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Altindağ Kumaş Ö. The power of digital story in early mathematics education: Innovative approaches for children with intellectual disabilities. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302128. [PMID: 38625897 PMCID: PMC11020398 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
This study explored the effectiveness of digital story interventions in improving early math skills in kindergarten children with mild intellectual disabilities. Digital stories are multimedia narratives that combine text, images, and audio to enhance learning experience. This experimental study used a pretest-posttest control group design. The intervention group consisted of 15 children who participated in an 8-week digital story intervention targeting early math skills. A matched control group was used to control for sex differences. Data were collected through the TEMA-3 test scores and teacher and child feedback. Post-intervention, the experimental group showed significant improvements in TEMA-3 test scores compared to the control group. Teachers and children reported a positive perception of the intervention's social validity, highlighting enhanced engagement and understanding of math concepts. This study demonstrated that digital story-based education is a promising approach for improving early math skills in children with mild intellectual disabilities. These findings suggest potential implications for integrating digital storytelling into special education curricula and highlight avenues for future research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özlem Altindağ Kumaş
- Department of Special Education, Faculty of Ziya Gökalp Education, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
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2
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Li X, Li J, Zhao S, Liao Y, Zhu L, Mou Y. Magnitude representation of preschool children with autism spectrum condition. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2024; 28:866-880. [PMID: 37522624 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231185408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT The mathematical abilities of children with autism spectrum condition have been understudied. Magnitude representation (e.g. presenting the number of a collection of objects) is a fundamental numerical ability presented since early infancy and is correlated with children's later learning of formal mathematics. It remains unclear about whether children with autism spectrum condition differ from their peers without autism spectrum condition in precision of magnitude representations. This study compared preschool children with and without autism spectrum condition in their precision of magnitude representation with an approximate number comparison task, in which children compared two sets of dots without counting and chose the set with more dots. Children with autism spectrum condition exhibited the lower numerical comparison accuracy (i.e. the weaker magnitude representation) than their peers without autism spectrum condition. This difference existed even when multiple general cognitive abilities (working memory, inhibitory control, and nonverbal intelligence) and language abilities were statistically controlled. Moreover, the individual difference of the numerical comparison accuracy was larger in children with autism spectrum condition than without autism spectrum condition. These findings suggest that children with autism spectrum condition are at risk of weaker magnitude representation from an early age, emphasizing the need for specialized mathematics education or interventions to support their learning. In addition, the large variance in the precision of their magnitude representation suggests that individualized mathematics interventions are needed for children with autism spectrum condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyan Li
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaxi Li
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sijia Zhao
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yini Liao
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liqi Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Mou
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Ambrose K, Simpson K, Adams D. Using Q-sort method to explore autistic students' views of the impacts of their anxiety at school. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2024:13623613241231607. [PMID: 38390716 DOI: 10.1177/13623613241231607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Many autistic students experience anxiety, but there is little research that explores how anxiety might affect autistic students in the school environment. In this study, 45 autistic students, aged 7 to 17 years, completed an online sorting activity to tell us how anxiety impacts them at school. The students were given 21 statements about possible social and academic effects of anxiety (for example, 'When I'm worried it's hard to start my schoolwork' or 'When I'm worried I talk less to my friends or other students'), and sorted them based on how much they agreed each statement was true for them. The three statements most highly rated as being impacted by anxiety were difficulties related to schoolwork. By comparing the information provided by students, six smaller groups of students were identified who sorted the statements in a similar order. These groups show that anxiety affects different autistic students in different ways, including missing school or activities, communicating less with friends and teachers and finding it harder to complete schoolwork. This online sorting activity enabled autistic students themselves to report how anxiety affects them at school. The results suggest that it is important to provide individualised support for autistic students who experience anxiety at school, to reduce the impact of their anxiety on their participation, communication and interactions, and schoolwork. Further research about the effects of anxiety on the academic outcomes of autistic students is also needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Ambrose
- Griffith University, Australia
- The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Australia
| | - Kate Simpson
- Griffith University, Australia
- The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Australia
| | - Dawn Adams
- Griffith University, Australia
- The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Australia
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4
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Loffi RG, Cruz TKF, Paiva GM, Souto DO, Barreto SR, Santana PAN, Nascimento AAAC, Costa FRM, Cota EB, Haase VG. Theoretical-Methodological Foundations for the Global Integration Method (Método de Integração Global-MIG) in the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:191. [PMID: 38397303 PMCID: PMC10887636 DOI: 10.3390/children11020191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Currently, there is no intervention model for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that addresses all levels and factors of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF, WHO). The most researched programs focus on naturalistic, developmental and behavioral approaches to socio-communication. Less attention has been paid to motor and environmental reactivity aspects (behavior/interest restriction and sensory reactivity). The evidence rationale for the Global Integration Method (MIG, "Método de Integração Global"), a model addressing sensorimotor reactivity in addition to socio-communication, is presented. MIG is an integrative, interdisciplinary, family-oriented intervention and naturalistic program that addresses all levels and moderating factors of ASD's impact. MIG's theoretical rationale is based on the predictive coding impairment and embodied cognition hypotheses. MIG incorporates both bottom-up (flexible therapeutic suit, social-motor synchronization) and top-down (schematic social information processing, narratives, imagery) strategies to promote the building and use of accurate, flexible and context-sensitive internal predictive models. MIG is based on the premises that predictive coding improves both socio-communication and environmental reactivity, and that the postural stabilization provided by the flexible therapeutic suit frees information processing resources for socio-cognitive learning. MIG builds on interdisciplinary, professionally and parentally mediated work based on behavioral principles of intensive training in a situated environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Guimarães Loffi
