Implementing a Parent Education Intervention in Colombia: Assessing Parent Outcomes and Perceptions Across Delivery Modes

2021 ◽  
pp. 108835762098694
Author(s):  
Sandra Magaña ◽  
Marie Tejero Hughes ◽  
Kristen Salkas ◽  
Wendy Gonzales ◽  
Giselle Núñez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parent Education ◽  
The United States ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Immigrant Parents ◽  
Intervention Delivery ◽  
Delivery Modes ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Parent Outcomes ◽  
Latino Immigrant Parents

Knowledge and identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are increasing in Latin America, yet there are limited resources available to help families of children with ASD. For this study, researchers adapted and tested a parent educational program created for Latino immigrant parents of children with ASD in the United States to the needs of parents of children with ASD in Colombia. Parents were randomized into two intervention delivery modes, one led by parents and the other by students. All measures were self-reported by parents ( n = 20). Parents improved in understanding their child’s strengths and needs and frequency of using evidence-based strategies. Parents in the student-led group reported significantly lower depressive symptoms between baseline and follow-up. In focus groups, parents expressed satisfaction with the intervention and described ways they were using the information. In conclusion, this study demonstrated promising results to improve the experience of parents of children with ASD in Colombia.

scholarly journals Pivotal Response Treatment with and without robot-assistance for children with autism: a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris van den Berk-Smeekens ◽  
Manon W. P. de Korte ◽  
Martine van Dongen-Boomsma ◽  
Iris J. Oosterling ◽  
Jenny C. den Boer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Pivotal Response Treatment ◽  
Robot Assisted ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Robot Assistance

AbstractPivotal response treatment (PRT) is a promising intervention focused on improving social communication skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Since robots potentially appeal to children with ASD and may contribute to their motivation for social interaction, this exploratory randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted comparing PRT (PRT and robot-assisted PRT) with treatment-as-usual (TAU). Seventy-three children (PRT: n = 25; PRT + robot: n = 25; TAU: n = 23) with ASD, aged 3–8 years were assessed at baseline, after 10 and 20 weeks of intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. There were no significant group differences on parent- and teacher-rated general social-communicative skills and blindly rated global functioning directly after treatment. However, at follow-up largest gains were observed in robot-assisted PRT compared to other groups. These results suggest that robot-assistance may contribute to intervention efficacy for children with ASD when using game scenarios for robot-child interaction during multiple sessions combined with motivational components of PRT. This trial is registered at https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/4487; NL4487/NTR4712 (2014-08-01).

scholarly journals Developing a Culturally Sensitive ICF-Based Tool to Describe Functioning of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: TEA-CIFunciona Version 1.0 Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3720
Author(s):  
Silvana B. Napoli ◽  
María Paula Vitale ◽  
Pablo J. Cafiero ◽  
María Belén Micheletti ◽  
Paula Pedernera Bradichansky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
International Classification Of Functioning ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Practice Methods ◽  
Icf Core Sets ◽  
Family Centered

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects the daily functioning of children and their families; however, in Argentina, there are no standardized tools to guide the description, evaluation, and follow-up of functioning and disability of children with ASD. To fill this gap, the overarching purpose of this study was to create a novel tool guided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) Core Sets for ASD for clinical practice. Methods: A multistep methodology was used to identify the most relevant ICF categories for an Argentinian clinical setting. The content of this ICF-based shortlist was piloted and revised according to the results. Subsequently, a toolbox of measures was proposed to operationalize each ICF category. Finally, profiles of the functioning of 100 children with ASD were created. Results: An ICF-based tool called TEA-CIFunciona was created, consisting of 32 ICF categories (10 body functions, 15 activities and participation, 7 environmental factors categories). The application of TEA-CIFunciona incorporated a family-centered approach in ASD evaluations and helped identify functional needs. Conclusions: TEA-CIFunciona is the first ICF-based instrument that guides the description of functioning of children with ASD in Argentina. TEA-CIFunciona standardizes collaborative assessments in pediatric ASD populations in Latin American contexts.

