scholarly journals Should early intervention in autism be provided?

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-150
Author(s):  
David Foreman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Early Intervention ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
Cochrane Review ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Individual

SummaryRates of detected autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are currently rising, and there is a need for effective treatments to manage the symptoms. In this commentary I outline the challenges that autism presents to service delivery and consider a Cochrane review that evaluates one of the best-known classes of treatment for ASD, parent-mediated early intervention. I discuss effect size and bias in the interpretation of the review's results, and consider also the rationale for low- and high-intensity intervention at both the individual level and, from a public health perspective, at population level.

scholarly journals Smart Sanitation—Biosensors as a Public Health Tool in Sanitation Infrastructure

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (14) ◽  
pp. 5146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Rary ◽  
Sarah M. Anderson ◽  
Brandon D. Philbrick ◽  
Tanvi Suresh ◽  
Jasmine Burton
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Monitoring ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Emergent Technologies ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Sanitation Infrastructure

The health of individuals and communities is more interconnected than ever, and emergent technologies have the potential to improve public health monitoring at both the community and individual level. A systematic literature review of peer-reviewed and gray literature from 2000-present was conducted on the use of biosensors in sanitation infrastructure (such as toilets, sewage pipes and septic tanks) to assess individual and population health. 21 relevant papers were identified using PubMed, Embase, Global Health, CDC Stacks and NexisUni databases and a reflexive thematic analysis was conducted. Biosensors are being developed for a range of uses including monitoring illicit drug usage in communities, screening for viruses and diagnosing conditions such as diabetes. Most studies were nonrandomized, small-scale pilot or lab studies. Of the sanitation-related biosensors found in the literature, 11 gathered population-level data, seven provided real-time continuous data and 14 were noted to be more cost-effective than traditional surveillance methods. The most commonly discussed strength of these technologies was their ability to conduct rapid, on-site analysis. The findings demonstrate the potential of this emerging technology and the concept of Smart Sanitation to enhance health monitoring at the individual level (for diagnostics) as well as at the community level (for disease surveillance).

scholarly journals The earlier, the better? Diagnostic experiences of parents in a community-based early intervention system for preschool children with autism

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 239694151984520
Author(s):  
Mitsuaki Iwasa ◽  
Yasuo Shimizu ◽  
Ikuko Hara ◽  
Miho Imai ◽  
Hideo Honda
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Early Intervention ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Parental Satisfaction ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Diagnostic Process ◽  
Diagnostic Disclosure ◽  
The Individual

Background and aims In many countries, early detection and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder is largely dependent on parents’ initial concern with early symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. Previous research on parental perceptions of the autism spectrum disorder diagnostic process indicates that parental satisfaction may be due to either the timing of the diagnostic notification or the provision of post-diagnostic support. The objective of this research is to study the diagnostic notification process and its impact on parents who are informed of their young child’s diagnosis before they notice a problem and whose child undergoes early intervention therapy. Methods Eighty parents of preschool children diagnosed and undergoing early intervention for autism were surveyed to examine their experience of the diagnostic disclosure process. Results Of 68 respondents, 39 (58.2%) approved of the timing of diagnostic notification, while 10 of 13 dissatisfied respondents indicated that the diagnosis was communicated too late. However, there was no correlation between a higher degree of parental satisfaction with the diagnostic notification process and earlier timing of notification. Conclusions Although it is preferable to communicate a diagnosis of childhood autism as soon as possible, findings suggest that a highly individualized approach, allowing a degree of latitude in the timing of notification, may be permissible, depending on the individual case and parental readiness to receive the diagnosis. Implications Findings have clinical implications related to the concept of optimality of diagnostic disclosure as related to the diagnostic notification process, though later notification tends to lead to more dissatisfaction.

scholarly journals Peculiarity of Efficiency Assessment for Educational and Psychological Interventions Used with Children with ASD

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-67
Author(s):  
A.B. Sorokin ◽  
E.Yu. Davydova ◽  
A.V. Khaustov
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Efficiency Assessment ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
The Individual

