Exercise-Based Interventions Aimed at Improving Balance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 003151252110602
Author(s):  
Mirjana Djordjević ◽  
Haris Memisevic ◽  
Srecko Potic ◽  
Uros Djuric
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Standardized Mean Difference ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have deficits in motor skills, especially balance. This article presents a meta-analytic review of 15 intervention studies that aimed to improve balance in children and adolescents with ASD. Across these studies, there were 195 participants with ASD for whom pre-intervention and post-intervention balance scores were available. We measured the standardized mean difference (Hedges’ g) between their pre-intervention and post-intervention balance scores and found a large, positive effect from these balance interventions (standardized mean difference—1.82 (95% CI [1.34, 2.29])). Various balance intervention procedures were shown to be very efficacious for children and adolescents with ASD. Clearly, balance is a motor skill that is very susceptible to intervention efforts. We also provided recommendations to researchers regarding what information to include when conducting intervention studies.

scholarly journals Caregiver-mediated approaches to managing challenging behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder

2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-233
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Challenging Behaviors ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

A significant proportion of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are referred to mental health centers due to the presence of challenging behaviors. Because challenging behaviors in children and adolescents with ASD often result from underlying social and communication difficulties and comorbid anxiety, traditional caregiver-mediated behavior intervention techniques developed for children with disruptive behavior disorders may need to be adapted for this population. Behavioral interventions that target communication skills, social skills, anxiety, and sensory responsiveness in children with ASD may be needed. Notably, while best practice necessitates the involvement of caregivers in treating children and adolescents with ASD, few randomized control studies have examined the effectiveness of caregiver-implemented interventions in reducing challenging behaviors. This review summarizes the current literature with regard to caregiver-mediated behavioral interventions for children with ASD, and suggests areas for intervention development and research.

scholarly journals The role of caregiver speech in supporting language development in infants and toddlers with autism spectrum disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 1230-1239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan R. Swanson
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Language Development ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Language Research ◽  
Language Data

AbstractParents play an essential role in supporting child development by providing a safe home, proper nutrition, and rich educational opportunities. In this article we focus on the role of caregiver speech in supporting development of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We review studies from typically developing children and children with autism showing that rich and responsive caregiver speech supports language development. Autism intervention studies that target caregiver speech are reviewed as are recent scientific advances from studies of typical development. The strengths and weakness of different techniques for collecting language data from caregivers and children are reviewed, and natural language samples are recommended as best practice for language research in autism. We conclude that caregivers play a powerful role in shaping their children's development and encourage researchers to adapt parent-mediated intervention studies to acknowledge individual differences in parents by using a personalized medicine approach.

scholarly journals Depression in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Children ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa DeFilippis
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Comorbid Depression ◽  
Adolescents With Asd ◽  
Higher Functioning

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has a high rate of psychiatric comorbidity. The prevalence of comorbid depression seems to correlate with higher functioning forms of ASD and increasing age. Adolescence is a time when youth struggle with identity and interpersonal relationships, and a diagnosis of ASD further complicates this process. Adolescents with ASD may be more aware of the social communication deficits that come with the diagnosis than children with ASD, and it is theorized that higher functioning adolescents may experience this more acutely. While this may be true, the lack of reliable rating and diagnostic scales for depression in individuals with ASD makes it difficult to accurately measure rates of depression among individuals with more severe verbal deficits. While some research has focused on the prevalence of comorbid depression in children and adolescents with ASD and on the associated risk factors, there is very little evidence guiding treatment, including no empirical studies on psychopharmacology for depression in this population. Available evidence exists only in psychosocial approaches to treatment at this time and is mostly limited to adult studies. Current evidence will be presented in this review, including prevalence rates of depression in youth with ASD, various risk and protective factors, the use of diagnostic rating scales, and treatment studies. The lack of evidence supporting various treatment approaches will be highlighted, including challenges specific to the treatment of depression in ASD, which are not addressed in the current treatment studies in typically developing youth with depression.