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
| | - Thalita Karla Flores Cruz
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Giulia Moreira Paiva
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Deisiane Oliveira Souto
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
| | - Simone Rosa Barreto
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fonoaudiológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Aparecida Neves Santana
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Amanda Aparecida Alves Cunha Nascimento
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Rachel Martins Costa
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia: Cognição e Comportamento, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Elisa Braz Cota
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
| | - Vitor Geraldi Haase
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia: Cognição e Comportamento, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
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Polo-Blanco I, Suárez-Pinilla P, Goñi-Cervera J, Suárez-Pinilla M, Payá B. Comparison of Mathematics Problem-Solving Abilities in Autistic and Non-autistic Children: the Influence of Cognitive Profile. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:353-365. [PMID: 36319804 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05802-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This study examines relationships between mathematical problem-solving performance (in terms of strategies used and accuracy) and the main cognitive domains associated with mathematical learning (i.e. executive functions, verbal comprehension and social perception) of children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD and non-ASD resp.). The study involved 26 ASD and 26 non-ASD children without intellectual disabilities, between 6 and 12 years old, matched by sex, age and school (grade and classroom). The results show a higher percentage of ASD children with problem solving difficulties than non-ASD (57% vs. 23% resp.). Poor performing ASD children showed comparatively lower scores in inhibition, theory of mind and verbal comprehension. Implications for the design of mathematical interventions for ASD students are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Polo-Blanco
- Departamento de Matemáticas Estadística y Computación, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
| | - Paula Suárez-Pinilla
- Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- CIBERSAM. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental, Madrid, Spain
- Grupo de Psiquiatría. IDIVAL: Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina y Psiquiatría, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Juncal Goñi-Cervera
- Departamento de Matemáticas Estadística y Computación, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Marta Suárez-Pinilla
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Beatriz Payá
- Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- Grupo de Psiquiatría. IDIVAL: Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
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Wei X, Zhang S, Zhang J, Yu J. Mathematics performance, response time, and enjoyment of eighth-grade autistic students and their general education peers. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2023; 27:2518-2529. [PMID: 37131296 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231168241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
For autistic students receiving special education services, little is known about their relative strengths, weaknesses, and enjoyment across different math content areas; their overall math interest and persistence are also not well-studied. Using the 2017 eighth-grade National Assessment of Education Progress data, this study finds, relative to general education peers with the same math proficiency level, autistic students scored higher and exhibited faster speed in solving visuospatial problems (e.g. identifying figures), but scored lower on math word problems with complex language or social context. Autistic students reported a higher level of enjoyment in solving math problems related to finding areas of shapes or figures but a lower level of persistence than their non-autistic, general education peers. Our work points out the need to help autistic students overcome their weaknesses in word problems and develop their mathematical persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Susu Zhang
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA
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7
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Liu J, Chang H, Abrams DA, Kang JB, Chen L, Rosenberg-Lee M, Menon V. Atypical cognitive training-induced learning and brain plasticity and their relation to insistence on sameness in children with autism. eLife 2023; 12:e86035. [PMID: 37534879 PMCID: PMC10550286 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) often display atypical learning styles; however, little is known regarding learning-related brain plasticity and its relation to clinical phenotypic features. Here, we investigate cognitive learning and neural plasticity using functional brain imaging and a novel numerical problem-solving training protocol. Children with ASD showed comparable learning relative to typically developing children but were less likely to shift from rule-based to memory-based strategy. While learning gains in typically developing children were associated with greater plasticity of neural representations in the medial temporal lobe and intraparietal sulcus, learning in children with ASD was associated with more stable neural representations. Crucially, the relation between learning and plasticity of neural representations was moderated by insistence on sameness, a core phenotypic feature of ASD. Our study uncovers atypical cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying learning in children with ASD, and informs pedagogical strategies for nurturing cognitive abilities in childhood autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Liu
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Hyesang Chang
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Daniel A Abrams
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Julia Boram Kang
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Lang Chen
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
- Department of Psychology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, United States
| | - Miriam Rosenberg-Lee
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, Newark, United States
| | - Vinod Menon
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
- Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford Neurosciences Institute, Stanford, United States
- Stanford Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
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Tonizzi I, Usai MC. Math abilities in autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2023; 139:104559. [PMID: 37329855 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies focusing on math abilities in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are limited and often provide inconsistent results. AIM This meta-analysis was conducted to investigate math abilities in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to typically developing (TD) participants. METHODS AND PROCEDURES According with PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search strategy was adopted. First, 4405 records were identified through database searching; then, the title-abstract screening led to the identification of 58 potentially relevant studies and, finally, after the full-text screening, 13 studies were included. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS Results shows that the group with ASD (n = 533) performed lower than the TD group (n = 525) with a small-to-medium effect (g=0.49). The effect size was not moderated by task-related characteristics. Instead, sample-related characteristics, specifically age, verbal intellectual functioning, and working memory, were significant moderators. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS This meta-analysis shows that people with ASD have poorer math skills than their TD peers, suggesting the importance of investigating math abilities in autism, taking into account the role of moderating variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Tonizzi
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Podestà 2, 16128 Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Carmen Usai
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Podestà 2, 16128 Genoa, Italy.
