scholarly journals What Youths with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents Want from Social Competence Programs

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey WH MacCormack
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Social Responsiveness ◽  
Social Programs ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
The Social ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Barriers To Service

Program designers develop a wide range of intervention programs to address the social challenges faced by children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but it is not clear how those programs are perceived by families of youth with ASD and the extent to which those programs are accessed. To explore the perceptions of families of youth with ASD, 12 youths with ASD and 15 of their parents participated in 45–60 minute interviews about social intervention programs and completed the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition. According to the families, the social programs created to help youth with ASD to socialize have not addressed their needs. The adolescents sought programs that provided activities that matched their interests and that were appropriate for their developmental stage. The parents reported that they were frustrated by barriers to service and weaknesses of design, which were obstacles to accessing programs that supported their children’s development.

scholarly journals Using the big data approach to clarify the structure of restricted and repetitive behaviors across the most commonly used autism spectrum disorder measures

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirko Uljarević ◽  
Booil Jo ◽  
Thomas W. Frazier ◽  
Lawrence Scahill ◽  
Eric A. Youngstrom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Social Responsiveness ◽  
Insistence On Sameness ◽  
Restricted And Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
The Social

Abstract Background Restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRB) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompass several distinct domains. However, commonly used general ASD measures provide broad RRB scores rather than assessing separate RRB domains. The main objective of the current investigation was to conduct a psychometric evaluation of the ability of the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2), the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) to capture different RRB constructs. Methods Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) was conducted using individual item-level data from the SRS-2, SCQ, ADI-R and the ADOS. Data were obtained from five existing publicly available databases. For the SRS-2, the final sample consisted of N = 16,761 individuals (Mage = 9.43, SD = 3.73; 18.5% female); for the SCQ, of N = 15,840 (Mage = 7.99, SD = 4.06; 18.1% female); for the ADI-R, of N = 8985 (Mage = 8.86, SD = 4.68; 19.4% female); and for the ADOS, of N = 6314 (Mage = 12.29, SD = 6.79; 17.7% female). Results The three-factor structure provided the most optimal and interpretable fit to data for all measures (comparative fit index ≥ .983, Tucker Lewis index ≥ .966, root mean square error of approximation ≤ .028). Repetitive-motor behaviors, insistence on sameness and unusual or circumscribed interests factors emerged across all instruments. No acceptable fit was identified for the ADOS. Limitations The five datasets used here afforded a large as well as wide distribution of the RRB item scores. However, measures used for establishing convergent and divergent validity were only available for a portion of the sample. Conclusions Reported findings offer promise for capturing important RRB domains using general ASD measures and highlight the need for measurement development.

scholarly journals Early intervention programs for toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. e103101421935
Author(s):  
Elpis Papaefstathiou ◽  
Maria Zygopoulou ◽  
Eleni Gkiolnta ◽  
Kyriaki Sarri ◽  
Christine K. Syriopoulou-Delli
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Early Intervention ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Assessment Instruments ◽  
Treatment As Usual ◽  
Developmental Skills ◽  
The Social ◽  
Parental Acceptability

This review identified 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated early intervention (EI) programs for infants in the age-group 18-48 months who either had been diagnosed with, or were considered at risk for, autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The studies were summarized in terms of participant characteristics, intervention characteristics, rigor of study/research and outcomes. Intervention characteristics included the provision of training to parents. All the studies used RCT design, with control subjects who were either toddlers of typical development (TD) or toddlers with ASD following “treatment as usual” (TAU) or another treatment, and all were rated as strong in terms of quality/rigor.  Positive results were recorded for parental acceptability and satisfaction, and reduction of parenting stress. In most of the studies, the social communication and developmental skills of the toddlers were enhanced. We conclude that EI programs for ASD show promise, and may be beneficial for both the toddlers and the parents, but the limited number of RCTs and the wide variety in intervention programs and assessment instruments used indicates the need for additional research to evaluate the specific benefits. 

scholarly journals Relationship Between Social Motivation in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirko Uljarević ◽  
Thomas W. Frazier ◽  
Booil Jo ◽  
Jennifer M. Phillips ◽  
Wesley Billingham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Motivation ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Responsiveness ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Simons Simplex Collection ◽  
The Social ◽  
Multiplex Families

Impairment in social motivation (SM) has been suggested as a key mechanism underlying social communication deficits observed in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the factors accounting for variability in SM remain poorly described and understood. The current study aimed to characterize the relationship between parental and proband SM. Data from 2,759 children with ASD (Mage = 9.03 years, SDage = 3.57, 375 females) and their parents from the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC) project was included in this study. Parental and proband SM was assessed using previously identified item sets from the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Children who had parents with low SM scores (less impairments) showed significantly lower impairments in SM compared to children who had either one or both parents with elevated SM scores. No parent-of-origin effect was identified. No significant interactions were found involving proband sex or intellectual disability (ID) status (presence/absence of ID) with paternal or maternal SM. This study establishes that low SM in children with ASD may be driven, in part, by lower SM in one or both parents. Future investigations should utilize larger family pedigrees, including simplex and multiplex families, evaluate other measures of SM, and include other related, yet distinct constructs, such as social inhibition and anhedonia. This will help to gain finer-grained insights into the factors and mechanisms accounting for individual differences in sociability among typically developing children as well as those with, or at risk, for developing ASD.