Differential Item and Test Functioning of the Autism Spectrum Rating Scales: A Follow-Up Evaluation in a Diverse, Nonclinical Sample

2020 ◽  
pp. 073428292094552
Author(s):  
Maryellen Brunson McClain ◽  
Bryn Harris ◽  
Sarah E. Schwartz ◽  
Megan E. Golson
Keyword(s):  
Rating Scales ◽  
Ethnically Diverse ◽  
The United States ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Differential Test Functioning ◽  
Item Functioning ◽  
Racial Ethnic ◽  
Differential Test

Although the racial/ethnic demographics in the United States are changing, few studies evaluate the cultural and linguistic responsiveness of commonly used autism spectrum disorder screening and diagnostic assessment measures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate item and test functioning of the Autism Spectrum Rating Scales (ASRS) in a sample of racially/ethnically diverse parents of children (nonclinical) between the ages of 6–18 ( N = 806). This study is a follow-up to a prior publication examining the factor structure of the ASRS among a similar sample. The present study furthers the examination of measurement invariance of the ASRS in racially/ethnically diverse populations by conducting differential item functioning and differential test functioning with a larger sample. Results indicate test-level invariance; however, five items are noninvariant across parent reporters from different racial/ethnic groups. Implications for practice and directions for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Investigating the natural history and prognostic factors of ASD in children: the multicEntric Longitudinal study of childrEN with ASD - the ELENA study protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. e026286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amaria Baghdadli ◽  
Stéphanie Miot ◽  
Cécile Rattaz ◽  
Tasnime Akbaraly ◽  
Marie-Maude Geoffray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prognostic Factors ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Children With Asd

IntroductionThere is global concern about the increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), which are early-onset and long-lasting disorders. Although ASDs are considered to comprise a unique syndrome, their clinical presentation and outcome vary widely. Large-scale and long-term cohort studies of well-phenotyped samples are needed to better understand the course of ASDs and their determinants. The primary objective of the multicEntric Longitudinal study of childrEN with ASD (ELENA) study is to understand the natural history of ASD in children and identify the risk and prognostic factors that affect their health and development.Methods and analysisThis is a multicentric, longitudinal, prospective, observational cohort in which 1000 children with ASD diagnosed between 2 and 16 years of age will be recruited by 2020 and followed over 6 years. The baseline follow-up starts with the clinical examination to establish the ASD diagnosis. A battery of clinical tools consisting of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, the revised version of the Autism Diagnostic Interview, measures of intellectual functioning, as well as large-scale behavioural and developmental measurements will allow us to study the heterogeneity of the clinical presentation of ASD subtypes. Subsequent follow-up at 18 months and at 3, 4.5 and 6 years after the baseline examination will allow us to explore the developmental trajectories and variables associated with the severity of ASD. In addition to the children’s clinical and developmental examinations, parents are invited to complete self-reported questionnaires concerning perinatal and early postnatal history, congenital anomalies, genetic factors, lifestyle factors, medical and psychiatric comorbidities, and the socioeconomic environment. As of 1 November 2018, a total of 766 participants have been included.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was obtained through the Marseille Mediterranean Ethics Committee (ID RCB: 2014-A01423-44), France. We aim to disseminate the findings through national and international conferences, international peer-reviewed journals, and social media.Trial registration numberNCT02625116; Pre-results.

CheerBrush: A Novel Interactive Augmented Reality Coaching System for Toothbrushing Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Z. Kevin Zheng ◽  
Nandan Sarkar ◽  
Amy Swanson ◽  
Amy Weitlauf ◽  
Zachary Warren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Augmented Reality ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
The United States ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Fine Motor ◽  
Fine Motor Skill ◽  
Intelligent Support ◽  
Children With Asd