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Guilfoyle J, Winston M, Sideris J, Martin GE, Nayar K, Bush L, Wassink T, Losh M. Childhood Academic Performance: A Potential Marker of Genetic Liability to Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:1989-2005. [PMID: 35194728 PMCID: PMC9932999 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05459-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a heritable neurodevelopmental disorder, confers genetic liability that is often expressed among relatives through subclinical, genetically-meaningful traits, or endophenotypes. For instance, relative to controls, parents of individuals with ASD differ in language-related skills, with differences emerging in childhood. To examine ASD-related endophenotypes, this study investigated developmental academic profiles among clinically unaffected siblings of individuals with ASD (n = 29). Lower performance in language-related skills among siblings mirrored previously-reported patterns among parents, which were also associated with greater subclinical ASD-related traits in themselves and their parents, and with greater symptom severity in their sibling with ASD. Findings demonstrated specific phenotypes, derived from standardized academic testing, that may represent childhood indicators of genetic liability to ASD in first-degree relatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna Guilfoyle
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, 2240 N Campus Dr., Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Molly Winston
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, 2240 N Campus Dr., Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - John Sideris
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | | | - Kritika Nayar
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, 2240 N Campus Dr., Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Lauren Bush
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, 2240 N Campus Dr., Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | | | - Molly Losh
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, 2240 N Campus Dr., Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
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Liu J, Chang H, Abrams DA, Kang JB, Chen L, Rosenberg-Lee M, Menon V. Atypical cognitive training-induced learning and brain plasticity and their relation to insistence on sameness in children with autism. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.25.525594. [PMID: 36747659 PMCID: PMC9900852 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.25.525594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often display atypical learning styles, however little is known regarding learning-related brain plasticity and its relation to clinical phenotypic features. Here, we investigate cognitive learning and neural plasticity using functional brain imaging and a novel numerical problem-solving training protocol. Children with ASD showed comparable learning relative to typically developing children but were less likely to shift from rule-based to memory-based strategy. Critically, while learning gains in typically developing children were associated with greater plasticity of neural representations in the medial temporal lobe and intraparietal sulcus, learning in children with ASD was associated with more stable neural representations. Crucially, the relation between learning and plasticity of neural representations was moderated by insistence on sameness, a core phenotypic feature of ASD. Our study uncovers atypical cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying learning in children with ASD, and informs pedagogical strategies for nurturing cognitive abilities in childhood autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Liu
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Hyesang Chang
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Daniel A. Abrams
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Julia Boram Kang
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Lang Chen
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Psychology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA 95053
| | - Miriam Rosenberg-Lee
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102
| | - Vinod Menon
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
- Stanford Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
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11
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The Use of Technology-Based Interventions in Teaching STEM Skills to Autistic Students in K-12 Settings: A Systematic Review. REVIEW JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40489-022-00351-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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12
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Kontakou A, Dimitriou G, Panagouli E, Thomaidis L, Psaltopoulou T, Sergentanis TN, Tsitsika A. Giftedness and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2022; 43:e483-e497. [PMID: 36040826 DOI: 10.1097/dbp.0000000000001103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Throughout the years, several myths have arisen suggesting that children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders possess unusually high abilities in specific domains, depending on the disorder. On the other hand, special skills and talents in children with neurodevelopmental disorders are most commonly overshadowed by their difficulties and overlooked. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the association between giftedness and neurodevelopmental disorders. METHODS The related articles published in PubMed, Google Scholar, PsycINFO, and Embase up to December 31, 2020, as well as their reference lists, were reviewed systematically. RESULTS A total of 6069 studies were scanned, and 32 of them (9904 subjects) were deemed eligible for this systematic review. Studies have supported associations between autism spectrum disorders and music ability. Contradictory results have been published regarding associations between giftedness, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and specific learning disorders. Diagnostic methods seemed to modify associations between giftedness and neurodevelopmental disorders. CONCLUSION The dearth of the available evidence is prominent. More research is needed to investigate the field of dual exceptionality. Longitudinal studies are needed, addressing methodological challenges pertaining to variability in the definition of giftedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afroditi Kontakou
- 3rd Department of Pediatrics, "Attikon" University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia Dimitriou
- 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Athens General Children's Hospital "Pan. & Aglaia Kyriakou," Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Panagouli
- MSc Program "Strategies of Developmental and Adolescent Health," Medical School of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Loretta Thomaidis
- MSc Program "Strategies of Developmental and Adolescent Health," Medical School of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Theodora Psaltopoulou
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, "Alexandra" Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Theodoros N Sergentanis
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, "Alexandra" Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - Artemis Tsitsika
