A psychopathogenesis of autism

The long-term effects of auditory training on children with autism

Eighty children, 3-17 years of age, with autism or Asperger syndrome and mild to severe distress in the presence of some sounds, were randomly allocated to two groups. The experimental group received auditory training and the control group listened to the same unmodified music under the same conditions. Significant improvements in behavior and severity of autism were maintained for 12 months by both groups. Informal data suggested that a range of abnormal responses to sound and other sensory abnormalities may also have improved. Verbal and performance IQ increased significantly 3 to 12 months after interventions. Findings suggest that some aspect of both auditory training and listening to selected unmodified music may have a beneficial effect on children with autism and sound sensitivity, and indicate a need for further research into the effects that led to these changes and the mechanisms involved in the sensory abnormalities commonly associated with autism.

Periodicity as a principle of organization in behavior

A proposal is outlined to provide a quantitative descriptive research frame for analyzing the organization of spontaneous behavior in autistic children within and across natural settings such as home, school, daycare centre, and playground. A number of research questions are formulated and appropriate analyses are suggested. In particular the project aimed to detect periodicities in behavior, guided probably by “clock-like” processes as have been found in the field of biological rhythms. A database has to be created by observing and notating a sufficient number of samples of behavior drawn from various settings in which the autistic children happen to live. Contrived settings may also be used;