Timely identification of appropriate intervention is prerequisite for amelioration of deficits in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is a complicated choice because of the high heterogeneity of ASD manifestations and insufficient state of knowledge about intervention efficiency. The article introduces an approach that will allow professionals who plan educational and psychological interventions for children with ASD and caregivers to assess the methods in terms of their congruence with the evidence-based criteria. Such assessment is conducted based on published experimental data. The article presents characteristics that are worth considering while making an informed decision about the preferred intervention. They include formal features, such as sample sizes, study length, compliance with the target group description, and validity, as well as subjective criteria that enable appropriate choice of intervention at the individual level.

scholarly journals Understanding the nature of face processing in early autism: A prospective study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Tye ◽  
Giorgia Bussu ◽  
Teodora Gliga ◽  
Mayada Elsabbagh ◽  
Greg Pasco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Face Processing ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
First Year ◽  
Neural Processing ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
The Individual ◽  
First Year Of Life

AbstractDimensional approaches to psychopathology interrogate the core neurocognitive domains interacting at the individual level to shape diagnostic symptoms. Embedding this approach in prospective longitudinal studies could transform our understanding of the mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. Such designs require us to move beyond traditional group comparisons and determine which domain-specific atypicalities apply at the level of the individual, and whether they vary across distinct phenotypic subgroups. As a proof of principle, this study examines how the domain of face processing contributes to a clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We used an event-related potentials (ERPs) task in a cohort of 8-month-old infants with (n=148) and without (n=68) an older sibling with ASD, and combined traditional case-control comparisons with machine-learning techniques like supervised classification for prediction of clinical outcome at 36 months and Bayesian hierarchical clustering for stratification into subgroups. Our findings converge to indicate that a broad profile of alterations in the time-course of neural processing of faces is an early predictor of later ASD diagnosis. Furthermore, we identified two brain response-defined subgroups in ASD that showed distinct alterations in different aspects of face processing compared to siblings without ASD diagnosis, suggesting that individual differences between infants contribute to the diffuse pattern of alterations predictive of ASD in the first year of life. This study shows that moving from group-level comparisons to pattern recognition and stratification can help to understand and reduce heterogeneity in clinical cohorts, and improve our understanding of the mechanisms that lead to later neurodevelopmental outcomes.General Scientific SummaryThis study suggests that neural processing of faces is diffusely atypical in Autism Spectrum Disorder, and that it represents a strong candidate predictor of outcome at an individual level in the first year of life.

Syndemics: A Cross-Disciplinary Approach to Complex Epidemic Events Like COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-58
Author(s):  
Merrill Singer ◽  
Nicola Bulled ◽  
Bayla Ostrach ◽  
Shir Lerman Ginzburg
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Medical Anthropology ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Synergistic Interactions ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Syndemic Theory ◽  
Critical Medical Anthropology

In this review, we trace the origins and dissemination of syndemics, a concept developed within critical medical anthropology that rapidly diffused to other fields. The goal is to provide a review of the literature, with a focus on key debates. After a brief discussion of the nature and significance of syndemic theory and its applications, we trace the history and development of the syndemic framework within anthropology and the contributions of anthropologists who use it. We also look beyond anthropology to the adoption and use of syndemics in other health-related disciplines, including biomedicine, nursing, public health, and psychology, and discuss controversies in syndemics, particularly the perception that existing syndemics research focuses on methodologies at the individual level rather than at the population level and fails to provide evidence of synergistic interactions. Finally, we discuss emerging syndemics research on COVID-19 and provide an overview of the application of syndemics research.

scholarly journals A Critique of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Framework in Epidemiology and Public Health: Uses and Misuses

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Kelly-Irving ◽  
Cyrille Delpierre
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Policy Interventions ◽  
Adverse Childhood

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have emerged as a major research theme. They make reference to an array of potentially harmful exposures occurring from birth to eighteen years of age and may be involved in the construction of health inequalities over the lifecourse. As with many simplified concepts, ACEs present limitations. They include diverse types of exposures, are often considered cumulatively, can be identified using prospective and retrospective approaches, and their multidimensional nature may lead to greater measurement error. From a public health perspective, ACEs are useful for describing the need to act upon complex social environments to prevent health inequalities at a population level. As the ACEs concept becomes popular in the context of policy interventions, concerns have emerged. As a probabilistic and population-level tool, it is not adapted to diagnose individual-level vulnerabilities, an approach which could ultimately exacerbate inequalities. Here, we present a critique of the ACEs framework, discussing its strengths and limits.