- MSc Program "Strategies of Developmental and Adolescent Health," Medical School of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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13
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Schneider S, Clément C, Goltzene MA, Meyer N, Gras-Vincendon A, Schröder CM, Coutelle R. Determinants of the evolutions of behaviours, school adjustment and quality of life in autistic children in an adapted school setting: an exploratory study with the International Classification of Functioning, disability and health (ICF). BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:323. [PMID: 35524241 PMCID: PMC9074195 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-03924-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies about Quality of Life (QoL) in autistic children (ASD) have put forward the negative impact of factors such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) severity, psychiatric comorbidities and adaptive behaviour impairment. However, little is known about the relation of these factors to school adjustment, measured with the International Classification of Functions disability and health (ICF) framework (World Health Organization, 2001), and QoL evolutions. Thus, this study aimed at investigating the determinants of behaviours, school adjustment and QoL changes in 32 children in an ASD inclusion program over one academic year. METHODS Using Bayesian methods, we studied the impact of ASD severity, psychiatric comorbidities, adaptive behaviour level and a diagnosis of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) on evolutions of behaviour, school adjustment (measured with the ICF) and QoL. RESULTS As predicted, adequate adaptive behaviour levels were associated with better progress of behaviours and school adjustment whereas psychiatric comorbidities were related to worse outcome of school adjustment. Contrary to our hypotheses, severe ASD was associated to better evolution of adjustment at school. PDA was not discriminant. We did not find any association between the studied factors and the evolution of QoL over the academic year. CONCLUSION Our results show that the assessment of adaptive behaviour levels, psychiatric comorbidities and ASD severity level may be useful predictors to discriminate of school adjustment evolution (assessed by teachers within the ICF model) over a one-year period in autistic children. The assessment of this time course of school adjustment was sensitive to change and adapted to differentiate evolutions in an inclusive education framework. The investigation of quality of school life of autistic children as well as its determinants may therefore be relevant to improving academic adaptation. However, further research in larger groups, over longer periods and in different personalized school settings for autistic children is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Schneider
- grid.412220.70000 0001 2177 138XService de Psychiatrie de l’Enfant et de l’Adolescent, FHU NEUROGENΨCS, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), University Hospital and Medical School of Strasbourg, INSERM 1114, GIS Autisme et TND, Centre d’Excellence STRAS&ND, Strasbourg, France ,GIS Autisme et TND, Centre d’Excellence STRAS&ND, Strasbourg, France
| | - Céline Clément
- GIS Autisme et TND, Centre d’Excellence STRAS&ND, Strasbourg, France ,grid.11843.3f0000 0001 2157 9291LISEC, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire en Sciences de l’Education et de la Communication, UR 2310, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Marc-André Goltzene
- grid.412220.70000 0001 2177 138XHôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Service de pathologie professionnelle et environnementale, 1 place de l’hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Nicolas Meyer
- grid.412220.70000 0001 2177 138XDepartment of Public Health, University Hospitals of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France ,grid.11843.3f0000 0001 2157 9291Faculty of Medicine, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Agnès Gras-Vincendon
- grid.412220.70000 0001 2177 138XService de Psychiatrie de l’Enfant et de l’Adolescent, FHU NEUROGENΨCS, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), University Hospital and Medical School of Strasbourg, INSERM 1114, GIS Autisme et TND, Centre d’Excellence STRAS&ND, Strasbourg, France ,GIS Autisme et TND, Centre d’Excellence STRAS&ND, Strasbourg, France
| | - Carmen M. Schröder
- grid.412220.70000 0001 2177 138XService de Psychiatrie de l’Enfant et de l’Adolescent, FHU NEUROGENΨCS, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), University Hospital and Medical School of Strasbourg, INSERM 1114, GIS Autisme et TND, Centre d’Excellence STRAS&ND, Strasbourg, France ,GIS Autisme et TND, Centre d’Excellence STRAS&ND, Strasbourg, France ,grid.462184.d0000 0004 0367 4422CNRS UPR 3212, Equipe 9, “Lumière, Rythmes Circadiens, Homéostasie du Sommeil et Neuropsychiatrie”, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives (INCI), Strasbourg, France
| | - Romain Coutelle
- Service de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, FHU NEUROGENΨCS, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), University Hospital and Medical School of Strasbourg, INSERM 1114, GIS Autisme et TND, Centre d'Excellence STRAS&ND, Strasbourg, France. .,GIS Autisme et TND, Centre d'Excellence STRAS&ND, Strasbourg, France.
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14
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Chan SY, Ong ZY, Ngoh ZM, Chong YS, Zhou JH, Fortier MV, Daniel LM, Qiu A, Meaney MJ, Tan AP. Structure-function coupling within the reward network in preschool children predicts executive functioning in later childhood. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2022; 55:101107. [PMID: 35413663 PMCID: PMC9010704 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2022.101107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Early differences in reward behavior have been linked to executive functioning development. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) are activated by reward-related tasks and identified as key nodes of the brain circuit that underlie reward processing. We aimed to investigate the relation between NAc-OFC structural and functional connectivity in preschool children, as well as associations with future reward sensitivity and executive function. We showed that NAc-OFC structural and functional connectivity were not significantly associated in preschool children, but both independently predicted sensitivity to reward in males in a left-lateralized manner. Moreover, significant NAc-OFC structure-function coupling was only found in individuals who performed poorly on executive function tasks in later childhood, but not in the middle- and high-performing groups. As structure-function coupling is proposed to measure functional specialization, this finding suggests premature functional specialization within the reward network, which may impede dynamic communication with other regions, affects executive function development. Our study also highlights the utility of multimodal imaging data integration when studying the effects of reward network functional flexibility in the preschool age, a critical period in brain and executive function development. Functional connectivity is not tethered to structural connectivity in preschool age. Higher degree of SC-FC coupling reflects lower plasticity in early childhood. Gender differences in reward sensitivity were present as early as in preschool age. Early reward network SC-FC coupling affects later executive function.