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts one in every 54 children in the United States. Some children with ASD have learning and fine motor skill challenges that contribute to difficulties completing daily living tasks such as toothbrushing. Lack of toothbrushing skills may cause increased need for dental care and negative social feedback from peers. Technology based intelligent support systems offer the advantages of being accessible, engaging, and cost-effective. In this work, we present a novel interactive augmented reality coaching system, CheerBrush, to improve the toothbrushing skills of children with ASD. CheerBrush allows children to manipulate virtual objects like a toothbrush and toothpaste with their actual hand motions to practice the steps of toothbrushing. The virtual tasks of CheerBrush demonstrate these steps using audio and visual cues, while also showing the brushing process through a virtual avatar. CheerBrush also assesses toothbrushing skills with a custom designed mechatronic toothbrush to evaluate the system's coaching effectiveness. A feasibility study with 12 children (six children with ASD and six typically developing children) was conducted to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of CheerBrush. The data showed improvements in the toothbrushing motions and reduced stress for the children in the post-test. CheerBrush detects real-time movement of children and interacts with them by augmented reality, feedback and multimodal hints. We believe that CheerBrush has the potential to provide a low-cost, engaging and, beneficial intelligent support system to improve the toothbrushing skills of children with ASD.

scholarly journals Development of Communication in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the United States and Russia

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 56-66
Author(s):  
R.L. Esterbrook ◽  
S.A. Esterbrook ◽  
A. Dreyfus ◽  
T.A. Karpekova ◽  
E.N. Soldatenkova
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Communication Disorders ◽  
The United States ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Important Idea ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
And Function

The article presents an analysis of theoretical principles and methodological approaches within the framework of research schools both in the United States and Russia; these schools provide the basis for the development of effective learning and communication skills for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The authors consider the indicators for communication disorders in children with ASD, as well as the main strategies for overcoming them in the context of utilizing verbal behavior analysis (B.F. Skinner, M.L. Sundberg, J.W. Partington, and M.L. Barbera - USA), the tradition of cultural-historical psychology (L.S. Vygotsky, D.B. Elkonin, B.D. Elkonin - Russia), reflective-activity approach (A.N. Leontiev, V.K. Zaretsky – Russia), the theory of systemic dynamic localization of higher mental functions(A.R. Luria – Russia), and method of ”replacing ontogenesis” (B.A. Arkhipov, A.V. Semenovich Russia). Despite the differences in methodologies used by American and Russian scholars, the most important idea is that the researchers and practitioners of both schools have common goal: to concentrate their efforts on developing social interaction skills in children with ASD, which helps them to better adjust in their lives and function in the social environment.

scholarly journals Homicide Incidents Involving Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder as Victims Reported in US News Media, 2000-2019

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Guan ◽  
Ashley Blanchard ◽  
Carolyn DiGuiseppi ◽  
Stanford Chihuri ◽  
Guohua Li
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
News Media ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Gunshot Wounds ◽  
The United States ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Media Reports

Abstract Background The reported prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased markedly in the past two decades and children with autism are at increased risk of unintentional injury and self-inflicted injury. The risk of assaultive injury in children with autism, however, has not been well described. Our objective was to examine the characteristics of homicide incidents involving children with ASD as victims reported in US news media. Methods The Lexis Uni® database was searched to identify news media reports on homicide incidents involving autistic victims under 21 years of age in the United States from January 2000 through December 2019. Information related to the victim, perpetrator, and means of homicide in each incident was ascertained from news media reports and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings: During the 20-year period, US news media reported on 52 incidents (47 males and 5 females) in which a child with ASD died from homicide. Age of victims at death ranged from 2 to 20 years (mean = 10.4 ± 5.3 years). Parents, other caregivers, and siblings accounted respectively for 63.5%, 13.5%, and 7.7% of the perpetrators. The most commonly cited contributing factor (47.1%) was overwhelming stress from caring for the autistic child. Almost a quarter (23.1%) of the victims died from gunshot wounds, followed by drowning (19.2%), and suffocation, strangulation, or asphyxiation (19.2%). Conclusions Of cases reported in news media, homicide victims in children with ASD are predominantly male. Nearly 85% of the perpetrators were family members or other caregivers. Intervention programs for children with ASD should include social and mental health support for parents and other caregivers to prevent burnouts.

