Lay abstracts
(Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - December 3, 2016 Category: Neurology Tags: Lay abstracts Source Type: research
The missing voices of Indigenous Australians with autism in research
The purpose of this Letter to the Editor is to raise awareness among those who read Autism about the limited amount of peer-reviewed literature on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians living on the autism spectrum. This letter summarises the results of our search on Pubmed and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed literature on this subject. It then concludes by explaining why more research should be conducted on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians living on the autism spectrum. (Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - December 3, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Bennett, M., Hodgson, V. Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research
The influence of media suggestions about links between criminality and autism spectrum disorder
We examined whether media reports linking criminal behaviour and autism spectrum disorder foster negative attitudes towards individuals with autism spectrum disorder. In a between-subjects design, participants were exposed to (a) a media story in which a murderer was labelled with autism spectrum disorder (media exposure condition) or not labelled with any disorder (control) and (b) an autism spectrum disorder-education condition attacking the myth that people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder are likely to be violent criminals or a no-autism spectrum disorder-education condition. Participants attitudes towards three...
Source: Autism - December 3, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Brewer, N., Zoanetti, J., Young, R. L. Tags: Short report Source Type: research
Open-trial pilot study of a comprehensive outpatient psychosocial treatment for children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder
This study examined the feasibility and initial outcomes of a comprehensive outpatient psychosocial treatment (MAXout) for children aged 7–12 years with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. The 18-week treatment, two 90-minute sessions per week, included instruction and therapeutic activities targeting social/social communication skills, facial emotion recognition, non-literal language skills, and interest expansion. A behavioral system was implemented to reduce autism spectrum disorder symptoms and problem behaviors and increase skills acquisition and maintenance. Feasibility was supported via high levels of t...
Source: Autism - December 3, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Lopata, C., Lipinski, A. M., Thomeer, M. L., Rodgers, J. D., Donnelly, J. P., McDonald, C. A., Volker, M. A. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Gaze direction detection in autism spectrum disorder
This study investigated whether the detection of gaze direction toward an object is less accurate in autism spectrum disorder. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (n = 33) and intelligence quotients–matched and age-matched controls (n = 38) were asked to watch a series of synthetic faces looking at objects, and decide which of two objects was looked at. The angle formed by the two possible targets and the face varied following an adaptive procedure, in order to determine individual thresholds. We found that gaze direction detection was less accurate in autism spectrum disorder than in control participants. Our ...
Source: Autism - December 3, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Forgeot dArc, B., Delorme, R., Zalla, T., Lefebvre, A., Amsellem, F., Moukawane, S., Letellier, L., Leboyer, M., Mouren, M.-C., Ramus, F. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Race, disability, and grade: Social relationships in children with autism spectrum disorders
This study examined how race (African American, Latino, Asian, or White) in conjunction with disability status (autism spectrum disorders or typically developing) and grade (grades K–2 or 3–5) affects friendships and social networks. The sample comprises 85 children with autism spectrum disorders and 85 typically developing controls matched on race, gender, age/grade, and classroom (wherever possible). Race, disability, and grade each had an independent effect on friendship nominations, and there was an interaction among the three variables. Specifically, children with autism spectrum disorders who were African...
Source: Autism - December 3, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Azad, G. F., Locke, J., Kasari, C., Mandell, D. S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Young children with autism spectrum disorders imitate in the context of others prior intention
This study tested their understanding of others’ prior intentions with typically developing and developmentally delayed children. We replicated Carpenter et al.’s test of the ability to understand prior intentions embedded in the social situation with an additional context of no prior intention. Results showed that when the experimenter’s intention was made known before the demonstration, children without autism spectrum disorder performed not only better than the autism spectrum disorder children but also better than themselves when there was no information about prior intention. No between-condition dif...