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15
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What Ability Can Predict Mathematics Performance in Typically Developing Preschoolers and Those with Autism Spectrum Disorder? J Autism Dev Disord 2022; 53:2062-2077. [PMID: 35113327 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05454-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Research evaluating predictors of mathematics ability in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is scarce and inconclusive. The present study first compared the mathematics ability and cognitive abilities of preschoolers with ASD and age-matched typically developing (TD) peers. Then, we examined the relative contributions of cognitive abilities to the mathematics ability of preschoolers with ASD and TD. The results show that compared to those of their age-matched TD peers, the mathematics and cognitive abilities of preschoolers with ASD were impaired. The predictors of mathematics ability were found to differ among preschoolers with ASD and their age-matched TD peers. For TD preschoolers, the domain-specific approximate number system (ANS) was the key predictor of mathematics ability. For preschoolers with ASD, domain-general working memory (WM) was most important.
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16
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Wittwer J. Autismus: Ein Überblick über Lernvoraussetzungen und Fördermaßnahmen. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR PADAGOGISCHE PSYCHOLOGIE 2022. [DOI: 10.1024/1010-0652/a000326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Zusammenfassung. Autistische Schülerinnen und Schüler besitzen häufig geringere schulische Kompetenzen als nicht-autistische Schülerinnen und Schüler. Zugleich bestehen große Unterschiede in den schulischen Kompetenzen zwischen autistischen Schülerinnen und Schülern. Nicht selten weisen sie schulische Kompetenzen auf, die niedriger sind, als es aufgrund ihrer kognitiven Fähigkeiten zu erwarten wäre. Um zu verstehen, welche Faktoren das Lernen autistischer Schülerinnen und Schüler beeinflussen, wird in diesem Artikel ein Überblick über die Lernvoraussetzungen autistischer Schülerinnen und Schüler gegeben. Der Überblick zeigt, dass es autistischen Schülerinnen und Schülern schwerfallen kann, Vorwissen abzurufen und in Lernsituationen aktiv anzuwenden, Lernprozesse aufgrund von Einschränkungen in den exekutiven Funktionen angemessen zu steuern, verbale und visuelle Informationen im Arbeitsgedächtnis zu verarbeiten, kognitive und metakognitive Lernstrategien spontan anzuwenden, sich mit Lerninhalten auseinanderzusetzen, die nicht ihren eigenen Interessen entsprechen, und lernabträgliche Emotionen mittels geeigneter Strategien zu regulieren. Um autistische Schülerinnen und Schüler im Lernen zu unterstützen, werden Fördermaßnahmen zu den einzelnen Lernvoraussetzungen vorgestellt. Implikationen für Forschung und Praxis werden diskutiert.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg Wittwer
- Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Deutschland
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17
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Ambrose K, Simpson K, Adams D. The relationship between social and academic outcomes and anxiety for children and adolescents on the autism spectrum: A systematic review. Clin Psychol Rev 2021; 90:102086. [PMID: 34598053 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety is the most common co-occurring condition in children on the autism spectrum but the potential impacts of anxiety on social and academic outcomes of children on the autism spectrum have not been systematically examined. In this review, 50 studies were identified that explore the relationship between anxiety and scores on social or academic measures in children on the autism spectrum. Social competence was frequently measured, and the findings of these studies were mixed. While other social constructs have received little attention, associations were found between anxiety and victimisation, and anxiety and social relationships. Only three studies focused on the impact of anxiety on scores on academic measures, highlighting the need for further research in this area. Anxiety was most frequently measured using subscales from broader behavioural instruments, which may not capture the range of anxiety symptoms of children on the autism spectrum. Future studies that include multi-informant methodologies and proportional representation of females and children with intellectual disability will further knowledge of the impact of anxiety in children on the spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Ambrose
- Autism Centre of Excellence, Griffith University, Messines Ridge Road, Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, QLD 4122, Australia; The Co-operative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), PO Box 6068, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia.
| | - Kate Simpson
- Autism Centre of Excellence, Griffith University, Messines Ridge Road, Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, QLD 4122, Australia; Griffith Institute for Educational Research, Griffith University, Messines Ridge Road, Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, QLD 4122, Australia; The Co-operative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), PO Box 6068, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Dawn Adams
- Autism Centre of Excellence, Griffith University, Messines Ridge Road, Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, QLD 4122, Australia; Griffith Institute for Educational Research, Griffith University, Messines Ridge Road, Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, QLD 4122, Australia; The Co-operative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), PO Box 6068, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
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18
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Spaniol MM, Magalhães J, Mevorach C, Shalev L, Teixeira MCTV, Lowenthal R, de Paula CS. Association between attention, nonverbal intelligence and school performance of school-age children with Autism Spectrum Disorder from a public health context in Brazil. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2021; 116:104041. [PMID: 34303277 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social interaction, restricted and repetitive behaviour, interests or activities. Difficulties in a broad spectrum of cognitive skills is often present, including attentional processes and nonverbal intelligence, which might be related to academic difficulties. AIMS In this study, the association between attentional skills and nonverbal intelligence to school performance of children with ASD was assessed. METHODS AND PROCEDURES 32 children/adolescents between 8-14 years old, who attended a treatment unit linked to the public health system of São Paulo-Brazil participated in the study. The following instruments were utilized: Cancellation Attention Test; Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices; and School Performance Test. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS After correlation analysis, statistically significant associations were found between attention and nonverbal intelligence with school performance. Regression analysis showed that attention drives school performance irrespective of nonverbal intelligence. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Results evidence the link between attention and school performance in ASD, suggesting that attentional mechanisms may be a promising route to follow in the design of interventions for school improvement of children and adolescents with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayra Muller Spaniol
- Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Developmental Disorders Program, R. da Consolação, 930 - Consolação, São Paulo, SP, 01302-907, Brazil.
