scholarly journals “It feels like something difficult is coming back to haunt me”: An exploration of ‘meltdowns’ associated with autistic spectrum disorder from a parental perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Indiana Montaque ◽  
Rudi Dallos ◽  
Becky McKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Early Intervention ◽  
Autistic Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
The Self ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Predictable Process ◽  
Anxiety And Fear

The research explored the experience and understandings expressed by parents of children with autism concerning ‘meltdowns’, which are commonly described as distressing, escalating episodes of conflicts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six parents of children with a diagnosis of autism regarding their experience of ‘meltdowns’. Parents were asked to track the process of the meltdowns as well as to describe their experiences. Three over-arching themes emerged which encapsulated their experience: Living in Dread: Anxiety and fear of escalating patterns, Attempting to Correct for Negative Childhood Experiences and Condemnation from the Self and Others. The findings suggested that the meltdowns were perceived as having an escalating and predictable process, that parents anticipated meltdowns with anxiety, experienced feelings of helplessness and felt condemned by others. Importantly, it also appeared that parents’ responses were influenced by their own childhood experiences of parenting and that they attempted to ‘correct’ these to be better parents. A model of the meltdowns is suggested along with a discussion of clinical implications for early intervention with families.

scholarly journals Parents’ Perceptions of Early Interventions and Related Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Saudi Arabia

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faihan Alotaibi ◽  
Nabil Almalki
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Early Intervention ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Early Interventions ◽  
Related Services ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
The Government

<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>

Listening to Bedouin fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris Manor-Binyamini
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Raising Children ◽  
Cultural Perspectives ◽  
Children With Asd

Although children across the world experience autism spectrum disorder (ASD), most research on ASD has been conducted using Western cultural perspectives and has focused primarily on mothers, leaving significant gaps in the literature. This study aimed to address these gaps by exploring the experiences of fathers raising children with ASD in a Bedouin community. To this end, a sample of 19 fathers of children (aged 6–15 years) with ASD living in recognized and unrecognized Bedouin settlements in the Negev participated in ethnographic, semi-structured interviews designed to investigate their experiences with raising a child with ASD in their community. Two major themes emerged: the challenges that Bedouin fathers of children with ASD face, and the influence of socio-demographic and cultural characteristics on their experience. Findings reflect the complex experiences of fathers raising children with ASD in the Bedouin community, stemming from their socio-cultural context and the limited knowledge and support services that are available in the community for these children. This article concludes with recommendations on how to enhance professional sensitivity and provide more culturally tailored services for parents of children with ASD.

scholarly journals “Tell Me About Your Picture”: Using Drawings to Support Expressive Language in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11
Author(s):  
Bridget M. Wright ◽  
Joann P. Benigno ◽  
Jamie B. Boster ◽  
John W. McCarthy ◽  
Bridget K. Coologhan
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Internal State ◽  
Expressive Language ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Drawing Task ◽  
Basic Concepts ◽  
Mean Length Of Utterance

Thirty-one children with and without autism spectrum disorder were asked to draw the meaning of 10 basic concepts. Following each drawing, children explained their drawing to the experimenter. Transcripts of the drawing task were coded for children’s use of personal pronouns and internal state terms. Children’s use of on- and off-task comments while explaining each drawing was examined. Both groups of children had a longer mean length of utterance when prompted to explain their drawings than while they were drawing. Analyses revealed no significant differences between children with and without autism in their use of internal state terms, pronouns, or their use of on- and off-task language during the drawing task. Clinical implications for the use of drawings as expressive language supports for children with autism are discussed.

Improving peri-operative psychosocial interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder undergoing ENT procedures

2020 ◽  
Vol 134 (9) ◽  
pp. 838-844
Author(s):  
R Fahy ◽  
M Corbett ◽  
I Keogh
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Story ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Clear Communication

AbstractObjectivesChildren with autism spectrum disorder face a broad range of communication and sensory challenges. Many of these children also have chronic ENT issues. This study aims to better understand these challenges and improve our services for children with autism spectrum disorder.MethodsQuestionnaires and semi-structured interviews were carried out with parents of children with autism spectrum disorder.ResultsThirty-four individuals participated, comprising 9 caregivers and 25 staff members. All parents recognised their critical roles in understanding their children's special needs and sensitivities. Parents and staff stressed the importance of a partnership role that inquired about unique needs, leading to environmental modifications for individual children.ConclusionThe importance of listening to and involving caregivers is a fundamental tenet; parents must be recognised as the experts. Uncertainty must be kept to a minimum, with clear communication in a structured, low-arousal environment for these children. We have listened to parents and staff, and developed a social story.

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