Multi-component communication intervention for children with autism: A randomized controlled trial

Autism ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 2104-2116
Author(s):  
Lauren H Hampton ◽  
Ann P Kaiser ◽  
Elizabeth A Fuller
Keyword(s):  
Social Communication ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
Communication Intervention ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Caregiver Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Minimally Verbal ◽  
Speech Generating Device

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-component communication intervention on social communication for young children with autism. As many as half of children with autism are not yet talking by age 3, and up to a third of children with autism will remain minimally verbal past age 5. Spoken language outcomes are greatest when parents and clinicians are delivering language interventions to children with autism as compared to parents or clinicians alone. This study incorporates caregiver training, Discrete Trial Teaching, and JASP + EMT + SGD. A total of 68 children between ages 3 and 5 with autism, and their caregivers, participated in this study. Children were randomly assigned to the treatment or control group. Children in the treatment group received 36 sessions of the multi-component intervention in the clinic and at home. Children in both groups received a speech-generating device and the caregivers received an individualized training on how to program the speech-generating device. All participants were evaluated prior to intervention, immediately following intervention, and 4 months following intervention. Children in the intervention group demonstrated significantly greater joint attention than those in the control group immediately following intervention. Children in the intervention group, additionally, demonstrated greater social communication with their caregivers 4 months following intervention. This brief, multi-component intervention may be effective for improving social communication in young children with autism who are at risk for remaining minimally verbal. Future research is needed to understand for whom and under what conditions this intervention is most effective. Lay abstract This study reports the results of a randomized trial for preverbal preschoolers with autism that demonstrates the effects of multiple intervention strategies including caregiver training. About 50% of children with autism are not talking by age 3 and up to 30% of children with autism will remain minimally verbal past age 5. Interventions delivered by clinicians and caregivers have the greatest effects on spoken language and may reduce the rate of those who remain minimally verbal. Sixty-eight children ages 3–5 with autism and their caregivers participated in this randomized trial comparing the communication intervention to a comparison group. A brief, multi-component, communication intervention (including a speech-generating device) for children with autism that addresses core deficits may be effective in improving joint attention skills immediately following intervention and social communication skills 4 months following intervention. Future research is needed to understand for whom and under what conditions this intervention is most effective.

scholarly journals Effect of exergaming on wellbeing of residents in a nursing home: a single blinded intervention study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlies Gunst ◽  
Isabelle De Meyere ◽  
Hannah Willems ◽  
Birgitte Schoenmakers
Keyword(s):  
Intervention Study ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Objective Assessment ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Average Intensity

Abstract Introduction To improve the quality of life in nursing homes, meaningful activities and social contact are indispensable. Exergames can play a role addressing these needs. Methods In a randomized single blinded controlled intervention study, we investigated the effect of playing exergames on general wellbeing, fun and on social interaction. Results Thirty-five residents participated: 18 residents took part in the intervention group and 17 in the control group. The median mental wellbeing score of the intervention group increased from 42/50 to 45. The median sleep score of the intervention increased from 23/30 to 28. The median pain score of the intervention group improved from 18/20 to 20. The median score on subjective cognition increased from 24/30 to 26 while the mean scores on the objective assessment decreased from 1.8/2 to 1.7. Coaches gave an average fun score of 8.9/10 and an average intensity of exercise score of 11.6/20. Residents and coaches appreciated the social contact. Coaches reported a high feasibility (average of 4.1/5) but a low accessibility and a high intensity of supervision. Conclusions Exergaming is a feasible and pleasant complement to the usual activities with a positive impact on wellbeing, sleep, pain, and perceived cognition. Future research should focus on vulnerable groups and aim to develop a study in an implementation design.

Impact of Ready to Learn and Play Framework on Occupational Performance for Children With Autism

2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 7512515366p1-7512515366p1
Author(s):  
Janis Leinfuss ◽  
Erin Ohara
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Processing ◽  
Standard Care ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Occupational Performance ◽  
Ready To Learn ◽  
Primary Author

Abstract Date Presented Accepted for AOTA INSPIRE 2021 but unable to be presented due to online event limitations. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have sensory processing difficulties that impact their occupations. Data were analyzed comparing SCOPE scores at pre- and posttest for children receiving standard-care OT or Ready to Learn and Play (RtLP) framework plus standard care. The intervention group showed statistically significant improvement in SCOPE scores over the control group. The RtLP framework shows promise as an evidence-based tool to positively impact the occupational performance of students with ASD. Primary Author and Speaker: Janis Leinfuss Additional Authors and Speakers: Erin Ohara

Impact of a New Parent Behavioral-Schema Training on Children with ADHD: A Pragmatic Control Trial