| | - Júlia Magalhães
- Mackenzie Presbyterian University, School of Psychology, R. da Consolação, 930 - Consolação, São Paulo, SP, 01302-907, Brazil.
| | - Carmel Mevorach
- University of Birmingham, School of Psychology and the Centre for Human Brain Health, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
| | - Lilach Shalev
- Tel-Aviv University, School of Education and the Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel.
| | - Maria Cristina T V Teixeira
- Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Developmental Disorders Program, R. da Consolação, 930 - Consolação, São Paulo, SP, 01302-907, Brazil.
| | - Rosane Lowenthal
- Mental Health Department, Santa Casa School of Medical Sciences, Rua Dona Veridiana, 56 - Higienópolis, São Paulo, SP, 01238-010, Brazil.
| | - Cristiane Silvestre de Paula
- Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Developmental Disorders Program, R. da Consolação, 930 - Consolação, São Paulo, SP, 01302-907, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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19
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Hugh ML, Ahlers K, Joshi M, Locke J. School-Implemented Interventions for Preschool to High School Students with Autism: An Update on Recent Research. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2021; 23:54. [PMID: 34247293 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-021-01266-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the recent research (2016-2021) that evaluates the effectiveness of school-implemented interventions for students with autism (3-21 years old) from preschool to high school. RECENT FINDINGS Overall, the recent literature demonstrated that there are EBPs that help students with autism acquire a variety of skills across domains (academic, social communication). Though many educators and peers were able to achieve high-fidelity implementation, there remains variable fidelity of intervention use in some studies. Though there is some evidence that educators and peers can successfully implement interventions, there are additional focal areas that are missing from the literature that are needed in schools (e.g., mental health, vocational). Future research should leverage implementation science approaches to support the use of proven efficacious interventions in schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L Hugh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 6200 NE 74th St, Bldg. 29, St. 100, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA.
| | - Kaitlyn Ahlers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 6200 NE 74th St, Bldg. 29, St. 100, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA
| | - Mahima Joshi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 6200 NE 74th St, Bldg. 29, St. 100, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA
| | - Jill Locke
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 6200 NE 74th St, Bldg. 29, St. 100, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA
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20
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Abstract
The recognition of anxiety as one of the most commonly co-occurring diagnoses for individuals on the autism spectrum has led to increased research on symptomatology and treatment, but there is limited research documenting the impact of this anxiety. To address this, this study reports on the Child Anxiety Life Interference Scale (CALIS, parent version) in a community sample of 121 parents of children on the autism spectrum. Scores indicate that the anxiety is impacting upon the child's engagement in activities both in and outside of home as well as impacting upon parent life. Explanatory variables differed for CALIS subscales. As the child's difficulties with uncertainty and parent level of anxiety were the variables that explained the most variance, these may be important foci for effective interventions.
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21
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Relación entre el Razonamiento Perceptivo y el Nivel de Rendimiento Académico en Matemáticas en Niños y Niñas Escolarizados. REVISTA IBEROAMERICANA DE PSICOLOGÍA 2021. [DOI: 10.33881/2027-1786.rip.14308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
El objetivo del presente estudio es determinar la relación entre el razonamiento perceptivo y el nivel de rendimiento académico en matemáticas en estudiantes de secundaria. Se dispuso de un diseño correlacional de corte transversal, con la participación de 56 niños y niñas de grado sexto de la Institución Educativa Municipal Ciudad de Pasto, Colombia. Para obtener la información sociodemográfica se implementó una ficha de caracterización; para medir las variables de estudio se dispuso del promedio acumulado de calificaciones (rendimiento académico) y se aplicaron las pruebas Diseño con cubos, Conceptos con dibujos y Matrices, de la Escala de Inteligencia de Wechsler para Niños, que evalúan el Índice de Razonamiento Perceptual. Se analizaron los resultados con el software SPSS versión 25, empleando el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson para las dos variables de estudio, se encuentra una correlación positiva (r=0,467), estadísticamente significativa (p<0.05). Se propone además un modelo de regresión lineal, en el cual los resultados indican que el razonamiento perceptivo predice un 21% del nivel de rendimiento académico en matemáticas (R2= 0,21); en el caso de los niños, se encuentra una correlación positiva más alta (r=0,628) y un mayor nivel de predicción (R2= 0,39), mientras que en las niñas, el razonamiento perceptivo no es un predictor del nivel de rendimiento académico en matemáticas. Los resultados son similares a los reportados en con otras investigaciones que evalúan las mismas variables, aunque en este caso, se muestran diferencias de acuerdo a factores sociodemográficos, principalmente entre sexos, con ventajas para los varones.
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22
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Abstract
Many students with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) attending higher education drop out prematurely. The predictive value of self-reported daily executive functioning (EF) and (cognitive) performance-based EF (mental flexibility and working memory) for academic progress was evaluated in 54 young adults with ASD (Mage = 22.5, SD = 2.4, 72% male). Regression analyses showed that autism symptom severity explained 12% of variance in academic progress, which was raised to 36% by adding self-reported daily EF, and to 25% by adding performance-based EF. It is suggested that EF is a candidate marker for academic progress in higher education students with ASD and a candidate target for early intervention.
