, 11 children scored at least 10 points higher on the KBIT-2 than on the Leiter-R with 4 of those scoring 20 points higher. These findings highlight the importance of using multiple measures when assessing individuals with autism or language disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
48. Disrupted Stimulus Control But Not Reward Sensitivity in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Matching Law Analysis.
- Author
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Reed, Phil, Hawthorn, Rose, Bolger, Sam, Meredith, Katie, and Bishop, Ruth
- Subjects
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ANALYSIS of variance , *AUTISM , *REGRESSION analysis , *REINFORCEMENT (Psychology) , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
The matching law suggests that behavior is emitted in proportion to the level of reinforcement available. The current study investigated this effect in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and focused on the effects of magnitude of reinforcement (Study 1), and rate of reinforcement (Studies 2 and 3), on matching performance. Studies 1 and 2 employed lower functioning children with ASD, and demonstrated matching in both groups, but that the group with ASD displayed greater levels of stimulus bias. Study 3 employed higher functioning children with ASD, and found little evidence of matching, but higher stimulus bias in the group with ASD. These effects suggest a disruption of stimulus control, but not reward sensitivity, in individuals with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
49. Brief Report: Impaired Differentiation of Vegetative/Affective and Intentional Nonverbal Vocalizations in a Subject with Asperger Syndrome (AS).
- Author
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Dietrich, Susanne, Hertrich, Ingo, Riedel, Andreas, and Ackermann, Hermann
- Subjects
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ACADEMIC medical centers , *ANALYSIS of variance , *ASPERGER'S syndrome , *AUDIOVISUAL materials , *BEHAVIOR , *COMMUNICATION , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *RESEARCH funding , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *SOCIAL skills , *REPEATED measures design , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *DISEASE complications - Abstract
The Asperger syndrome (AS) includes impaired recognition of other people's mental states. Since language-based diagnostic procedures may be confounded by cognitive-linguistic compensation strategies, nonverbal test materials were created, including human affective and vegetative sounds. Depending on video context, each sound could be interpreted either as direct expression of an agent's affective/vegetative state or as result of intentional-executive mental operations. 'Situational relevance' and 'intentionality' ratings by a group of twelve healthy subjects nicely differentiated between context types. By contrast, an AS subject showed a systematic overinterpretation of vegetative/affective signals in terms of planned activities. Such overestimation of intentional motivation, leading to impaired social cognition, might be due to the inability to utilize 'affective resonance' mechanisms for the interpretation of an individual's internal state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
50. Correlates of Attachment Perceptions in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- Author
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Goodman, Sabrina and Glenwick, David
- Subjects
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ATTACHMENT behavior , *AUTISM , *LONGITUDINAL method , *PARENTING , *SENSORY perception , *REGRESSION analysis , *SCALE analysis (Psychology) , *SCALES (Weighing instruments) , *T-test (Statistics) , *PARENT attitudes , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *CHILDREN - Abstract
This study explored the relationship between parents' perceptions of their child's attachment to them and parents' own affective attachment to their child, as well the relationship of these constructs to parenting stress, parent-rated child functional impairment, and parenting sense of competence. Mothers ( n = 76) and fathers ( n = 30) of children ages 2-10 with autism spectrum disorders participated. Overall, parents' affective attachment to their child was more consistently related to other aspects of their parenting experiences than were their perceptions of their child's attachment to them. Also, perceptions of child-to-parent attachment were related to other aspects of parenting for fathers more than for mothers. Implications for parenting interventions and future research, such as longitudinal investigations, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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