scholarly journals Caregiver Reports of Screen Time Use of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Stiller ◽  
Jan Weber ◽  
Finja Strube ◽  
Thomas Mößle
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Screen Media ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
The Media ◽  
Parental Interviews

Screen based media have progressively become an integral part in the daily lives of children and youths with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, research that exclusively pursues the functionality of screen media use of children with ASD is extremely rare. Through a triangulated approach, the present study aims to fill this gap. We conducted 13 interviews with parents of children with ASD and supplemented this interview–study with an online survey including parents of children with ASD (n = 327). Children with ASD mostly used screen media (especially television) for their wellbeing, which is associated with chances and risks. Based on the parental interviews it is suggested that the media usage of children with ASD should be supervised. The results are discussed in terms of their practical implementation.

scholarly journals Autism Spectrum Disorder and screen time during lockdown: an Italian study.

F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 1263
Author(s):  
Maria Grazia Logrieco ◽  
Laura Casula ◽  
Giuseppe Niccolò Ciuffreda ◽  
Ilaria Nicolì ◽  
Maria Spinelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Core Symptoms ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Lockdown due to Covid-19 pandemic brought deep changes to the daily lives of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), greatly increasing their amount of time spent at home. Methods: A cohort of 243 parents of children with ASD (2-15 years old) completed an original online survey regarding the child’s screen time and the modification of the ASD symptomatology during lockdown to investigate the relationship between them. Results: The data show that high solitary screen time is related with the worsening of ASD core symptoms. Conclusions: This study may help to increase awareness in the excessive use of screen in children with ASD during the lockdown, both during the pandemic as well as after it ends.

scholarly journals Perceptions, attitudes and practices of physicians regarding use of complementary and alternative medicine in autism spectrum disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
Ashwini A. Marathe ◽  
Koyeli S. Sengupta
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Cell Transplant ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Background: Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been reported as highly prevalent in literature. Our objective was to assess the perceptions, attitudes and practices of Indian physicians regarding use of CAM in ASD.Methods: An online survey was emailed to pediatricians, developmental pediatricians, pediatric neurologists and psychiatrists. We had 417 respondents, 78% being primary-care pediatricians. Descriptive analysis was conducted. Results: Of 417 respondents, 75% physicians were unaware or minimally aware of the risks and benefits of CAM. 60% of pediatricians rarely or did not ask families about their use of CAM, and 57% felt that families too do not bring up CAM. 67% of pediatricians felt that less than 25% of their patients used CAM, though 50% regularly prescribed nutritional supplements to children with ASD. Pediatricians reported either not offering an opinion or referring to a specialist for questions about GFCF (83%), stem-cell transplant (69%), hyperbaric oxygen (71%) and ayurveda or homeopathic remedies (49%). Lack of ASD-specific intervention services, time, training and practice guidelines were perceived as barriers to care. 97% physicians desired autism training, while 81% also desired CAM training.Conclusions: Most pediatricians perceive use of CAM in ASD to be lower than reported and do not discuss or opine on CAM modalities with families of children with ASD, possibly due to inadequate doctor-patient communication and limited awareness and knowledge about CAM in ASD, underscoring need for capacity building in this area.

scholarly journals What are the Informational Preferences about Genetic Testing of Parents with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder?

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. e37-e37
Author(s):  
Fanny Lacelle-Webster ◽  
Rinita Mazumder ◽  
Sandy Hodgetts ◽  
Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Genetic Testing ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Almost All

Abstract BACKGROUND Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects more than 1% of the population. In 2009, the Canadian College of Medical geneticists recommended genome-wide microarray analysis as a first-line investigation for children with a diagnosis of ASD. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study is to explore experiences and preferences of parents with children with ASD regarding information about genetic testing. DESIGN/METHODS In this mixed method study, parents of children with a diagnosis of ASD (age 2 to 17 years) were recruited through advertisements on websites and Facebook pages of community partners. The first step was an on-line survey housed on a secure web-based platform. In addition to demographic data, the survey collected information about the experiences and informational preferences of the parents about genetic testing. A subset of participants, based on expressed interest, participated in an in-person semi-structured interview. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and coded for major themes and sub-themes. RESULTS A total of 31 participants responded to the survey and 5 interviews were completed. Their children had received their diagnosis between 2004 and 2017. The online survey revealed that 69% of participants were aware of genetic testing and 38% had genetic testing completed. Overall, 94% wanted to have more information about genetic testing; notably, only 25% had heard about microarray. Receiving information about genetic testing was preferred in a follow up appointment by 56% of participants, but 28% preferred to receive information on the date of ASD diagnosis. Most participants (81%) identified their community paediatrician as the preferred physician to discuss genetic testing with them. Almost all interview participants were concerned that the information from genetic testing could be detrimental to their child, noting, for example, potential difficulties obtaining insurance coverage. Some shared their concerns regarding their paediatrician’s knowledge about genetic testing and ASD; in fact, two families decided to change to a new paediatrician to fulfill their needs of information about ASD and genetic testing. CONCLUSION This study showed that parents of children with ASD are globally interested to learn more about genetic testing, with their paediatrician being their preferred resource. For that reason, it appears important that paediatricians be aware of the recommended investigations for children with ASD and have a good understanding of the implications of genetic testing.