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A Developmental Study of Mathematics in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or Typical Development. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 50:4463-4476. [PMID: 32306219 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04500-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This study examined mathematics achievement in school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or typical development (TD) over a 30-month period and the associations between cognitive and reading abilities with mathematics achievement in children with ASD. Seventy-seven children with ASD without intellectual disability (ASD-WoID), 39 children with ADHD, and 43 children with TD participated in this study. The results revealed that the ASD-WoID and ADHD samples displayed significant and comparable delays in problem solving and calculation abilities. Lower VIQ was related to lower math achievement across all subgroups. The ASD-WoID sample differed from comparison samples in terms of their pattern of mathematical achievement and the role of cognitive abilities in the development of mathematics competence.
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24
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Iuculano T, Padmanabhan A, Chen L, Nicholas J, Mitsven S, de Los Angeles C, Menon V. Neural correlates of cognitive variability in childhood autism and relation to heterogeneity in decision-making dynamics. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2020; 42:100754. [PMID: 32452464 PMCID: PMC7160429 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2020.100754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneity in cognitive and academic abilities is a prominent feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet little is known about its underlying causes. Here we combine functional brain imaging during numerical problem-solving with hierarchical drift-diffusion models of behavior and standardized measures of numerical abilities to investigate neural mechanisms underlying cognitive variability in children with ASD, and their IQ-matched Typically Developing (TD) peers. Although the two groups showed similar levels of brain activation, the relation to individual abilities differed markedly in ventral temporal-occipital, parietal and prefrontal regions important for numerical cognition: children with ASD showed a positive correlation between functional brain activation and numerical abilities, whereas TD children showed the opposite pattern. Despite similar accuracy and response times, decision thresholds were significantly higher in the ASD group, suggesting greater evidence required for problem-solving. Critically, the relationship between individual abilities and engagement of prefrontal control systems anchored in the anterior insula was differentially moderated by decision threshold in subgroups of children with ASD. Our findings uncover novel cognitive and neural sources of variability in academically-relevant cognitive skills in ASD and suggest that multilevel measures and latent decision-making dynamics can aid in characterization of cognitive variability and heterogeneity in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Iuculano
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique & Université de Paris, La Sorbonne - UMR CNRS 8240, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - A Padmanabhan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
| | - L Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
| | - J Nicholas
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
| | - S Mitsven
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
| | - C de Los Angeles
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
| | - V Menon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States; Stanford Neuroscience Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States.
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25
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Brief Report: Investigating Relations Between Self-Concept and Performance in Reading and Math for School-Aged Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 48:1825-1832. [PMID: 29168089 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3403-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
A typically developing student's perceptions of his or her own capabilities (academic self-concept), is predictive of later academic achievement. However, little is known about academic self-concept in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To understand whether students math self-concept and reading self-concept predicted their performance, 44 school-aged children and adolescents with ASD and 36 age-matched individuals with typical development (TYP) rated their perceived math and reading abilities and were administered standardized achievement measures. Results showed self-concept was predictive of performance in math and reading in the TYP group. For youth with ASD, there was agreement between self-concept and performance only in math. These findings suggest that educators should be cautious when interpreting the self-assessments of reading ability in students with ASD.
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26
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St John T, Dawson G, Estes A. Brief Report: Executive Function as a Predictor of Academic Achievement in School-Aged Children with ASD. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 48:276-283. [PMID: 28889315 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3296-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The contributions of Executive Function (EF) to academic achievement in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are not well understood. Academic achievement and its association with EF is described in 32, 9-year-old children with ASD. EF at age 6 and 9, and academic achievement at age 9 were assessed as part of a larger longitudinal study. Better performance on a Spatial Reversal task but not A-not-B with Invisible Displacement at age 6 was associated with better math achievement at age 9. No relationship was found between these EF measures at age 6 and reading or spelling achievement at age 9. Future studies are needed to explore whether improving early EF skills can increase math achievement in children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya St John
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington Autism Center, University of Washington, CHDD, Box 357920, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Geraldine Dawson
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Pediatrics Duke University, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.,Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, 2608 Erwin Road, Suite 300, Durham, NC, 27705, USA
| | - Annette Estes
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington Autism Center, University of Washington, CHDD, Box 357920, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA. .,Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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27
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Calhoun SL, Pearl AM, Fernandez-Mendoza J, Durica KC, Mayes SD, Murray MJ. Sleep Disturbances Increase the Impact of Working Memory Deficits on Learning Problems in Adolescents with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 50:1701-1713. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-03928-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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28
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Chen L, Abrams DA, Rosenberg-Lee M, Iuculano T, Wakeman HN, Prathap S, Chen T, Menon V. Quantitative analysis of heterogeneity in academic achievement of children with autism. Clin Psychol Sci 2018; 7:362-380. [PMID: 31032147 DOI: 10.1177/2167702618809353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) represent a quintessential example of a clinical population with diverse symptom presentations and marked variation in cognitive abilities. However, the extent literature lacks rigorous quantitative procedures for characterizing heterogeneity of cognitive abilities in these individuals. Here we employ novel clustering and cross-validation procedures to investigate the stability of heterogeneous patterns of cognitive abilities in reading and math in a relatively large sample (N=114) of children with ASD and matched controls (N=96). Our analysis revealed a unique profile of heterogeneity in ASD, consisting of a low-achieving subgroup with poor math skills compared to reading, and a high-achieving subgroup who showed superior math skills compared to reading. Verbal and central executive working memory skills further differentiated these subgroups. Findings provide insights into distinct profiles of academic achievement in children with ASD, with implications for educational practice and intervention, and provide a novel framework for quantifying heterogeneity in the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lang Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University
