scholarly journals Efficacy of the Feline Temperament Profile in evaluating sheltered cats for adoption into families of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-55
Author(s):  
Angélique Lamontagne ◽  
Rebecca Johnson ◽  
Gretchen Carlisle ◽  
Leslie Lyons ◽  
Jessica Bibbo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Principal Component Analysis ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Animal Shelters ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Similarities And Differences

This project was part of the Feline Friends Study, which matches shelter cats with families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to study children’s social behaviour and cats’ stress. Cats were screened for calm temperament using the Feline Temperament Profile (FTP). The FTP consists of ten phases, with a list of ‘acceptable’ and ‘questionable’ behaviours under each phase. Our aim was to answer the following research questions: What items of the FTP best predict temperament in shelter cats? What are similarities and differences in temperament between cats who qualified or did not qualify for placement? Forty-four shelter cats were rejected for placement in a home with a child with ASD and twenty-six cats qualified. There was no difference according to sex; however, there was a significant difference in FTP scores across animal shelters. Principal Component Analysis showed that ‘vocalizations’ and ‘watches with no approach’ were most predictive of acceptable temperament. The findings show that the FTP can be shortened with no loss of reliability, facilitating shelter efforts to rehome cats successfully. The implementation of FTP could effectively reduce the amount of time cats spend in the shelter as well as the number returned to the shelter after adoption, resulting in improved welfare both at the shelter (shorter stay) and in their new home (decreased return).

scholarly journals PENGARUH SUBSTITUSI TEPUNG IKAN LELE TERHADAP PEMBUATAN COOKIES BEBAS GLUTEN DAN KASEIN SEBAGAI ALTERNATIF JAJANAN ANAK AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER [Effect of Catfish Flour Substitution towards Gluten-Free and Casein-Free Cookies as an Alternative Snack for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder]

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Aliffah Nurria Nastiti ◽  
Juliana Christyaningsih
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Calcium Content ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Gluten Free ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
High Calcium ◽  
Significant Difference

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have digestive disorders, therefore their diet should be gluten-free and casein-free. Gluten-free and casein-free foods tend to be low in protein. ASD children who apply a gluten-free diet and casein have a lower calcium intake and low in bone density. Catfish flour with high protein and calcium content were expected to increase the nutritional value (protein and calcium) of cookies which gluten-free and casein-free. This study was aimed to determine the effect of catfish flour substitution towards acceptance and nutritional value of gluten and casein free cookies as an alternative snack for ASD children. This study was experimental research with Completely Randomized Design. Panelists of this study were children with ASD (4-6 years) and their parents as many as 40 people. There were 4 formulas in this study, F0 was control, and 3 substitution formulas. Percentage of Flour substitution were, F2 (2%: 2%); F3 (4%: 4%); and F5 (6%: 4%). Kruskal Wallis test showed no significant difference in the level on acceptance level in taste and aroma between F0, F3, and F5. The acceptability and nutritional value's ranking showed the best formula was F5. 100 grams of F5 cookies (protein: 6.75 g; calcium: 247.51 mg) can fulfill 19% of the protein and 24.8% calcium of children RDA (4-6 years). Gluten-free and casein-free cookies with catfish (Formula 5) with enough protein and high calcium can be an alternative snack for ASD children.

scholarly journals The Utilization of RaschModel Measurement (RMM) in Investigating the Effect of Pharmacological andNon-pharmacological Treatment on the Quality of Life of Malaysian’s Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Their Family

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amily Fikry ◽  
◽  
Siti Fatahiyah Mahamood ◽  
Mohd Nor Mamat ◽  
Hamizah Hassan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Pharmacological Treatment ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Model Reliability ◽  
Research Questions

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that encompasses varieties of disorder with impairments in social relationships, communication and imaginative display. In an attempt to reduce the severity of the said symptoms, these ASD children have been given either pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment. The treatment given is hope to improve quality of life of the ASD children and their respective family. Thus, by using Rasch Model, this paper attempts to look at the significant effect of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment on quality of life of Malaysian’s children with Autism and their respective family. A total of 31 questionnaires (with 16 returned and usable questionnaires) were distributed to parents of ASD child at public rehab center located in Eastern and Central Region of Malaysia. By using Bond and Fox Steps of Rasch Measurement Model, reliability analysis of responses were analyzed and research questions were answered. Conclusions and recommendations were discussed at the end of the paper.

scholarly journals The Role of Context in Language Development for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Sánchez Pérez ◽  
Anders Nordahl-Hansen ◽  
Anett Kaale
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Expressive Language ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Communication Development ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Language Interventions ◽  
At Home

Parent and preschool teacher ratings of the 10 noun categories of MacArthur-Bates Communication Development Inventory (CDI) were used to study expressive language in 2–4-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (N = 58) across the home and preschool context. There was no significant difference in the total number of words the children said in the two contexts, but the children said significantly more words in the noun categories “Furniture and rooms” and “People” at home. Only one third of the words the children said were said both at home and in the preschool, while the other two thirds were said only at home or only in preschool. This suggests that what words the children use across contexts differ substantially and that their vocabulary is larger than it seems when measured only in one context. This novel study highlights the importance of assessing the language in children with ASD in multiple contexts in order to better measure their vocabulary and to design appropriate language interventions.

Print Knowledge in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Do Child and Family Variables Play a Role?

