The Impact of Autism Traits and Psychosis Traits on Mentalizing in Individuals with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder

Equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) have been suggested to improve adaptive behavior, and possibly motor function, in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study investigated the effects of EAAT on adaptive behavior and motor function in 15 children with ASD (13 males) aged 7–15 years as well as the impact of EAAT on the magnitude of stress in the parent–child system and the evolution in the child interaction with both the trained therapist and the therapeutic animal through the 20 weekly sessions of EAAT. EAAT were associated with greater adaptive behavior and coordination (all p ≤ 0.01) as well as a progressive improvement in the child’s abilities to respond to the increasing complexity of such form of positive behavioral support (all p < 0.001). However, EAAT did not prove to be effective in reducing parental distress. Collectively, preliminary evidence presented here may have important public health implications and gives reason to hope that EAAT could possibly be an effective option in ASD, warranting further investigation of its potential benefits in clinical trials among larger samples.

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Recognition of Emotions from Situational Contexts and the Impact of a Mind Reading Intervention in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Child Psychiatry & Human Development ◽

10.1007/s10578-021-01139-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Denise Davidson ◽

Elizabeth Hilvert ◽

Adrien M. Winning ◽

Michael Giordano

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Reading Intervention ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Mind Reading ◽

Situational Contexts ◽

Recognition Of Emotions ◽

The Impact

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The Impact of COVID-19 on the Adaptive Functioning, Behavioral Problems, and Repetitive Behaviors of Italian Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Observational Study

Children ◽

10.3390/children8020096 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 96

Author(s):

Martina Siracusano ◽

Eugenia Segatori ◽

Assia Riccioni ◽

Leonardo Emberti Gialloreti ◽

Paolo Curatolo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Behavioral Problems ◽

Adaptive Functioning ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Repetitive Behaviors ◽

Assessment System ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Adaptive Skills ◽

The Impact

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families have represented a fragile population on which the extreme circumstances of the COVID-19 outbreak may have doubly impaired. Interruption of therapeutical interventions delivered in-person and routine disruption constituted some of the main challenges they had to face. This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on adaptive functioning, behavioral problems, and repetitive behaviors of children with ASD. In a sample of 85 Italian ASD children (mean age 7 years old; 68 males, 17 females), through a comparison with a baseline evaluation performed during the months preceding COVID-19, we evaluated whether after the compulsory home confinement any improvement or worsening was reported by parents of ASD individuals using standardized instruments (Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (Second Edition), Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist, Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised). No significant worsening in the adaptive functioning, problematic, and repetitive behaviors emerged after the compulsory home confinement. Within the schooler children, clinical stability was found in reference to both adaptive skills and behavioral aspects, whereas within preschoolers, a significant improvement in adaptive skills emerged and was related to the subsistence of web-delivered intervention, parental work continuance, and online support during the lockdown.

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Review of Cognitive Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Performance on Six Subtests on Four Versions of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders ◽

10.1007/s10803-021-04932-x ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mizuho Takayanagi ◽

Yoko Kawasaki ◽

Mieko Shinomiya ◽

Hoshino Hiroshi ◽

Satoshi Okada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Block Design ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Intelligence Scale ◽

Cognitive Characteristics ◽

Children With Asd ◽

The Right ◽

The Impact

AbstractThis study was a systematic review of research using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to examine cognitive characteristics of children with ASD beyond the impact of revisions based on WISC and diagnostic criteria changes. The classic “islets of ability” was found in individuals with full-scale IQs < 100. The “right-descending profiles” were observed among high IQ score individuals. High levels on the Block Design and low Coding levels were consistently found regardless of the variation in intellectual functioning or diagnosis. This review identified patterns of cognitive characteristics in ASD individuals using empirical data that researchers may have previously been aware of, based on their experiences, owing to the increased prevalence of ASD.

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Sensory Abnormality and Quantitative Autism Traits in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder in an Epidemiological Population

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders ◽

10.1007/s10803-019-04237-0 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 180-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

K. Jussila ◽

M. Junttila ◽

M. Kielinen ◽

H. Ebeling ◽

L. Joskitt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

General Population ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Screening Questionnaire ◽

Sensory Abnormalities ◽

Autism Traits ◽

Parental Questionnaire ◽

Sensory Abnormality ◽

Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire

Abstract Sensory abnormalities (SAs) are recognized features in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and a relationship between SAs and ASD traits is also suggested in general population. Our aims were to estimate the prevalence of SAs in three different settings, and to study the association between SAs and quantitative autism traits (QAT) using the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) and a parental questionnaire. In an epidemiological population of 8-year-old children (n = 4397), the prevalence of SAs was 8.3%, in an ASD sample (n = 28), 53.6%, and in a non-ASD sample (n = 4369), 8.0%, respectively. Tactile and auditory hypersensitivity predicted an ASD diagnosis. The ASSQ was able to differentiate children with and without SA. In conclusion, QAT level and SAs were associated in all study samples.

