scholarly journals Indirect Effects of Task-switching on Reading Comprehension via Decoding Skills among Adolescents with Autism

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Ober ◽  
Bruce D. Homer ◽  
Jan L. Plass
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Task Switching ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Word Reading ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Reading Abilities ◽  
Adolescents With Autism ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

Purpose: We examined whether variation in task-switching indirectly predicted variation in reading comprehension by way of variation in decoding, and furthermore, whether this effect differed among adolescents with ASD compared to an age-matched control group. Methods: We examined whether the association between task-switching and reading comprehension was mediated by decoding among a sample of autistic adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; N = 45, Mage = 14.9 years) and an age-matched comparison group (N = 43, Mage = 14.3 years). Analyses were conducted using path models to test for direct effects of decoding and task switching on reading comprehension, as well as indirect effects of task-switching on reading comprehension by way of decodingResults: Though the indirect effect did not significantly differ between the ASD and comparison groups, the indirect effect of task-switching on reading comprehension via decoding was only significant among adolescents with ASD. This suggest that task-switching plays a particularly prominent role in decoding and reading comprehension among adolescents with ASD.Conclusion: Though further work is necessary to replicate this effect, the findings may have implications for interventions that may target improvements in word reading abilities as a means for improving reading comprehension outcomes among youth with ASD.

scholarly journals Reading for Comprehension in Individuals with Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typical Development: Similar or Different Patterns of Ability?

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 828
Author(s):  
Maja Roch ◽  
Kate Cain ◽  
Christopher Jarrold
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Language Comprehension ◽  
Oral Language ◽  
Word Reading ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Receptive Vocabulary ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Reading Accuracy

Reading for meaning is one of the most important activities in school and everyday life. The simple view of reading (SVR) has been used as a framework for studies of reading comprehension in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). These tend to show difficulties in reading comprehension despite better developed reading accuracy. Reading comprehension difficulties are influenced by poor oral language. These difficulties are common in individuals with DS and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but they have never been compared directly. Moreover, the components of reading for comprehension have rarely been investigated in these populations: a better understanding of the nature of reading comprehension difficulties may inform both theory and practice. The aim of this study was to determine whether reading comprehension in the two populations is accounted for by the same component skills and to what extent the reading profile of the two atypical groups differs from that of typically developing children (TD). Fifteen individuals with DS (mean age = 22 years 4 months, SD = 5 years 2 months), 21 with ASD (mean age = 13 years 2 months, SD = 1 year 6 months), and 42 TD children (mean age = 8 years 1 month, SD = 7 months) participated and were assessed on measures of receptive vocabulary, text reading and listening comprehension, oral language comprehension, and reading accuracy. The results showed similar levels in word reading accuracy and in receptive vocabulary in all three groups. By contrast, individuals with DS and ASD showed poorer non-word reading and reading accuracy in context than TD children. Both atypical groups showed poorer listening and reading text comprehension compared to TD children. Reading for comprehension, investigated through a homograph reading accuracy task, showed a different pattern for individuals with DS with respect to the other two groups: they were less sensitive to meaning while reading. According to the SVR, the current results confirm that the two atypical groups have similar profiles that overlap with that of poor comprehenders in which poor oral language comprehension constrains reading for comprehension.

scholarly journals Health-related risky behaviors in Chinese adolescents with autism: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yajing Sun ◽  
Xue Li ◽  
Lingzi Xu ◽  
Zenghui Ma ◽  
Yulu Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risky Behaviors ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Unprotected Sex ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Self Rating ◽  
Autism Group ◽  
Adolescents With Autism ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Background Health-related risky behaviors (HRB) generally refer to behaviors that have a negative influence on health and quality of life. HRB in adolescents with autism have not been well understood so far. We aim to explore health-related risky behaviors and their risk factors with autistic adolescents. Methods In this study, 150 adolescents with autism and 150 neurotypical adolescents were enrolled. Participants in both groups completed the Adolescent Health-Related Risky Behavior Inventory (AHRBI). Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ), Wechsler Intelligence Scale, Theory of Mind (ToM) Test, Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Self-Esteem Scale (SES) were also assessed in the autism group to explore risk factors. Results The results showed that the total score of AHRBI and scores of "aggression and violence (AV)", "suicide or self-injury (SS)", "health-compromising behavior (HCB)", and "unprotected sex (US)" subscales in the autism group were significantly higher than those in the control group (Z value = − 4.58 ~ − 2.26, all P < 0.05). Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, low IQ score, low ToM test score, increasing age, and communication disorder were found as risk factors for health-related risky behaviors in autistic adolescents. Conclusions Adolescents with autism have more health-related risky behaviors than neurotypical adolescents. We should pay attention to the emotional state, self-esteem, cognitive function, and verbal communication levels of autistic adolescent with health-related risky behaviors.

