scholarly journals The frequency, variation, and semantic integration of co-speech gesture production in verbal adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renáta Longauerová
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Semantic Integration ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Frequency Variation ◽  
Animated Cartoon ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Gesture Production ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

Gestures play an important role in communication, but for populations with atypical language development, gestures are often an area of significant difficulty, especially for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Research on younger children with ASD show a significant delay in gesture production, as well as a complete absence of certain types of gestures. However, previous work leaves open the question of whether the frequency and variation of gesture production is impaired also in adolescents with ASD. Moreover, very little is known about the semantic integration of speech and gesture in this population. In the present study, 5 adolescents with ASD and 5 typically-developing adolescents completed a narrative task, in which they were asked to retell a story of 4 animated cartoon clips. The results show that while there is no significant difference between the two groups in the frequency of gesture production and the types of gestures they produce, the frequency of gesture production in the individuals with ASD significantly depends on their verbal working memory skills. Moreover, it seems that many impairments that were confirmed by earlier studies for ASD children in early and late childhood seem to be mere delays that get resolved over time, such as the usage of supplementary gestures.

scholarly journals Possible tics diagnosed as stereotypies in patients with severe autism spectrum disorder: a video-based evaluation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiano Termine ◽  
Enzo Grossi ◽  
Valentina Anelli ◽  
Ledina Derhemi ◽  
Andrea E. Cavanna
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Severe Autism

Abstract Background The association of stereotypies and tics is not rare in children with severe autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The differential diagnosis between stereotypies and tics in this patient population can be difficult; however, it could be clinically relevant because of treatment implications. Methods A total of 108 video recordings of repetitive behaviors in young patients with stereotypies in the context of ASD were reviewed by a movement disorders expert and a trainee, in order to assess the prevalence of possible co-morbid tics. The Modified Rush Videotape Rating Scale (MRVS) was used to rate tic frequency and severity. Results Out of 27 patients with stereotypies (24 males; mean age 14 years), 18 (67%) reported possible tics. The most frequently observed tics were eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, neck bending, staring, and throat clearing. The mean MRVS score was 5, indicating mild tic severity. The only significant difference between patients with tics and patients without tics was the total number of stereotypies, which was higher in the subgroup of patients without tics (p = 0.01). Conclusions Expert review of video-recordings of repetitive behaviors in young patients with ASD and stereotypies suggests the possibility of a relatively high rate of co-morbid tics. These findings need to be integrated with a comprehensive clinical assessment focusing on the diagnostic re-evaluation of heterogeneous motor manifestations.

scholarly journals Associations between autism spectrum disorder and eating disorders with and without self-induced vomiting: an empirical study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noriko Numata ◽  
Akiko Nakagawa ◽  
Kazuko Yoshioka ◽  
Kayoko Isomura ◽  
Daisuke Matsuzawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Essential Difference ◽  
Illness Duration ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background Although approximately 23% of anorexia nervosa (AN) patients have concomitant autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is clinically difficult to determine ASD coexistence in patients with eating disorders. Restrictive AN is more common in younger patients and self-induced vomiting usually appears during adolescence/young adulthood, in order to prevent gaining weight caused by overeating. However, some patients are tolerant of weight gain even if they start overeating. It is important to understand the essential difference between those who vomit and those who do not vomit. In this study, we hypothesised that the absence of self-induced vomiting may be associated with the presence of ASD and aimed to assess the presence of ASD traits in each eating disorder (EDs). Clarifying this association helps to consider the coexistence of ASD in the clinical setting and can lead to the next detailed ASD evaluation, and as a result, helps to determine the appropriate treatment and support individually. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 43 females aged 15–45 years who attended Chiba University Hospital between 2012 and 2016 using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) to quantify the severity of the EDs and to identify whether ASD traits were present. Results There was no difference in the AQ score between bingeing-purging type AN and restricting type AN. However, there was significant difference in the AQ score between bulimia nervosa and binge EDs (BED). Of the 4 ED subtypes, BED had the highest ASD traits. The non-vomiting group with illness duration < 4 years had a significantly higher AQ communication score than the vomiting group with illness duration ≥4 years. Conclusions There was a difference in the AQ score by the presence or absence of self-induced vomiting. The results of this study suggest an association between high scores on AQ and non-vomiting. Thus, evaluation of patients for the absence of self-induced vomiting while assessing them for EDs may help us to understand the association with ASD traits.