Information Avoidance and Information Seeking Among Parents of Children With ASD

2021 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-259
Author(s):  
Nachum Sicherman ◽  
Kiely Law ◽  
Paul H. Lipkin ◽  
George Loewenstein ◽  
Alison R. Marvin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Information Avoidance ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Age Of Diagnosis

Abstract We estimated the effects of information avoidance and information seeking among parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on age of diagnosis. An online survey was completed by 1,815 parents of children with ASD. Children of parents who self-reported that they had preferred “not to know,” reported diagnoses around 3 months later than other children. Children of parents who raised concerns that they perceived as having been dealt with adequately reported diagnoses about 4 months earlier, but the children of parents who reported raising concerns repeatedly and felt that those concerns were dealt with inadequately were diagnosed over a year later. These findings suggest that failure of educational and healthcare professionals, in either substituting for parents who avoid information, or supporting those who seek information, can significantly delay the age of diagnosis.

The Influence of Language Context on Repetitive Speech Use in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 327-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Gladfelter ◽  
Cassidy VanZuiden
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Receptive Vocabulary ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Social Responsiveness ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Language Context

Purpose Although repetitive speech is a hallmark characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the contributing factors that influence repetitive speech use remain unknown. The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine if the language context impacts the amount and type of repetitive speech produced by children with ASD. Method As part of a broader word-learning study, 11 school-age children with ASD participated in two different language contexts: storytelling and play. Previously collected language samples were transcribed and coded for four types of repetitive speech: immediate echolalia, delayed echolalia, verbal stereotypy, and vocal stereotypy. The rates and proportions of repetitive speech were compared across the two language contexts using Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests. Individual characteristics were further explored using Spearman correlations. Results The children produced lower rates of repetitive speech during the storytelling context than the play-based context. Only immediate echolalia differed between the two contexts based on rate and approached significance based on proportion, with more immediate echolalia produced in the play-based context than in the storytelling context. There were no significant correlations between repetitive speech and measures of social responsiveness, expressive or receptive vocabulary, or nonverbal intelligence. Conclusions The children with ASD produced less immediate echolalia in the storytelling context than in the play-based context. Immediate echolalia use was not related to social skills, vocabulary, or nonverbal IQ scores. These findings offer valuable insights into better understanding repetitive speech use in children with ASD.

scholarly journals Parents’ Perceptions of Early Interventions and Related Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Saudi Arabia

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faihan Alotaibi ◽  
Nabil Almalki
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Early Intervention ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Early Interventions ◽  
Related Services ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
The Government

<p class="apa">The present study sought to examine parents’ perceptions of early interventions and related services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Saudi Arabia. In this study a survey was distributed to a sample of 80 parents with children who have ASD. Parents also were asked open-ended questions to enable them to provide suggestions. The findings indicate that parents have varying perceptions of early interventions and related services. However, they seem to agree that these services are important in assisting their children. Accordingly, parents have suggested that the government needs to increase these services by providing more centers for children with ASD in Saudi Arabia, providing more specialists to deal with children with ASD, promoting inclusion in regular schools and providing more information on early intervention.</p>

scholarly journals Implication of the Sensory Environment in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Perspectives from School

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7670
Author(s):  
Ana Gentil-Gutiérrez ◽  
José Luis Cuesta-Gómez ◽  
Paula Rodríguez-Fernández ◽  
Jerónimo Javier González-Bernal
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sensory Processing ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sensory Profile ◽  
School Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Children With Asd