Source: Autism - December 3, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Huang, C.-T., Chiang, C.-H., Hung, C.-Y. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Adolescent boys with an autism spectrum disorder and their experience of sexuality: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
This study is based on interviews with eight boys, aged 16–20 years, with Asperger’s disorder or autistic disorder. Interpretative phenomenological analysis of the data revealed three major themes relating to (a) how they experience sexual feelings, think about sexuality and think about themselves as sexual beings; (b) how they perceive messages relating to sexuality in their surroundings; and (c) how they experience finding and having a partner and partnered sex. We believe that attention to these themes is needed in assessment, education and further research. (Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - December 3, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Dewinter, J., Van Parys, H., Vermeiren, R., van Nieuwenhuizen, C. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
To include or not to include: Evaluations and reasoning about the failure to include peers with autism spectrum disorder in elementary students
The objective of this study is to determine elementary students’ evaluations, reasoning patterns, and reasoning complexity regarding the failure to include children with autism spectrum disorder in social activities. Forty-four elementary-aged students participated in interviews, which included vignettes describing four contexts in which a child with autism spectrum disorder is not invited to a social event. Responses were analyzed according to social domain theory, an approach emphasizing that children identify and coordinate different domains of social knowledge, including the moral, personal, societal, and prudent...
Source: Autism - December 3, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Bottema-Beutel, K., Turiel, E., DeWitt, M. N., Wolfberg, P. J. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Play complexity and toy engagement in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder: Do girls and boys differ?
This study explored sex differences in play complexity and toy engagement within caregiver–child interaction samples for preschool-aged children (2–5 years 11 months) with an autism spectrum disorder who were matched to typically developing children on sex and non-verbal development. Overall we found that girls and boys with autism spectrum disorder were largely equivalent in their play complexity. Despite similar play, girls and boys with autism spectrum disorder differed in a number of ways in their toy engagement, replicating traditional gender differences—girls played more with dolls and domestic item...
Source: Autism - December 3, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Harrop, C., Green, J., Hudry, K., PACT Consortium Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Screening accuracy of the parent-completed Ages and Stages Questionnaires - second edition as a broadband screener for motor problems in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders
Children with autism spectrum disorders are at risk for motor problems. However, this area is often overlooked in the developmental evaluation in autism diagnostic clinics. An alternative can be to identify children who should receive intensive motor assessment by using a parent-based screener. The aim of this study was to examine whether the Ages and Stages Questionnaires – second edition may be used to identify gross and fine motor problems in children. High-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder (n = 43, 22–54 m) participated in this study. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and areas un...
Source: Autism - December 3, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Vanvuchelen, M., Van Schuerbeeck, L., Braeken, M. A. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
The neuroanatomy of autism spectrum disorder: An overview of structural neuroimaging findings and their translatability to the clinical setting
Autism spectrum disorder is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder, which is accompanied by differences in brain anatomy, functioning and brain connectivity. Due to its neurodevelopmental character, and the large phenotypic heterogeneity among individuals on the autism spectrum, the neurobiology of autism spectrum disorder is inherently difficult to describe. Nevertheless, significant progress has been made in characterizing the neuroanatomical underpinnings of autism spectrum disorder across the human life span, and in identifying the molecular pathways that may be affected in autism spectrum disorder. Moreover, novel meth...
Source: Autism - December 3, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Ecker, C. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Remembering parents in parent-mediated early intervention: An approach to examining impact on parents and families
The goal of this review is to advance the discussion regarding meaningful outcomes of early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder. The rapid growth in the development and evaluation of early intervention approaches for autism spectrum disorder includes both therapist-driven and parent-mediated interventions. The majority of research on both approaches to early intervention focuses on promoting child outcomes (e.g. language acquisition) with less emphasis on family and parent outcomes (e.g. quality of life, self-efficacy). Given that parent buy-in is essential for parent-mediated interventions to be effect...
Source: Autism - December 3, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Wainer, A. L., Hepburn, S., McMahon Griffith, E. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Autism-Europe International Congress 2016--Autism research and practice in Europe 2016
(Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - December 3, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Bölte, S. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Lay abstracts
(Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - October 11, 2016 Category: Neurology Tags: Lay abstracts Source Type: research