2020 ◽  
pp. 108705472095971
Author(s):  
Maly Solan ◽  
Anat Brunstein Klomek ◽  
Galia Ankori ◽  
Asheda Bloch ◽  
Alan Apter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intervention Group ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Growth Curve Analysis ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Behavioral Program ◽  
Symptom Relapse ◽  
Therapy Strategies

Objectives: To examine whether adding schema therapy strategies to the conventional parent behavioral program prevents symptom relapse in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Method: The intervention was designed as an adaptive pragmatic control trial. The parent behavioral training and schema-enhanced parent behavior therapy (SPBT) protocols were delivered to the control group (40 parents of 23 children) and experimental group (97 parents of 54 children), respectively. Participants were assessed at baseline, mid-treatment, and termination. Parents and teachers indicated the severity of ADHD and comorbid symptoms through their responses to standardized questionnaires designed for this purpose. Results: A nested growth curve analysis demonstrated that participants in the schema-enhanced intervention group had a lower risk of symptom relapse than the control group. Conclusion: Participation in the SPBT program significantly reduced relapse rates by the end of the intervention. Future research may determine the long-term effects of the treatment.

scholarly journals Mini-Basketball Training Program Improves Social Communication and White Matter Integrity in Children with Autism

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 803
Author(s):  
Kelong Cai ◽  
Qian Yu ◽  
Fabian Herold ◽  
Zhimei Liu ◽  
Jingui Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Internal Capsule ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Exercise Group ◽  
White Matter Integrity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Children With Asd

Impairments in social communication (SC) represent one of the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While previous studies have demonstrated that exercise intervention improves SC in children with ASD, there is currently no neuroscientific evidence supporting its benefits. Therefore, we evaluated the outcomes of a long-term exercise intervention on SC and white matter integrity (WMI) in children with ASD, and further explored the neural mechanism of exercise intervention on SC in these children. Twenty-nine children aged 3–6 years with ASD were assigned to either exercise group (n = 15) or control group (n = 14). The exercise group received a scheduled mini-basketball training program (5 sessions per week, forty minutes per session) for 12 consecutive weeks, while the control group was instructed to maintain their daily activities. Groups were assessed before and after intervention on SC and WMI. SC scores were lower in the exercise group post-intervention. Compared with the control group, WMI of the exercise group showed higher fractional anisotropy in the body of corpus callosum, fornix, right cerebral peduncle, left posterior limb of internal capsule, right retrolenticular part of internal capsule, left anterior corona radiate and left superior fronto-occipital fasciculus; lower mean diffusivity in the left anterior corona radiate and the bilateral corticospinal tract. Furthermore, increased WMI was associated with lower scores on a measure of social cognition in the overall sample. This study is the first to provide evidence that exercise intervention improves SC and white matter integrity in children with autism.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Psycho-Educational and Cognitive-Behavioral Counseling on Female Sexual Dysfunction

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (06) ◽  
pp. 333-339
Author(s):  
Firoozeh Mirzaee ◽  
Atefeh Ahmadi ◽  
Zahra Zangiabadi ◽  
Moghaddameh Mirzaee
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Sexual Function ◽  
Female Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cutoff Score ◽  
Female Sexual Function ◽  
Behavioral Counseling

Abstract Introduction Sexual function is a multidimensional phenomenon that is affected by many biological and psychological factors. Cognitive-behavioral sex therapies are among the most common nonpharmacological approaches to psychosexual problems. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of psychoeducational and cognitive-behavioral counseling on female sexual dysfunction. Methods The present study was a clinical trial with intervention and control groups. The study population consisted of women referring to the general clinic of a governmental hospital in Iran. After completing the demographic questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), those who obtained the cutoff score ≤ 28 were contacted and invited to participate in the study. Convenience sampling method was used and 35 subjects were randomly allocated for each group. Eight counseling sessions were held for the intervention group (two/week/1.5 hour). Post-test was taken from both groups after 1 month, and the results were statistically analyzed by PASW Statistics for Windows, Version 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results The total mean scores of FSFI and the subscales of sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group after the intervention. In addition, postintervention pain mean scores in the intervention group were significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion The results of the present study indicate that psychoeducational cognitive-behavioral counseling is effective in improving female sexual function. It is recommended to compare the effects of psychoeducational cognitive-behavioral counseling on sexual dysfunctions of couples and with a larger sample size in future research.

scholarly journals The Therapeutic Effect of Nordic Walking on Freezing of Gait in Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Agata Wróblewska ◽  
Agata Gajos ◽  
Urszula Smyczyńska ◽  
Andrzej Bogucki
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Freezing Of Gait ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Nordic Walking ◽  
Provocative Test ◽  
Step Initiation