Poor Sleep Quality Among Adolescents With ASD Is Associated With Depressive Symptoms, Problem Behaviors, and Conflicted Family Relationships

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice N. Phung ◽  
Maryam M. Abdullah ◽  
Wendy A. Goldberg
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Problem Behaviors ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Adolescent Relationships ◽  
Adolescents With Autism ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

To better understand correlates of sleep issues for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we conducted two related studies of sleep quality in association with adolescent well-being and family relationships. In Study 1, 28 adolescents with ASD, 27 typically developing (TD) adolescents, and their mothers, participated. Mothers and adolescents independently completed questionnaires about sleep and adolescent functioning. In Study 2, 20 adolescents with ASD and their mothers participated, and actigraphy was used to measure sleep quality. Regression results from Study 1 indicated more daytime sleepiness was associated with more depressive symptoms and more discordant mother–adolescent relationships in the ASD sample. More sleep–wake problems were associated with more depressive symptoms in TD adolescents. In Study 2, more time asleep and poorer sleep efficiency were associated with more depressive symptoms and discordant sibling relationships. These findings suggest that helping adolescents with ASD with their sleep issues may confer benefits in other parts of their lives.

scholarly journals Needs for a Healthy Eating Intervention for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 164-164
Author(s):  
Acadia Buro ◽  
Heewon Gray
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Nutrition Intervention ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Balanced Diet ◽  
Adolescents With Autism ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to better understand perceptions of healthy eating and a prospective nutrition intervention in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and parents of adolescents with ASD. Methods Four focus groups (n = 11) were conducted with adolescents with ASD aged 10–17, and nine interviews were conducted with parents of adolescents with ASD aged 10–17. Questions were semi-structured. Thematic and comparative analyses were conducted with ATLAS.ti 8 software. Results Several themes emerged. Adolescents and parents expressed a need for “nutrition guidelines and education” and discussed the importance of having “social engagement,” “visual components,” and “teen-led initiatives” in a nutrition intervention. When defining a healthy diet, both parents and adolescents mentioned the concept of a “balanced diet,” while parents also mentioned “clean foods.” Conclusions Adolescents with ASD represent an appropriate target audience for a healthy eating intervention, and an intervention should include visual and social components and teen-led initiatives. Funding Sources There was no funding source.

Kindergarten Training in Phonological Awareness: Fluency and Comprehension Gains Are Greatest for Readers at Risk in Grades 1 Through 9

2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (5) ◽  
pp. 366-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann-Christina Kjeldsen ◽  
Lic Educ ◽  
Silja K. Saarento-Zaprudin ◽  
Pekka O. Niemi
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Phonological Awareness ◽  
Junior High School ◽  
Word Reading ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Fluency And Comprehension

Training in phonological awareness has brought about well-documented positive effects on learning to read in lower-primary grades. Less is known about long-term gains extending to upper-primary and junior high school. The few longitudinal studies covering at least 5 years suggest that gains in decoding are sustained, whereas effects on reading comprehension have either not been studied or produced equivocal results. The present study followed up the reading development of 209 Finland Swedish students from kindergarten until Grade 9, half of whom participated in an 8-month phonological intervention in kindergarten. The intervention group outperformed the control group in both word reading and reading comprehension in Grades 1 through 9. However, albeit statistically significant, the differences at the group level were small. The main result was a clear-cut difference in both skills among readers at risk belonging to the lowest 25% in foundational skills at the beginning of kindergarten. In Grade 6, altogether 60% of the nontrained readers at risk still belonged to the lowest quartile in reading comprehension as opposed to 24% of their peers in the intervention group. The pattern was repeated in Grade 9, with trained readers at risk performing at the level of nontrained mainstream readers.