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaclyn M. Dynia ◽  
Emily J. Solari
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Letter Identification ◽  
Full Sample ◽  
Print Knowledge ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Name Writing

Purpose This study aimed to examine the print knowledge of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in comparison to children who have developmental language disorder (DLD) and typically developing (TD) children as well as examine the child and family predictors of print knowledge. Method A total of 629 preschool children, including 33 children with ASD, 93 children with DLD, and 503 TD children, were the focus of the current study. Teachers completed direct assessments with the children in the fall and spring of the academic year on print knowledge using the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screener. Results Analyses of covariance were used to compare the print knowledge skills (uppercase and lowercase letter identification, print and word awareness, name writing) in the fall and spring for each of the three groups. The groups were significantly different for the Print and Word Awareness and Name Writing subtests in both the fall and spring. A Tukey's honestly significant difference further indicated that, for these subtests, the children with ASD had significantly lower scores than both the children with DLD and TD children. When examining the child and family predictors of residualized gain in print knowledge for the children with ASD, the only significant predictor for any outcome was fall scores. When examining the predictors for the full sample, fall scores, age, ASD status, and mothers' education level were significant predictors of print and word awareness and name writing scores. Conclusions None of the child and family characteristics seemed to be related to residualized gain in print knowledge for children with ASD. However, when examining predictors of residualized gain in print knowledge for the full sample, ASD status was related to lower scores for both print and word awareness and name writing.

scholarly journals Effect of Social Stories on Social Skills of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anu Aggarwal ◽  
Babita Prusty
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Skills ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Social Stories ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Visual Response ◽  
The Social ◽  
Significant Difference

The research titled “Effect of Social Stories on social skills of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder” was aimed to study that how Social Stories as an intervention affect the social skills of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In the study a sample of 4 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder ranging from 4-8 years of age was taken using purposive sampling. The tool used to assess the social skills was Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition – Standard Version (CARS2-ST). The data was collected using Pre-Post Research Design and then analyzed using t-test as the statistical tool. There was significant difference between the scores of pre intervention and post intervention by Social Stories. The results hence generated proved that social skills including relating to people, adaptation to change, visual response, listening response and verbal communication can be enhanced and supported by the Social Stories.

Oxytocin levels tend to be lower in autistic children: A meta-analysis of 31 studies

Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110343
Author(s):  
Simon John ◽  
Adrian V Jaeggi
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Citation Index ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Significant Difference

The oxytocin system may be different in autistic people, which could explain some of the deficits in social behavior and cognition associated with autism spectrum disorder. However, studies comparing oxytocin levels in autistic and neurotypical individuals have shown conflicting results and a 2016 meta-analysis on seven studies concluded that there was no significant difference. Here, we greatly expanded the sample of studies to 31, warranting a reassessment of this finding. We searched Web of Science with MEDLINE®, SciELO Citation Index, and BIOSIS Citation Index for articles that measured oxytocin in plasma/serum ( k = 26 studies), saliva (4), or cerebrospinal fluid (1) in autistic individuals (total n = 1233 participants) compared to neurotypical individuals ( n = 1304). We found that oxytocin levels were significantly lower in autistic people (Cohen’s d = −0.36, 95% confidence interval = [−0.61, −0.10], p = 0.007), with no evidence for publication bias. This overall effect was driven entirely by differences among children ( k = 25, d = −0.44, 95% confidence interval = [−0.72, −0.16], p = 0.002) but not adults ( k = 6, d = 0.03, 95% confidence interval = [−0.55, 0.61], p = 0.92). These results support further research into the use of oxytocin to treat social deficits in children. Lay abstract Oxytocin is a hormone that mediates interpersonal relationships through enhancing social recognition, social memory, and reducing stress. It is released centrally into the cerebrospinal fluid, as well as peripherally into the blood, where it can easily be measured. Some studies indicate that the oxytocin system with its social implications might be different in people with autism spectrum disorder. With summarizing evidence of 31 studies, this meta-analysis suggests that children with autism spectrum disorder have lower blood oxytocin levels compared to neurotypical individuals. This might not be the case for adults with autism spectrum disorder, where we could not find a difference. Our findings motivate further exploration of the oxytocin system in children with autism spectrum disorder. This could lead to therapeutic options in treating autism spectrum disorder in childhood.

scholarly journals The Effects of Gymnastics Training Combined With Music in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betül Akyol ◽  
Songül Pektaş
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Functional Reach ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Functional Reach Test ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of gymnastics training combined with music on balance, loco-motor level and coordination in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and down syndrome (DS). This randomized, controlled experimental trial included 30 children (15 children with DS, 15 children with ASD) aged 8 to 14 years. The children were separated into 2 groups, as Group 1 in which ASD and Group 2 in which DS treated gymnastics training with music for 16 weeks, 2 days a week, 1.5-2 hours. Flamingo balance test, functional reach test, Wall Catch coordination test and flexibility test were used to evaluate balance, dynamic balance, loco-motor level and coordination, flexibility, respectively. All groups were evaluated before training and at the end of 16 weeks. When the pre-training and post-training parameters were compared between the groups, a increase was determined in the parameters of balance, loco-motor level and coordination, flexibility in Group1. This increase was statistically greater in Group 1. Statistically significant difference was determined in Group 2 with respect to functional reach test, sit and reach test values. No statistically significant difference was determined in Group 2 in respect of Flamingo and Wall Catch coordination tests. As a result; gymnastics training combined with music were found to be effective in increase balance score, improving loco-motor level, coordination, flexibility in children with DS and ASD. The results of this study can be considered to provide important contributions to the understanding and treatment of children with autism and down syndrome.

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