Introduction. The effectiveness of the currently utilized therapies for FoG is limited. Several studies demonstrated a beneficial impact of Nordic walking (NW) on several gait parameters in Parkinson’s disease, but only one paper reported reduction of freezing. Research Question. In the present study, the question is whether NW is an effective therapeutic intervention in FoG. Methods. Twenty PD subjects trained NW for 12 weeks, with a frequency of twice per week. Each session lasted about 60 minutes. Twenty patients in the control group did not use any form of physiotherapy (no-intervention group). Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOGQ), the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and the Provocative Test for Freezing and Motor Blocks (PTFMB) were performed at baseline, immediately after the end of NW program, and three months later. Results. The results of FOGQ, TUG, and total PTFMB revealed significant improvement after completing the exercise program, and this effect persisted at follow-up. The results of the PTFMB subtests showed a different effect of NW on particular subtypes of FoG. Start hesitation, sudden transient blocks that interrupt gait, and blocks on turning improved considerably, while motor blocks, when walking through narrow space and on reaching the target, did not respond to NW training. Significance. The results show, for the first time, that FoG during turning and step initiation, two most common forms of this gait disorder, has been significantly reduced by NW training. Different responses of particular subtypes of FoG to NW probably reflect their different pathophysiologies. Conclusions. The present study showed that NW training had a beneficial effect on FOG in PD and that the achieved improvement is long-lasting. Future research should clarify whether the observed improvement limited to FoG triggered by only some circumstances reflects different pathomechanisms of FoG subtypes.

A Universal Prevention Trial of Anxiety Symptomology during Childhood: Results at 1-Year Follow-up

2003 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayley M. Lowry-Webster ◽  
Paula M. Barrett ◽  
Sally Lock
Keyword(s):  
Intervention Group ◽  
Prevention Trial ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Universal Prevention ◽  
Diagnostic Interviews ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Intervention Condition ◽  
Group Cbt

AbstractIn 2001 we evaluated a universal prevention trial of anxiety during childhood, and also examined the effects of the program on levels of depression. Participants were 594 children aged 10—13 years from seven schools in Brisbane, Australia, who were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group on a school-by-school basis. The intervention was based on the group CBT program FRIENDS (Barrett, Lowry-Webster & Holmes, 1999a, 1999b, 1999c). Results were examined universally (for all children) and for children who scored above the clinical cut-off for anxiety at pre-test. At 12-month follow-up, intervention gains were maintained, as measured by self-reports and diagnostic interviews. Eighty-five per cent of children in the intervention group who were scoring above the clinical cut-off for anxiety and depression were diagnosis free in the intervention condition, compared to only 31.2% of children in the control group. Implications of these findings are examined, alongside limitations and directions for future research.

scholarly journals Feasibility of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Examining a Multidimensional Intervention in Women with Gynecological Cancer at Risk of Lymphedema

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 455-470
Author(s):  
Shirin M. Shallwani ◽  
Anna Towers ◽  
Anne Newman ◽  
Shannon Salvador ◽  
Angela Yung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Gynecological Cancer ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
Risk Reduction Strategies

There is limited knowledge on non-invasive lymphedema risk-reduction strategies for women with gynecological cancer. Understanding factors influencing the feasibility of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) can guide future research. Our objectives are to report on the design and feasibility of a pilot RCT examining a tailored multidimensional intervention in women treated for gynecological cancer at risk of lymphedema and to explore the preliminary effectiveness of the intervention on lymphedema incidence at 12 months. In this pilot single-blinded, parallel-group, multi-centre RCT, women with newly diagnosed gynecological cancer were randomized to receive post-operative compression stockings and individualized exercise education (intervention group: IG) or education on lymphedema risk-reduction alone (control group: CG). Rates of recruitment, retention and assessment completion were recorded. Intervention safety and feasibility were tracked by monitoring adverse events and adherence. Clinical outcomes were evaluated over 12 months: presence of lymphedema, circumferential and volume measures, body composition and quality of life. Fifty-one women were recruited and 36 received the assigned intervention. Rates of recruitment and 12-month retention were 47% and 78%, respectively. Two participants experienced post-operative cellulitis, prior to intervention delivery. At three and six months post-operatively, 67% and 63% of the IG used compression ≥42 h/week, while 56% engaged in ≥150 weekly minutes of moderate-vigorous exercise. The cumulative incidence of lymphedema at 12 months was 31% in the CG and 31.9% in the IG (p = 0.88). In affected participants, lymphedema developed after a median time of 3.2 months (range, 2.7–5.9) in the CG vs. 8.8 months (range, 2.9–11.8) in the IG. Conducting research trials exploring lymphedema risk-reduction strategies in gynecological cancer is feasible but challenging. A tailored intervention of compression and exercise is safe and feasible in this population and may delay the onset of lymphedema. Further research is warranted to establish the role of these strategies in reducing the risk of lymphedema for the gynecological cancer population.

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