Community Dissemination of the Early Start Denver Model

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 223-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie A. Vismara ◽  
Gregory S. Young ◽  
Sally J. Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Early Start ◽  
Early Start Denver Model ◽  
Intervention Delivery ◽  
Effective Dissemination ◽  
Direct Delivery

The growing number of Autism Spectrum Disorder cases exceeds the services available for these children. This increase challenges both researchers and service providers to develop systematic, effective dissemination strategies for transporting university research models to community early intervention (EI) programs. The current study developed an abbreviated training workshop to teach the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) to 24 community EI practitioners and examined their fidelity of implementation posttraining and 4 months later. Practitioners successfully implemented and self-assessed their delivery of the ESDM teaching strategies compared with fidelity ratings by expert trainers by the end of the workshop. Those who submitted follow-up materials met fidelity in their direct delivery, whereas their self-assessment of skill delivery appeared lower compared with trainers’ fidelity ratings. Findings are discussed about the immediate gains and challenges of community-based dissemination of the ESDM, and the priority for continued research in implementation science to support and sustain intervention delivery.

Educating behavior clinicians in a community behavior care center for children with autism spectrum disorder: Medication administration a pilot study in the United States

2020 ◽  
pp. 174462952096717
Author(s):  
Kathy Auberry
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
The United States ◽  
Medication Administration ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Community Behavior

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted developmental disability requiring specialized supports. Due to the growing diagnoses of ASD, the demand for behavior treatment centers has also grown. These centers offer a wide range of beneficial services to children with ASD, including medication administration and management. While centers may employ highly educated and certified employees, there may be a gap in education related to medication administration and medication management knowledge. Using an evidence based education tool, this study sought to explore if clinicians in a behavior care center could gain knowledge in their ability to accurately administer and manage medications for children with ASD, and postulate if existing post-secondary curricula for behavior clinicians should be enriched to include medication administration and management training. This comprised two separate day long sessions of an implementation pilot study of best practice education in medication administration and medication management for behavior clinicians employed at a community behavior care center for children with ASD in the United States. Using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, 25 (SPSS), the paired samples t-test was applied for analysis. The quantitative results demonstrated the skill level treatment effect was statistically significant ( p < .001). On the basis of the results the author makes recommendations regarding how to include medication administration and medication management education into existing behavior clinician curricula in the United States.

scholarly journals Connecting the Dots: a cluster-randomized clinical trial integrating standardized autism spectrum disorders screening, high-quality treatment, and long-term outcomes

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie A. McClure ◽  
Nora L. Lee ◽  
Katherine Sand ◽  
Giacomo Vivanti ◽  
Deborah Fein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
The United States ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
High Fidelity ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Cluster Randomized ◽  
Standardized Screening

Abstract Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects one in 54 children in the United States of America, and supporting people with ASD across the lifespan presents challenges that impact individuals, families, and communities and can be quite costly. The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued recommendations for routine ASD screening at 18 and 24 months, but some research suggests that few pediatricians perform high-fidelity, standardized screening universally. Furthermore, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against universal ASD screening. The objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that children with ASD who have high fidelity; standardized screening will achieve superior outcomes at 5 years of age compared to children receiving usual care ASD detection strategies. Methods This is a cluster-randomized, controlled clinical trial in 3 sites in the USA. Pediatric practices will be randomized to implement universal, standardized, high-fidelity toddler screening or usual care, with randomization stratified by the practice size. The study will enroll 3450 children, approximately half in each group. From this sample, we anticipate 100 children to be diagnosed with ASD. Children in both groups receiving an ASD diagnosis will be administered the Early Start Denver Model, an evidence-based early intervention addressing social, communication, and cognitive functioning. Treatment will last for 1 year, with up to 20 h per week of therapy for children with ASD. Results Primary outcomes measured at baseline, following treatment, and at 4 and 5 years of age include ASD symptom severity (Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC)) and cognitive functioning (Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) and Differential Abilities Scale-II (DAS-II)). Secondary outcomes in children include measures of adaptive functioning, ASD symptoms, and kindergarten readiness; secondary analyses will also examine stress and empowerment among parents. Several novel exploratory measures will be included as well. The study will utilize a modified intention-to-treat analysis. Conclusions This trial will evaluate the impact of universal, standardized, high-fidelity screening for ASD among children at 18 months of age, with a goal of providing evidence to support this strategy to detect ASD in toddlers in order to start treatment as young as possible and maximize outcomes. Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Drexel University (IRB protocol: 1607004653). All findings will be provided by the principal investigator via email; data will be available through the NIMH Data Archive (https://nda.nih.gov/). Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03333629. Registered on November 7, 2017

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