scholarly journals Atypical relationships between neurofunctional features of print-sound integration and reading abilities in Chinese children with dyslexia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhichao Xia ◽  
Ting Yang ◽  
Xin Cui ◽  
Fumiko Hoeft ◽  
Hong Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Word Reading ◽  
Multisensory Processing ◽  
Temporal Cortex ◽  
Audiovisual Integration ◽  
Chinese Children ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Reading Abilities ◽  
Integration Effect

Conquering grapheme-phoneme correspondence is necessary for developing fluent reading in alphabetic orthographies. In neuroimaging research, this ability is associated with brain activation differences between the audiovisual congruent against incongruent conditions, especially in the left superior temporal cortex. Studies have also shown such a neural audiovisual integration effect is reduced in individuals with dyslexia. However, existing evidence is almost restricted to alphabetic languages. Whether and how multisensory processing of print and sound is impaired in Chinese dyslexia remains underexplored. Of note, semantic information is deeply involved in Chinese character processing. In this study, we applied a functional magnetic resonance imaging audiovisual integration paradigm to investigate the possible dysfunctions in processing character-sound pairs and pinyin-sound pairs in Chinese dyslexic children compared with typically developing readers. Unexpectedly, no region displayed significant group difference in the audiovisual integration effect in either the character or pinyin experiment. However, the results revealed atypical correlations between neurofunctional features accompanying audiovisual integration with reading abilities in Chinese children with dyslexia. Specifically, while the audiovisual integration effect in the left inferior cortex in processing character-sound pairs correlated with silent reading comprehension proficiency in both dyslexia and control group, it was associated with morphological awareness in the control group but with rapid naming in dyslexics. As for pinyin-sound associations processing, while the stronger activation in the congruent than incongruent conditions in the left occipito-temporal cortex and bilateral superior temporal cortices was associated with better oral word reading in the control group, an opposite pattern was found in children with dyslexia. On the one hand, this pattern suggests Chinese dyslexic children have yet to develop an efficient grapho-semantic processing system as typically developing children do. On the other hand, it indicates dysfunctional recruitment of the regions that process pinyin-sound pairs in dyslexia, which may impede character learning.

scholarly journals Acceptability, equity, and feasibility of using antipsychotics in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gian Loreto D’Alò ◽  
◽  
Franco De Crescenzo ◽  
Laura Amato ◽  
Fabio Cruciani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Adolescents With Autism ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

Abstract Background It is unclear whether the administration of antipsychotics to children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is acceptable, equitable, and feasible. Methods We performed a systematic review to support a multidisciplinary panel in formulating a recommendation on antipsychotics, for the development of the Italian national guidelines for the management of ASD. A comprehensive search strategy was performed to find data related to intervention acceptability, health equity, and implementation feasibility. We used quantitative data from randomized controlled trials to perform a meta-analysis assessing the acceptability and tolerability of antipsychotics, and we estimated the certainty of the effect according to the GRADE approach. We extracted data from systematic reviews, primary studies, and grey literature, and we assessed the risk of bias and methodological quality of the published studies. Results Antipsychotics were acceptable (dropouts due to any cause: RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.48–0.78, moderate certainty of evidence) and well tolerated (dropouts due to adverse events: RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.55–1.79, low certainty of evidence) by children and adolescents with ASD. Parents and clinicians did not raise significant issues concerning acceptability. We did not find studies reporting evidence of reduced equity for antipsychotics in disadvantaged subgroups of children and adolescents with ASD. Workloads, cost barriers, and inadequate monitoring of metabolic adverse events were indirect evidence of concerns for feasibility. Conclusion Antipsychotics in children and adolescents with ASD were likely acceptable and possibly feasible. We did not find evidence of concern for equity.

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