Archival data from a private day-school offering early intensive behavioural intervention based on the principles of applied behaviour analysis to preschoolers with autism (N = 29) were analysed ...longitudinally. Teacher reports on the Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (ABLLS) were available up to 4 times and on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Classroom Edition (VABS-CE), at 2 time points. Parent reports on the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) were available at 2 time points. All assessments occurred approximately at 6-month intervals. Children showed statistically significant progress across all skill domains on the ABLLS and on selected subscales and the composite scales of the VABS-CE and ATEC. Gains were substantial for some children and minor for others. When divided into performance-based groups, both higher-performing and lower-performing groups showed improvement over time, with greater improvement for the higher-performing group. Nine of 16 children who had been discharged from the programme entered inclusive kindergarten or first-grade classrooms with an aide. Seven discharged children entered special education classrooms. No child progressed to the point that special education services were not needed. Findings are discussed relevant to the extant literature on early intensive behavioural intervention outcomes among young children with autism.
Limited evidence suggests that the prevalence of mental retardation (MR) – now called “intellectual disability” (ID) – in ASD ranges between 25.8% and 58.5%, with co-occurrence in 66–70% of children ...who meet strict criteria for autism. However, parents and professionals differ significantly in their understanding of or opinions about intellectual functioning among children with ASD. The current study analyzed archival data to calculate the prevalence of parent-reported MR among children with ASD (
N
=
498). Collectively, 9.2% of families affirmed MR; when analyzed by type of ASD, the rates for those with autism and PDD-NOS were 12.6% and 7.3%, respectively. A variety of explanations for these low rates are posited alongside implications for clinical practice and families’ receipt of services.
Recent studies have validated the phenomenon of autistic regression, but little is known about how regressive and congenital onsets of the disorder influence parents' thinking about autism and its ...etiology. Parents (N = 327) of children with autism spectrum disorders completed an online questionnaire about their children's development. Approximately half of the sample indicated that their children showed signs of autism from birth or shortly thereafter; the remaining half described their children as developing autism in the regressive fashion. Parents' beliefs about the causes of autism varied widely, but two of the most popularly cited explanations were “genetics” and “external mechanisms” (e.g., vaccinations, environmental toxins). When analyzed relative to type of autism onset, parents more often advocated genetics as the cause for autism when their children exhibited the congenital type and external mechanisms when their children presented with the regressive type.
Anxiety disorders affect up to 50% of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are significantly impairing to the person affected, as well as to their loved ones. Cognitive-behavioral ...therapy (CBT) has been established as the gold-standard treatment for anxiety disorders among typically developing youth and adults, and demonstrates similar efficacy among youth with high-functioning autism (HFA). Many CBT interventions utilize a “full-package” treatment approach to treat co-occurring anxiety in youth with ASD. However, these service delivery systems are often therapist-intensive, costly, and impractical, thereby compromising full engagement and treatment adherence. This paper describes the design, rationale, and methodology of a study examining stepped-care CBT for youth with HFA and co-occurring anxiety – a clinical trial examining the efficacy of low-intensity, parent-led CBT as the first line of treatment and utilizing a more intensive, therapist-led intervention for nonresponders. The study will evaluate the potential benefits of stepped-care and parent-led therapist-assisted interventions, predictors of treatment response, and the economic value of using a stepped-care model. Implications for practice will be discussed.