Gaming Disorder and Computer-Mediated Communication in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-122
Author(s):  
Frank W. Paulus ◽  
Charlotte S. Sander ◽  
Monika Nitze ◽  
Anne-Rose Kramatschek-Pfahler ◽  
Anette Voran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Gaming Disorder ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Adolescents With Autism ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

Abstract. Background: This study investigates how children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) make use of computer gaming and computer-mediated communication (CMC) in comparison to their nonautistic peers. Method: Parents filled out a standardized questionnaire on media use, gaming disorder (GD), and CMC. Sixty-two boys with a diagnosis of ASD aged 4 to 17 years (mean = 11.5; SD = 3.2) were compared to 31 healthy control boys (mean = 11.5; SD = 3.7). Results: Children and adolescents with ASD used CMC less frequently than their nonautistic peers but played video games for longer times than the controls. They preferred playing alone rather than in company of others and less frequently in multiplayer mode. Levels of GD symptoms were higher in boys with ASD. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with ASD seem to be an especially vulnerable subpopulation for GD. For them, the gaming situation (alone and in single-player mode) and CMC behavior seem to correspond to social patterns in real life. Our findings also provide support for the inclusion of offline gaming in the GD definition.

SHORT SENSORY PROFILE: ADAPTATION MADE WITH THE UKRAINIAN SAMPLE OF HEALTHY CHILDREN AND CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

2020 ◽  
pp. 44-57
Author(s):  
Yu. V. Vakulenko
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Sensory Information ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sensory Profile ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Psychometric Characteristics ◽  
Short Sensory Profile

The article describes and analyzes the questionnaire “Short Sensory Profile (SSP)”. The original variant of the Profile, its features and advantages in using as a diagnostic tool and as an informational material describing for parents the specifics of their children’s disorders are described. The impaired processing and integration of sensory information characteristic for healthy children and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is examined. Attention is drawn that sensory features and its violations characteristic for healthy and ASD children should be researched with a Ukrainian sample. The results of SSP adaptation and validation with the sample of Ukrainian children are presented. The questionnaire was translated into Ukrainian language from the original one (English) by a professional interpreter. The adapted version passed an asymmetrical translation, which helped to preserve the meanings of used statements and comply with the requirements of language clarity and certainty. The parents of 506 children (293 healthy children and 213 children with autism spectrum disorder) took part in the questionnaire adaptation; they filled the questionnaire about their children’s sensory patterns. Children were further divided into 6 groups by age and the presence / absence of a diagnosed autism spectrum disorder. Excel 2016 was used to calculate the scores, and IBM SPSS v.23 statistical application was used to check the psychometric characteristics of the questionnaire. The SSP psychometric characteristics, such as internal consistency of the statements, retest reliability, obvious validity, validity by the criteria and constructive validity, were at high and sufficient levels. The procedure and interpretation of the study results were standardized. For this, the frequency distribution was calculated by the general indicator and additionally by age groups to determine the severity of sensory disturbances in children and adolescents. According to the results of frequency distribution, the overall distribution of scores was determined, which gave the possibility to determine the presence and severity of the violations in processing and integration of sensory information by children and adolescents.

scholarly journals Father communication coaching for children with autism spectrum disorder: A single-subject study

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 239694151987737
Author(s):  
Michelle Flippin
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Parental Stress ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Object Play ◽  
Physical Play

Background and aims Parent-mediated interventions have been shown to be effective for improving communication skills for children with autism spectrum disorder when implemented by mothers. Little is known about the efficacy of autism spectrum disorder communication interventions implemented by fathers. This study investigated the effects of a 12-week coaching program on a father’s use of responsive strategies. Targeted responsive strategies included follow-in comments, follow-in directives, responsive physical play, and responsive object play. Collateral measures of changes to child communication skills and parental stress levels were also investigated. Methods A single subject, multiple baselines across behaviors experiment was conducted with one dyad (i.e. father and child with autism spectrum disorder). Results Results showed that the participating father was able to quickly learn to use three of the four targeted responsive strategies (i.e. follow-in comments, follow-in directives, responsive physical play). Child’s use of single words increased over baseline level and beginning use of multi-word utterances was documented. Pre–post intervention changes in ratings of stress for the participating father and mother were noted across child and parent domains. Conclusions and implications Findings of this pilot study may have important implications for developing much-needed parent coaching programs to enhance fathers’ use of responsive strategies and increase social communication skills for children with autism spectrum disorder.