scholarly journals A Critique of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Framework in Epidemiology and Public Health: Uses and Misuses

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Kelly-Irving ◽  
Cyrille Delpierre
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Policy Interventions ◽  
Adverse Childhood

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have emerged as a major research theme. They make reference to an array of potentially harmful exposures occurring from birth to eighteen years of age and may be involved in the construction of health inequalities over the lifecourse. As with many simplified concepts, ACEs present limitations. They include diverse types of exposures, are often considered cumulatively, can be identified using prospective and retrospective approaches, and their multidimensional nature may lead to greater measurement error. From a public health perspective, ACEs are useful for describing the need to act upon complex social environments to prevent health inequalities at a population level. As the ACEs concept becomes popular in the context of policy interventions, concerns have emerged. As a probabilistic and population-level tool, it is not adapted to diagnose individual-level vulnerabilities, an approach which could ultimately exacerbate inequalities. Here, we present a critique of the ACEs framework, discussing its strengths and limits.

scholarly journals Autism : The Challengeand Global Autism Public Health (Gaph) Initiative : Bangladesh

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-6
Author(s):  
Basana Rani Muhuri
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Early Intervention ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Autism Symptoms ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Number Of Children

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental neurological disorder characterized by deficits in social behavior & communication, and a restricted range of activities. ASD transcends social, cultural & geographic boundaries. At least 1 in 150 individuals are affected with autism. In Bangladesh there has been a dramatic increase in the visible number of children with Autism. It is estimated by the Ministry of Social welfare that the total number could be as high as 1.4 million, of whom only a few hundred have been diagnosed. Another estimation is that 1 in every 500 children in Bangladesh has Autism, meaning that the approximate number of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Bangladesh is no less than 280,000. Autism symptoms range from mild to severe. Some individuals have strong intellectual & languagd abilities, whereas others require lifelong care. Many suffers from medical  problems along with autism. The American Academy of Pediatrics (composed of over 60,000 pediatrician) has recommended mandatory autism screening for all children between 18 and 24 months of age because there is compelling evidence that early intervention can result in significant gains in language and cognitive and impact long term outcome. A major barrier to improve the health & wellbeing of children and families touched by autism is the lack of knowledge and expertise. This limits access to care & early intervention and impedes the development of appropriate public health programs that can improve the quality of life for individuals with ASD & their families. These challenges are further complicated by a shortage of experts & trained professionals. JCMCTA 2012; 23(1): 2-6

Specialized Diet Therapies: Exploration for Improving Behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (40) ◽  
pp. 6771-6786
Author(s):  
Geir Bjørklund ◽  
Nagwa Abdel Meguid ◽  
Maryam Dadar ◽  
Lyudmila Pivina ◽  
Joanna Kałużna-Czaplińska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Caloric Intake ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Restricted Interests ◽  
Balanced Diet ◽  
The Individual

As a major neurodevelopmental disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) encompasses deficits in communication and repetitive and restricted interests or behaviors in childhood and adolescence. Its etiology may come from either a genetic, epigenetic, neurological, hormonal, or an environmental cause, generating pathways that often altogether play a synergistic role in the development of ASD pathogenesis. Furthermore, the metabolic origin of ASD should be important as well. A balanced diet consisting of the essential and special nutrients, alongside the recommended caloric intake, is highly recommended to promote growth and development that withstand the physiologic and behavioral challenges experienced by ASD children. In this review paper, we evaluated many studies that show a relationship between ASD and diet to develop a better understanding of the specific effects of the overall diet and the individual nutrients required for this population. This review will add a comprehensive update of knowledge in the field and shed light on the possible nutritional deficiencies, metabolic impairments (particularly in the gut microbiome), and malnutrition in individuals with ASD, which should be recognized in order to maintain the improved socio-behavioral habit and physical health.

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>

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