The art of camouflage: Gender differences in the social behaviors of girls and boys with autism spectrum disorder

Autism ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 678-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Dean ◽  
Robin Harwood ◽  
Connie Kasari
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
General Education ◽  
Social Behaviors ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Compensatory Behaviors ◽  
The Social

This study examined the extent to which gender-related social behaviors help girls with autism spectrum disorder to seemingly mask their symptoms. Using concurrent mixed methods, we examined the social behaviors of 96 elementary school children during recess (autism spectrum disorder = 24 girls and 24 boys, typically developing = 24 girls and 24 boys). Children with autism spectrum disorder had average intelligence (IQ ⩾ 70), a confirmed diagnosis, and were educated in the general education classroom. Typically developing children were matched by sex, age, and city of residence to children with autism spectrum disorder. The results indicate that the female social landscape supports the camouflage hypothesis; girls with autism spectrum disorder used compensatory behaviors, such as staying in close proximately to peers and weaving in and out of activities, which appeared to mask their social challenges. Comparatively, the male landscape made it easier to detect the social challenges of boys with autism spectrum disorder. Typically developing boys tended to play organized games; boys with autism spectrum disorder tended to play alone. The results highlight a male bias in our perception of autism spectrum disorder. If practitioners look for social isolation on the playground when identifying children with social challenges, then our findings suggest that girls with autism spectrum disorder will continue to be left unidentified.

Social Communication Symptoms in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Predicting Comorbid Anxiety Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 942-953
Author(s):  
Patricia D. Cleinmark ◽  
Ashley N. M. Freeman ◽  
Elizabeth L. W. McKenney ◽  
LeAnna Kehl ◽  
Stephen D. A. Hupp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Responsiveness ◽  
Symptom Presentation ◽  
Comorbid Anxiety ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Relationship

Relatively few measures have been examined for their psychometric properties when assessing anxiety among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the relationship between ASD and anxiety symptoms remains poorly understood. This study examined the relationship between ASD symptoms on the Social Responsiveness Scale ( SRS) and comorbid clinical anxiety. In a sample of 2,435 participants, parents of children with ASD and comorbid anxiety endorsed more frequent or severe ASD symptoms than parents of children without comorbid anxiety. Severity of ASD symptoms was a significant predictor of anxiety status and approached clinical significance. Implications for measurement of anxiety among children with ASD are discussed, including that areas of symptom presentation should be carefully evaluated, and that the onset or worsening of anxiety may affect ASD symptom presentation.

scholarly journals Quranic Recitation Using Technology as Complimentary Therapy to Ameliorate Social Skills for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

2019 ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Amir MAL ◽  
Wan Fara AWAK ◽  
Mohd Zaid D ◽  
Mohd Amzari T ◽  
Kartini I
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Skills ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Social Responsiveness ◽  
The Social ◽  
Making Friends ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: The number of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is on the rise. ASD is a neurodevelopmental disability that affects social communication and social interaction that manifests with a restricted, repetitive pattern of behaviour, interest or activit ies (RRB) at an early developmental age. Consequently, ASD children are facing difficulties in social skills aspect such as eye contact, expression, and making friends. There are limited studies that show the recitation of the Quran may improve some symptoms, but there is no specific study that demonstrates the impact of the renditions on social skills.Objectives: To investigate the effect selected Quranic verses recitation on the social skills of the children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)Method: This study uses Quranic verses which are selected using two categories of the Quranic inimitability doctrine (I'jaz Al-Quran) (Al-Atrasy, 2007). Firstly, the influencing inimitabi lit y (I'jaz Ta'thiri) and secondly the language inimitability (I'jaz Lughawi). The recitation is kept consistent exposing to the children with ASD for a specified amount of time using an audio player with a Bluetooth speaker. The sound decibels will also be recorded. They will then be exposed to standard occupational therapy techniques. The evaluation of performance will use Quasi-Experimental research design questionnaires. Fourteen ASD Muslim children aged between 4-6 years old has been recruited for this research. The ASD children will be divided into an experimental and control group. The Social Responsiveness Scale- Second Edition (SRS-2) will be used to assess the response. The scale consists of a set of questionnaires, with Likert-scale evaluation.Results: The expected result for this study is the ASD children in the experimental group will have lower Total-scores of SRS-2 compared to control group.Conclusion: Quranic recitation provides effective complementary therapy to improve social skills among Muslim ASD childrenInternational Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue: 2019 Page: 38

scholarly journals The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2) in school-age children with Down syndrome at low risk for autism spectrum disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 239694152096240
Author(s):  
Marie Moore Channell
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Social Responsiveness Scale ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Responsiveness ◽  
The Social ◽  
Two Samples

Background and aims Little is known about how autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms present in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). Some behaviors may be symptomatic of comorbid ASD or more broadly representative of the DS phenotype. A prior research study documented elevated ASD-like symptoms in adolescents and young adults with DS without comorbid ASD, using a common ASD risk screening tool—the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). The current study applied a similar approach to younger children with DS using the SRS-2. The primary aim was to document patterns of ASD-like symptoms in children with DS at low risk of comorbid ASD to distinguish the symptoms that may be present across DS in general. Methods SRS-2 standard scores were analyzed in a sample of 40 children with DS, 6–11 years old, who were considered to be at low risk for ASD based on the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) screener. Other developmental characteristics (i.e., age, nonverbal IQ, expressive language), social skills, and problem behaviors were also examined across the sample. Results SRS-2 scores were significantly elevated in this sample compared to the normative population sample. A pattern of ASD-like symptomatology was observed across SRS-2 subdomains. These findings were similar to the findings of the prior study. However, nuanced differences were observed across the two samples that may represent developmental differences across different ages in this population. Conclusions Replicating and extending a prior study's findings, certain ASD-like behaviors may occur in individuals with DS who are at low risk for comorbid ASD. Implications: Understanding the pattern of ASD-like behaviors that occur in children with DS who are at low risk for comorbid ASD will help clinicians in screening and identification efforts. In particular, it will lead to better specification of the behaviors or symptoms that are not characteristic of the DS phenotype and thus are red flags for comorbid ASD in this population.

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