| | - Daniel A Abrams
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University
| | - Miriam Rosenberg-Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University.,Department of Psychology, Rutgers University
| | - Teresa Iuculano
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University
| | - Holly N Wakeman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University.,Department of Psychology, University of Colorado at Boulder
| | - Sandhya Prathap
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University
| | - Tianwen Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University
| | - Vinod Menon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University.,Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University.,Symbolic Systems Program in Neuroscience, Stanford University
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29
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Rosello B, Berenguer C, Baixauli I, Colomer C, Miranda A. ADHD symptoms and learning behaviors in children with ASD without intellectual disability. A mediation analysis of executive functions. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207286. [PMID: 30427902 PMCID: PMC6241124 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In spite of its importance for education, the relationship between learning behaviors (LB), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms (ADHD) and executive functioning (EF) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has hardly been explored. The first objective of the present study was to compare children with ASD without intellectual disability and children with typical development (TD) on ADHD symptoms and learning behaviors: Motivation/competence, attitude toward learning, persistence on the task, and strategy/flexibility. The second objective was to analyze the mediator role of behavioral regulation and metacognition components of EF between ADHD symptoms and learning behaviors in children with ASD. Participants were 89 children between 7 and 11 years old, 52 with ASD and 37 with TD, matched on age and intelligence. Their teachers filled out questionnaires assessing executive functioning as well as learning behaviors. Parents and teachers reported on inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity behaviors. Compared to children with TD, children with ASD presented significantly more ADHD symptoms and poorer learning behaviors. In addition, there were significant mediation effects of the behavioral regulation index (BRI) and metacognition index (MI) of EF, indicating that both are part of the route through which ADHD symptoms impact to learning behaviors of children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belen Rosello
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia,Valencia, Spain
| | - Carmen Berenguer
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia,Valencia, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Baixauli
- Faculty of Psychology, Teaching and Education Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia "San Vicente Mártir", Valencia, Spain
| | - Carla Colomer
- Department of Education, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
| | - Ana Miranda
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia,Valencia, Spain
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30
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Serret S, Hun S, Thümmler S, Pierron P, Santos A, Bourgeois J, Askenazy F. Teaching Literacy Skills to French Minimally Verbal School-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders with the Serious Game SEMA-TIC: An Exploratory Study. Front Psychol 2017; 8:1523. [PMID: 28928701 PMCID: PMC5591836 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Learning to read is very challenging for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), but also very important, as it can give them access to new knowledge. This is even more challenging in minimally verbal children, who do not have the verbal abilities to learn through usual methods. To address the learning of literacy skills in French minimally verbal school-aged children with ASD, we designed the serious game SEMA-TIC, which relies on non-verbal cognitive skills and uses specific learning strategies adapted to the features of autistic individuals. This study investigated the usability of SEMA-TIC (in terms of adaptability, efficiency, and effectiveness) for the acquisition of literacy skills in French minimally verbal school-aged children with ASD. Twenty-five children with ASD and no functional language participated in the study. Children in the training group received the SEMA-TIC training over 23 weeks (on average), while no intervention was provided to children in the non-training group. Results indicated that SEMA-TIC presents a suitable usability, as all participants were able to play (adaptability), to complete the training (efficiency) and to acquire significant literacy skills (effectiveness). Indeed, the literacy skills in the training group significantly improved after the training, as measured by specific experimental tasks (alphabet knowledge, word reading, word-non-word discrimination, sentence reading and word segmentation; all p ≤ 0.001) compared to the non-training group. More importantly, 3 out of 12 children of the training group could be considered as word decoders at the end of the intervention, whereas no children of the non-training group became able to decode words efficiently. The present study thus brings preliminary evidence that French minimally verbal school-aged children with ASD are able to learn literacy skills through SEMA-TIC, a specific computerized intervention consisting in a serious game based on non-verbal cognitive skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Serret
- Autism Resources Center, Lenval Foundation, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Children's Hospitals of Nice CHU-LenvalNice, France.,EA 7276 CoBTeK - Cognition Behaviour Technology, University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Claude Pompidou Institute, Edmond and Lily Safra CenterNice, France
| | - Stéphanie Hun
- Autism Resources Center, Lenval Foundation, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Children's Hospitals of Nice CHU-LenvalNice, France.,EA 7276 CoBTeK - Cognition Behaviour Technology, University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Claude Pompidou Institute, Edmond and Lily Safra CenterNice, France
| | - Susanne Thümmler
- Autism Resources Center, Lenval Foundation, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Children's Hospitals of Nice CHU-LenvalNice, France.,EA 7276 CoBTeK - Cognition Behaviour Technology, University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Claude Pompidou Institute, Edmond and Lily Safra CenterNice, France
| | - Prescillia Pierron
- Autism Resources Center, Lenval Foundation, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Children's Hospitals of Nice CHU-LenvalNice, France
| | - Andreia Santos
- Autism Resources Center, Lenval Foundation, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Children's Hospitals of Nice CHU-LenvalNice, France
| | - Jérémy Bourgeois
- Autism Resources Center, Lenval Foundation, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Children's Hospitals of Nice CHU-LenvalNice, France.,EA 7276 CoBTeK - Cognition Behaviour Technology, University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Claude Pompidou Institute, Edmond and Lily Safra CenterNice, France
| | - Florence Askenazy
- EA 7276 CoBTeK - Cognition Behaviour Technology, University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Claude Pompidou Institute, Edmond and Lily Safra CenterNice, France.,Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Children's Hospitals of Nice CHU-LenvalNice, France
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