(1) Background: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently have difficulties in processing sensory information, which is a limitation when participating in different contexts, such as school. The objective of the present study was to compare the sensory processing characteristics of children with ASD in the natural context of school through the perception of professionals in the field of education, in comparison with neurodevelopmental children (2) Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study as conducted with study population consisting of children between three and ten years old, 36 of whom were diagnosed with ASD and attended the Autismo Burgos association; the remaining 24 had neurotypical development. The degree of response of the children to sensory stimuli at school was evaluated using the Sensory Profile-2 (SP-2) questionnaire in its school version, answered by the teachers. (3) Results: Statistically significant differences were found in sensory processing patterns (p = 0.001), in sensory systems (p = 0.001) and in school factors (p = 0.001). Children with ASD who obtained worse results. (4) Conclusions: Children with ASD are prone to present sensory alterations in different contexts, giving nonadapted behavioral and learning responses.

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

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.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Immunoglobulin G Abnormalities and the Therapeutic Use of Intravenous Immunoglobulins (IVIG) in Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 488
Author(s):  
Daniel A Rossignol ◽  
Richard E Frye
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Immunoglobulin G ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Intravenous Immunoglobulins ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Aberrant Behavior ◽  
Children With Asd

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting approximately 2% of children in the United States. Growing evidence suggests that immune dysregulation is associated with ASD. One immunomodulatory treatment that has been studied in ASD is intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG). This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the studies which assessed immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations and the therapeutic use of IVIG for individuals with ASD. Twelve studies that examined IgG levels suggested abnormalities in total IgG and IgG 4 subclass concentrations, with concentrations in these IgGs related to aberrant behavior and social impairments, respectively. Meta-analysis supported possible subsets of children with ASD with low total IgG and elevated IgG 4 subclass but also found significant variability among studies. A total of 27 publications reported treating individuals with ASD using IVIG, including four prospective, controlled studies (one was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study); six prospective, uncontrolled studies; 2 retrospective, controlled studies; and 15 retrospective, uncontrolled studies. In some studies, clinical improvements were observed in communication, irritability, hyperactivity, cognition, attention, social interaction, eye contact, echolalia, speech, response to commands, drowsiness, decreased activity and in some cases, the complete resolution of ASD symptoms. Several studies reported some loss of these improvements when IVIG was stopped. Meta-analysis combining the aberrant behavior checklist outcome from two studies demonstrated that IVIG treatment was significantly associated with improvements in total aberrant behavior and irritability (with large effect sizes), and hyperactivity and social withdrawal (with medium effect sizes). Several studies reported improvements in pro-inflammatory cytokines (including TNF-alpha). Six studies reported improvements in seizures with IVIG (including patients with refractory seizures), with one study reporting a worsening of seizures when IVIG was stopped. Other studies demonstrated improvements in recurrent infections, appetite, weight gain, neuropathy, dysautonomia, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Adverse events were generally limited but included headaches, vomiting, worsening behaviors, anxiety, fever, nausea, fatigue, and rash. Many studies were limited by the lack of standardized objective outcome measures. IVIG is a promising and potentially effective treatment for symptoms in individuals with ASD; further research is needed to provide solid evidence of efficacy and determine the subset of children with ASD who may best respond to this treatment as well as to investigate biomarkers which might help identify responsive candidates.

Exploring Growth in Expressive Communication of Infants and Toddlers With Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
pp. 105381512199557
Author(s):  
Jay Buzhardt ◽  
Anna Wallisch ◽  
Dwight Irvin ◽  
Brian Boyd ◽  
Brenda Salley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Progress Monitoring ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Infants And Toddlers ◽  
Early Communication ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Language Growth

One of the earliest indicators of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is delay in language and social communication. Despite consensus on the benefits of earlier diagnosis and intervention, our understanding of the language growth of children with ASD during the first years of life remains limited. Therefore, this study compared communication growth patterns of infants and toddlers with ASD to growth benchmarks of a standardized language assessment. We conducted a retrospective analysis of growth on the Early Communication Indicator (ECI) of 23 infants and toddlers who received an ASD diagnosis in the future. At 42 months of age, children with ASD had significantly lower rates of gestures, single words, and multiple words, but significantly higher rates of nonword vocalizations. Children with ASD had significantly slower growth of single and multiple words, but their rate of vocalization growth was significantly greater than benchmark. Although more research is needed with larger samples, because the ECI was designed for practitioners to monitor children’s response to intervention over time, these findings show promise for the ECI’s use as a progress monitoring measure for young children with ASD. Limitations and the need for future research are discussed.

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