scholarly journals An update on the cause and treatment of sleep disturbance in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 275-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan Seok Seo
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sleep Disturbance ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by abnormalities in social communication/interaction and restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior. ASD is a relatively common psychiatric disorder, with a prevalence of approximately 1.7% in children. Although many children and adolescents with ASD visit the hospital for medical help for emotional and behavioral problems such as mood instability and self-harming behavior, there are also many visits for sleep disturbances such as insomnia and sleep resistance. Sleep disturbances are likely to increase fatigue and daytime sleepiness, impaired concentration, negatively impact on daytime functioning, and pose challenges in controlling anger and aggressive behavior. Sleep disturbance in children and adolescents with ASD negatively affects the quality of life, nothing to say the quality of life of their families and school members. In this review, sleep disturbances that are common in children and adolescents with ASD and adolescents are presented. The developmental and behavioral impacts of sleep disturbances in ASD were also considered. Finally, non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments for sleep disturbances in children and adolescents with ASD and adolescents are reviewed.

Autism spectrum disorder and unintentional fatal drowning of children and adolescents in Australia: an epidemiological analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 105 (9) ◽  
pp. 869-874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy E Peden ◽  
Stacey Willcox-Pidgeon
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Prevalence Data ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
Adult Supervision ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

ObjectivesThis study explored unintentional fatal drowning among children and adolescents (0–19 years) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Australia.DesignThis total population, cross-sectional audit used data from the Royal Life Saving National Fatal Drowning Database to explore demographic and causal factors in ASD drowning cases between 1 July 2002 and 30 June 2018. Rates and relative risk (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for drowning cases with and without ASD, using estimated population-level prevalence data.ResultsOf the 667 cases of drowning among 0–19 year olds with known medical history, 27 children and adolescents (4.0%) who drowned had an ASD diagnosis. Children and adolescents with ASD were three times more likely to drown than those without ASD (RR=2.85; CI 0.61 to 13.24). Among those with ASD, 0–4 year olds record the highest rate (11.60/100 000 diagnosed). Children and adolescents with ASD were significantly more likely to drown when compared with those without ASD: if aged 5–9 years (44.4% of ASD-yes cases; 13.3% of ASD-no cases); in a lake or dam (25.9% vs 10.0%) and during winter (37.0% vs 13.1%).ConclusionHeightened awareness of drowning risk for children and adolescents with ASD is required, including adult supervision and barriers restricting water access. Further evaluation of the effectiveness of personal alarms to alert caregivers to an unsupervised child is warranted. Challenges exist regarding accurate estimates of population-level ASD prevalence and identification of ASD in coronial files. As the diagnosis of ASD does not often occur until age five, results may be an underestimate.

scholarly journals Stress System Activation in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder

2022 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerasimos Makris ◽  
Agorastos Agorastos ◽  
George P. Chrousos ◽  
Panagiota Pervanidou
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Developmental Trajectory ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Stress System ◽  
Adolescents With Autism ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

The mission of the human stress system is the maintenance of homeostasis in the presence of real or perceived, acute or chronic stressors. The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are the stress system-related neuroendocrine pathways. There is abundant evidence that children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may exhibit atypical function within the HPA axis and the ANS both at the resting state and during the presence of social and/or non-social stressors. The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date summary of the findings regarding stress system alterations in children and adolescents with ASD. We focus on the variations of stress hormones circadian rhythms, specifically cortisol and alpha-amylase (i.e., a surrogate index of epinephrine/norepinephrine secretion), and on the alterations of stress system responsivity to different stressors. Also, we present imaging and immunological findings that have been associated with stress system dysregulation in children and adolescents with ASD. Finally, we review the pivotal role of HPA axis-ANS coordination, the developmental trajectory of the stress system in ASD, and the possible role of early life stress in the dysregulation of the stress system demonstrated in children and adolescents with ASD. This synthesis will hopefully provide researchers with a foundation for an integrated approach to future research into stress system variations in children and adolescents with ASD.

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