Evaluating response to group CBT in young children with autism spectrum disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deanna Swain ◽  
Haley G. Murphy ◽  
Tyler A. Hassenfeldt ◽  
Jill Lorenzi ◽  
Angela Scarpa

AbstractMany children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit difficulties with negative affect. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been successfully adapted for individuals with ASD to treat these difficulties. In a wait-list control study, for example, group analyses showed promising results for young children with ASD using a developmentally adapted group CBT approach. This report examined response to group CBT in terms of individual-level change in young children with ASD. Eighteen children with ASD, aged 5–7 years, and their respective parents participated in treatment. Parents completed pre- and post-treatment measures of negative affect and related behaviours. Treatment responders and non-responders were grouped based on significant treatment outcomes as assessed by statistically significant change for lability/negativity and 20% decrease in intensity, duration or frequency of emotional outbursts. Results indicated that 67% of children met criteria as a treatment responder, showing meaningful improvement in at least two outcome measures. No significant group differences emerged for initial characteristics before treatment. Wilcoxon signed rank tests determined pre-/post-treatment change in parental confidence for each treatment responder group. Results indicated statistically significant increase for the treatment responder group in parent-reported confidence in their own ability and in their child's ability to manage the child's anger and anxiety, but these results were not significant for the treatment non-responder group. Results provide additional evidence that CBT can significantly decrease expressions of anger/anxiety in children with ASD as young as 5 years, yet also suggest need for further improvement.

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca G. Lieberman ◽  
Paul Yoder

The association between object play and intentional communication was examined in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Meta-analysis of concurrent and longitudinal correlational studies revealed significant associations between object play and intentional communication in young children with ASD. One well-conducted and internally valid, randomized, controlled trial suggests a bidirectional causal relationship between object play and intentional communication. Further experiments are needed to replicate these findings and test a play-as-stronger-cause hypothesis. Findings of the review have implications for development and implementation of effective interventions for young children with ASD when communication is the target and play serves as the context for intervention strategies. One model for conceptualization of treatment is proposed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reina S. Factor ◽  
Deanna M. Swain ◽  
Ligia Antezana ◽  
Ashley Muskett ◽  
Alyssa J. Gatto ◽  
...  

Young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) struggle with emotion regulation (ER), which is developmentally preceded by lability/negative affect (L/N), and their parents face unique challenges to parenting and providing assistance. The Stress and Anger Management Program (STAMP) is a cognitive-behavioral treatment designed to address ER deficits in young children with ASD through child skill-building and parent training. The current study evaluated child L/N, ER, and parental confidence outcomes in 4- to 7-year-old children with ASD (N = 23; 19 boys) and their parents randomly assigned to a treatment (n = 12) or a waitlist control group (n = 11). Child L/N decreased, regulation was not significantly changed, and parental confidence regarding the child's ability to manage anger and anxiety increased from pre- to posttreatment in the treatment group, but not in the waitlist group. Implications for future interventions that address ER in children with ASD and their parents are discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parthenia Dinora ◽  
Matthew Bogenschutz

Families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) play a central role in selecting interventions for their children. Despite the importance of understanding the factors that motivate early decisions about treatment, the literature has concentrated little attention on how and why parents of young children with ASD make decisions about services and supports. Using a collective case study design informed by a diverse sample, this study found a heavy reliance on formal and informal sources of support in guiding parents’ early treatment decisions for their young children with ASD. The Internet also served as a primary source of informational support to families. Findings highlight the importance of family support initiatives including peer-to-peer family mentoring and decision support aides to assist families in critically evaluating online and print information regarding ASD.


Author(s):  
Chi-Ching Huang ◽  
Lin-Ju Kang

Participation in enjoyable activities is essential for the health and development of young children with and without disabilities. For preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there is limited knowledge regarding their participation in play, learning, recreation, and social activities. This was a preliminary study that compares the participation between children 2–6 years of age with ASD (n = 25) and age- and sex-matched typically developing (TD) (n = 25) children. The Chinese version of the Assessment of Preschool Children’s Participation (APCP-C) measures participation in play, skill development, active physical recreation, and social activities. Parents of the children in this study completed the APCP-C by structured interview. The results showed that children with ASD had lower participation diversity and intensity than TD children in play activities. A lower percentage of children participating in individual activity was found for children with ASD than TD children in most APCP-C activities. Professionals that serve young children with special needs are encouraged to partner with parents to provide playful and socially enhancing activities for preschool children with ASD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 77-91
Author(s):  
Kimberly Maich ◽  
Adam Davies ◽  
Sharon Penney ◽  
Emily Butler ◽  
Gabrielle Young ◽  
...  