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Exploring possible predictors and moderators of an executive function training for children with an autism spectrum disorder

Autism ◽

10.1177/1362361316682622 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 440-449 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Marieke de Vries ◽

Mathilde GE Verdam ◽

Pier JM Prins ◽

Ben A Schmand ◽

Hilde M Geurts

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Reward Sensitivity ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Autism Traits ◽

Moderating Factors ◽

Flexibility Training ◽

Executive Function Training

Previously, a total of 121 children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) performed an adaptive working memory (WM)-training, an adaptive flexibility-training, or a non-adaptive control (mock)-training. Despite overall improvement, there were minor differences between the adaptive and mock-training conditions. Moreover, dropout was relatively high (26%). In the current study we explored potential predicting and moderating factors to clarify these findings. The effects of intelligence, autism traits, WM, flexibility, reward sensitivity and Theory of Mind on dropout, improvement during training, and improvement in everyday executive functioning (EF), ASD-like behavior, and Quality of Life (QoL) were studied. None of the predictors influenced dropout or training improvement. However, 1) more pre-training autism traits related to less improvement in EF and QoL, and 2) higher reward sensitivity was related to more improvement in QoL and ASD-like behavior. These findings suggest that these EF-training procedures may be beneficial for children with fewer autism traits and higher reward sensitivity. However, the exploratory nature of the analyses warrant further research before applying the findings clinically.

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Chapter 19 The impact of robots on children with autism spectrum disorder

Autism Imaging and Devices ◽

10.1201/9781315371375-20 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 397-418 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zhi Zheng ◽

Esubalew Bekele ◽

Amy Swanson ◽

Amy Weitlauf ◽

Zachary Warren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

The Impact

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Online Communication Training for Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Communication Disorders Quarterly ◽

10.1177/1525740117727491 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 415-425 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Sarah N. Douglas ◽

Rebecca Kammes ◽

Erica Nordquist

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Parent Training ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Online Training ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Communication Strategy ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Probe Design ◽

Single Subject ◽

The Impact

Parent training is an essential part of quality programming for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, limited research exists exploring online training approaches to support parents of children with both ASD and complex communication needs (CCN; e.g., limited verbal ability), despite the many benefits that online training might have for these parents and the overall sustainability and scalability of such approaches. This study utilized a single-subject multiple probe design with three parents and their children to explore the impact of online parent training for parents and their children with ASD and CCN. Training included online interactive components to teach parents a communication strategy, as well as live practice sessions during which parents implemented the strategy, had an opportunity to ask questions, and engaged in self-reflection. Results indicated that training increased communication opportunities and responses provided by parents, and communication by the child. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.

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Sibling Relationships, Personality Traits, Emotional, and Behavioral Difficulties in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Child Development Research ◽

10.1155/2019/9576484 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

C. Longobardi ◽

L. E. Prino ◽

F. G. M. Gastaldi ◽

T. Jungert

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Sibling Relationships ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Sibling Relationship ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Behavioral Difficulties ◽

Typically Developing ◽

Emotional Symptoms ◽

The Impact

This study focused on parents’ perceptions of the quality of sibling relationship and its association with some behavioral and emotional characteristics of the typically developing sibling. The participants were parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing siblings. The sample size was 43. The group comprised 14 fathers (32.6%) and 29 mothers (67.4%) aged 33–53 years (M=43.56; SD = 5.23). The parents completed measures of siblings’ emotional and behavioral difficulties, siblings’ personality, and sibling relationships and their impact on families and siblings. The results showed that behavioral difficulties such as emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, and peer relationship problems were significantly associated with negative sibling relationships—characterized by rivalry, aggression, avoidance, and teaching behavior toward the brother or sister with an autism spectrum disorder. The implications are that sibling-focused interventions should focus on improving negative sibling relationships to reduce the impact on the difficulties of the typical development of the sibling of both genders and shape the content and delivery framework accordingly. This can be done by providing skills and approaches for enhancing sibling relationships so both parties benefit.

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