scholarly journals Evaluation of circulating miRNAs and mRNAs expression patterns in autism spectrum disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amany H. Abdelrahman ◽  
Ola M. Eid ◽  
Mona H. Ibrahim ◽  
Safa N. Abd El-Fattah ◽  
Maha M. Eid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Gene Family ◽  
Complex Disease ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Normal Volunteer ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that affects a person’s perception and socialization, resulting in problems in social interaction and communication. It has no single known cause, yet several different genes appear to be involved in autism. As a genetically complex disease, dysregulation of miRNA expression and miRNA–mRNA interactions might be a feature of autism spectrum disorder. The aim of the current study was to investigate the expression profile of circulating miRNA-128, miRNA-7 and SHANK gene family in ASD patients and to assess the possible influence of miRNA-128 and miRNA-7 on SHANK genes, which might provide an insight into the pathogenic mechanisms of ASD and introduce noninvasive molecular biomarkers for the disease diagnosis and prognosis. Quantitative real-time PCR technique was employed to determine expression levels of miRNA-128, miRNA-7 and SHANK gene family in blood samples of 40 autistic cases along with 30 age- and sex-matched normal volunteer subjects. Results Our study revealed a statistical significant upregulation of miRNA-128 expression levels in ASD cases compared to controls (p value < 0.001). A statistical significant difference in SHANK-3 expression was encountered on comparing cases to controls (p value < 0.001). However, miRNA-7 expression showed no significant difference between the studied groups. Conclusions MiRNA-128 and SHANK-3 gene are emerging players in the field of ASD. They are promising candidates as noninvasive biomarkers in autism. Future studies are needed to emphasize their pivotal role.

scholarly journals Caregiver-mediated approaches to managing challenging behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder

2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-233
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Challenging Behaviors ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

A significant proportion of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are referred to mental health centers due to the presence of challenging behaviors. Because challenging behaviors in children and adolescents with ASD often result from underlying social and communication difficulties and comorbid anxiety, traditional caregiver-mediated behavior intervention techniques developed for children with disruptive behavior disorders may need to be adapted for this population. Behavioral interventions that target communication skills, social skills, anxiety, and sensory responsiveness in children with ASD may be needed. Notably, while best practice necessitates the involvement of caregivers in treating children and adolescents with ASD, few randomized control studies have examined the effectiveness of caregiver-implemented interventions in reducing challenging behaviors. This review summarizes the current literature with regard to caregiver-mediated behavioral interventions for children with ASD, and suggests areas for intervention development and research.

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.

scholarly journals Depression in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Children ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa DeFilippis
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Comorbid Depression ◽  
Adolescents With Asd ◽  
Higher Functioning

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has a high rate of psychiatric comorbidity. The prevalence of comorbid depression seems to correlate with higher functioning forms of ASD and increasing age. Adolescence is a time when youth struggle with identity and interpersonal relationships, and a diagnosis of ASD further complicates this process. Adolescents with ASD may be more aware of the social communication deficits that come with the diagnosis than children with ASD, and it is theorized that higher functioning adolescents may experience this more acutely. While this may be true, the lack of reliable rating and diagnostic scales for depression in individuals with ASD makes it difficult to accurately measure rates of depression among individuals with more severe verbal deficits. While some research has focused on the prevalence of comorbid depression in children and adolescents with ASD and on the associated risk factors, there is very little evidence guiding treatment, including no empirical studies on psychopharmacology for depression in this population. Available evidence exists only in psychosocial approaches to treatment at this time and is mostly limited to adult studies. Current evidence will be presented in this review, including prevalence rates of depression in youth with ASD, various risk and protective factors, the use of diagnostic rating scales, and treatment studies. The lack of evidence supporting various treatment approaches will be highlighted, including challenges specific to the treatment of depression in ASD, which are not addressed in the current treatment studies in typically developing youth with depression.

scholarly journals Callous–unemotional traits in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

2015 ◽  
Vol 207 (5) ◽  
pp. 392-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Carter Leno ◽  
Tony Charman ◽  
Andrew Pickles ◽  
Catherine R. G. Jones ◽  
Gillian Baird ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Callous Unemotional ◽  
Callous Unemotional Traits ◽  
Unemotional Traits ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

BackgroundPeople with callous–unemotional traits and also those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display sociocognitive difficulties. However, the frequency and neurocognitive correlates of callous–unemotional traits within individuals with ASD are unknown.AimsTo determine the prevalence of callous–unemotional traits in individuals with ASD and test their association with behavioural and cognitive measures.MethodParents of 92 adolescents with ASD completed the Antisocial Processes Screening Device (APSD) for callous–unemotional traits. Adolescents participated in tasks of emotion recognition, theory of mind and cognitive flexibility.ResultsIn total 51% (n = 47) scored above a cut-off expected to identify the top 6% on the APSD. Of these 17% (n = 8) had concurrent conduct problems. Regression analyses found callous–unemotional traits were associated with specific impairment in fear recognition but not with theory of mind or cognitive flexibility.ConclusionsAdolescents with ASD show high rates of callous–unemotional traits but, unlike in the general population, these are not strongly associated with conduct problems. The relationship of callous–unemotional traits to impairments in fear recognition suggests similar affective difficulties as in individuals with callous–unemotional traits without ASD.

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