High quality early intervention is a crucial component of supportive and inclusive early childhood education and care (ECEC) and crucial for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For children with ASD, there is limited access to ECEC services and there is little research or writing on the importance of bridging even conversations between the fields of ECEC and special education needs. This paper addresses the importance of starting a conversation by delineating current literature on ASD and early intervention services while making recommendations for how practitioners and policy-makers can consider the needs of young children with ASD in ECEC programming, bringing together clinicians and educators in ECEC settings into broader and closer collaborations. Through investigating current wide-scale reports on ASD in ECEC and inclusive settings, screening, early intervention, and evidence-based interventions, as well as the specific needs of parents of children with ASD, we seek to bring such essential discussions to the forefront. In turn, practitioners can provide supportive early-years environments for children with ASD, as well as early intervention and identification services that support inclusive practices.


Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 942
Author(s):  
Kenza Latrèche ◽  
Nada Kojovic ◽  
Martina Franchini ◽  
Marie Schaer

The beneficial effect of early intervention is well described for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Response to early intervention is, however, highly heterogeneous in affected children, and there is currently only scarce information about predictors of response to intervention. Based on the hypothesis that impaired social orienting hinders the subsequent development of social communication and interactions in children with ASD, we sought to examine whether the level of social orienting modulates treatment outcome in young children with ASD. We used eye-tracking technology to measure social orienting in a group of 111 preschoolers, comprising 95 young children with ASD and 16 children with typical development, as they watched a 29 s video of a woman engaging in child-directed speech. In line with previous studies, we report that attention to face is robustly correlated with autistic symptoms and cognitive and adaptive skills at baseline. We further leverage longitudinal data in a subgroup of 81 children with ASD and show that the level of social orienting at baseline is a significant predictor of developmental gains and treatment outcome. These results pave the way for identifying subgroups of children who show a better response to early and intensive intervention, a first step toward precision medicine for children with autism.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faihan Alotaibi ◽  
Nabil Almalki

<p class="apa">The present study sought to examine parents’ perceptions of early interventions and related services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Saudi Arabia. In this study a survey was distributed to a sample of 80 parents with children who have ASD. Parents also were asked open-ended questions to enable them to provide suggestions. The findings indicate that parents have varying perceptions of early interventions and related services. However, they seem to agree that these services are important in assisting their children. Accordingly, parents have suggested that the government needs to increase these services by providing more centers for children with ASD in Saudi Arabia, providing more specialists to deal with children with ASD, promoting inclusion in regular schools and providing more information on early intervention.</p>


Author(s):  
Ana Gentil-Gutiérrez ◽  
José Luis Cuesta-Gómez ◽  
Paula Rodríguez-Fernández ◽  
Jerónimo Javier González-Bernal

(1) Background: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently have difficulties in processing sensory information, which is a limitation when participating in different contexts, such as school. The objective of the present study was to compare the sensory processing characteristics of children with ASD in the natural context of school through the perception of professionals in the field of education, in comparison with neurodevelopmental children (2) Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study as conducted with study population consisting of children between three and ten years old, 36 of whom were diagnosed with ASD and attended the Autismo Burgos association; the remaining 24 had neurotypical development. The degree of response of the children to sensory stimuli at school was evaluated using the Sensory Profile-2 (SP-2) questionnaire in its school version, answered by the teachers. (3) Results: Statistically significant differences were found in sensory processing patterns (p = 0.001), in sensory systems (p = 0.001) and in school factors (p = 0.001). Children with ASD who obtained worse results. (4) Conclusions: Children with ASD are prone to present sensory alterations in different contexts, giving nonadapted behavioral and learning responses.


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