This year's summit was unique given the COVID-19 pandemic: a major global outbreak that has imposed severe restrictions in all aspects of our life. At the outset, we were faced with three mutually ...exclusive options. First option was to cancel the summit in its entirety: this was the easiest and most obvious choice once the COVID-19 pandemic forced a near total lockdown all over the country with unprecedented disruptions of normal daily activities as the disease announced its thunderous touchdown on United States (US) soil. It was also the most-logical response faced with uncertainty regarding summit logistics and expected poor attendance due to the raging pandemic. Second option was to conduct a digital summit restricted to local audiences at Baylor College of Medicine: this option entailed implementing a virtual summit with attendance restricted to participants from our institution only. It sounded like a reasonable choice but that would impede the presence of diversity of topics, perspectives, insights and experiential learning opportunities, which are what render the summit exciting and worth attending. And finally, the last option was to conduct a digital unrestricted summit open to all interested audiences throughout the US. The conduct of a virtual summit open to all participants from around the country was initially considered daunting given the likelihood of amplified technical problems associated with an array of internet access differentials around the country, which would require a strong Information Technology (IT) presence throughout the sessions. Nonetheless, the attractiveness of going national with a virtual summit, despite the pandemic and logistical challenges, slowly gained converts and became the dominant choice. The response and level of participation in this first virtual summit showed an unanticipated surge despite the increase in registration fees to cover IT costs. This year, we had attendees from all regions of the US as well as from the United Kingdom. The range of topics was quite diverse encompassing health disparities in relation to cancers, nutrition, musculo-skeletal disorders, amputation rates, vaccination uptakes and COVID-19 infections. Various solutions were passionately presented to address these disparities including novel health technologies, community engagement and partnerships, improvement in health literacy and alternative therapeutics. There were no hitches despite the complex breakout sessions, and above all, attendees were satisfied and offered outstanding evaluation scores. This was definitely a summit that metamorphosed from pessimism to a triumphant success!
.
Both the broad and narrow phenotypes of autism have been consistently observed in family members of affected individuals. Additionally, autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) present four times more often ...in males than in females, for reasons that are currently unknown. In this study, we examined whether there were differences in familial loading of ASD among families of male versus female probands. Analyses were conducted with existing data from two distinct samples. The first sample contained 417 individuals with autism and Asperger's disorder and included information on the ASD diagnoses of their first- and second-degree relatives. The second sample consisted of 405 sibships participating in the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange, of which one or more siblings had an ASD diagnosis. Results from both samples did not suggest significant differences in the prevalence of ASD among relatives of affected males versus females. Reprinted by permission; copyright 2007 Sage Publications Ltd. and The National Autistic Society.
Abstract
New evidence suggests that autism may be associated with (a) varied behavioral responses to folate therapy and (b) metabolic anomalies, including those in folate metabolism, that contribute ...to hypomethylation of DNA. We hypothesized that children with autism who are homozygous for the
MTHFR
677 T allele (TT) and, to a lesser extent those with the CT variant, would exhibit more behavioral problems and/or more severe problematic behaviors than homozygous wild‐type (CC) individuals because of difficulties in effectively converting 5,10‐MTHF to 5‐MTHF. Data from the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) collection were analyzed for all children who met strict criteria for autism per the Autism Diagnostic Interview—Revised (ADI‐R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and who had been genotyped for the 677 C to T
MTHFR
polymorphism (
n
=147). Chi‐square tests, logistic regression, and one‐way ANOVAs were used to determine whether differences existed among
MTHFR
genotypes for specific behaviors on the ADI‐R and indices for level of functioning. Exploratory results indicated four behaviors from the ADI‐R that were more common and problematic (95% CI) among those with at least one copy of the T allele as compared to homozygous wild‐type individuals: direct gaze, current complex body movements, a history of self‐injurious behavior, and current overactivity (ORs=2.72, 2.33, 2.12, 2.47, respectively). No differences existed among genotypes for level of functioning as measured with the
Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test—Third Edition
,
Ravens Colored Progressive Matrices
, or the
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales
. Findings call for further investigation of the relationship between folate metabolism and problem behaviors among children with autism.
Profiles of scores on measures of intellectual functioning may aid in understanding etiology and developing targeted intervention in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by providing details about specific ...phenotypes or subpopulations of ASD. Research investigating the relationship between ASD symptoms and intellectual functioning suggests that scores on the factors comprising global measures of intellectual functioning may be related to ASD symptoms (e.g., Joseph et al. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 43:807–821,
2002
). Research has been limited by methodological problems, such as defining samples using unreliable subtypes of ASD and an overreliance on variable-centered methodological strategies. In the current paper, the authors provide a summary of existing research related to ASD symptoms and measures of intellectual functioning, review recent research identifying subpopulations in ASD, and provide goals for future areas of research in this area.
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