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Matsushima K, Kato T. An Exploratory Study on the Association between Atypical Behavioral Responses to Tickling and Autistic Traits in Japanese Children. Occup Ther Health Care 2024; 38:666-685. [PMID: 38174406 DOI: 10.1080/07380577.2023.2297358] [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] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Although play is an essential occupation for children, parents of children with autistic traits tend to struggle with play-based interpersonal interaction with them. Tickling play appears to be one of the most interpersonal forms of play because nobody can tickle themselves. However, atypical tactile processing (e.g. tactile sensitivity) has been reported in children with autistic traits, who may exhibit atypical behavioral responses during tickling play. Our aim was to investigate the association between autistic traits and behavioral responses during parent-child tickling play in Japanese young children. We recorded tickling interaction between children and their parents using behavior coding with six behavioral items. Autistic traits and tactile sensitivity were measured using parent-reported questionnaires. Results showed two behavioral responses were significantly associated with autistic traits in all children: "approach with positive emotional response" and "no response" were negatively and positively correlated with autistic traits, respectively. This exploratory study suggests that behavioral responses during tickling play may be associated with autistic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanae Matsushima
- Faculty of Rehabilitation, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Kato
- Faculty of Rehabilitation, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan
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2
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Papageorgopoulou E, Jones EJH, Johnson MH, Charman T, Green J, Wan MW. Parent-infant interaction trajectories in infants with an elevated likelihood for autism in relation to 3-year clinical outcome. Autism Res 2024. [PMID: 38940216 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Developmental antecedents of autism may affect parent-infant interactions (PII), altering the context in which core social skills develop. While studies have identified differences in PII between infants with and without elevated likelihood (EL) for autism, samples have been small. Here, we examined whether previously reported differences are replicable. From a longitudinal study of 113 EL and 27 typical likelihood infants (TL), 6-min videotaped unstructured PII was blind rated at 8 and 14 months on eight interactional qualities. Autism outcome was assessed at 36 months. Linear mixed-effects models found higher parent sensitive responsiveness, nondirectiveness, and mutuality ratings in TL than EL infants with and without later autism. PII qualities at 8 (infant positive affect, parent directiveness) and 14 months (infant attentiveness to parent, mutuality) predicted 3-year autism. Attentiveness to parent decreased between 8 and 14 months in EL infants with later autism. This larger study supports previous findings of emerging alterations in PII in this group and extends on this by detecting earlier (8-month) predictive effects of PII for autism outcome and a more marked trajectory of decreased social attentiveness. The findings strengthen the evidence base to support the implementation of early preemptive interventions to support PII in infants with early autism signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Papageorgopoulou
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, School of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
- Department of Women & Children's Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emily J H Jones
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, School of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
| | - Mark H Johnson
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, School of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tony Charman
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jonathan Green
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ming Wai Wan
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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3
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Uzonyi TE, Crais ER, Watson LR, Nowell SW, Baranek GT. Measuring Parent-Child Transactions for Early Identification of Young Autistic Children. J Autism Dev Disord 2024:10.1007/s10803-024-06281-x. [PMID: 38573445 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06281-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
This study explored the salient characteristics of transactions within parent-child engagement and investigated relationships between transactional characteristics and future identification of autism. The main aims of the study were to (1) examine if parents/children and their initial behaviors impact the length of transaction; (2) determine miscue differences among parents and children; and (3) determine if transactional characteristics are predictive of autism at preschool age.The study sample was drawn from extant data of a parent-mediated intervention for young children showing early sings of autism. Thirty parent-child dyad videos were randomly selected and coded for transactions. Statistical analyses were applied to examine the study aims and to perform post-hoc analyses.The length of transaction increased when children initiated with a look cue. Parents displayed a higher proportion of miscues and greater variance in their miscue behavior than their children. Neither the length of transaction nor the proportion of child miscues at 1-year of age predicted an autism diagnosis at preschool age. Post-hoc analyses revealed that girls with high variance of transaction length at 1-year of age, had a lower likelihood of showing autism traits at preschool age. Sustained transactions were more likely when children initiated engagement by looking. Early transactional characteristics were associated with later autism identification among girls, namely longer median transaction length with lower variance of transaction length. This transaction profile is believed to represent high fixation on topics with less ability to explore varied topics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thelma E Uzonyi
- Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 3901 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21211, USA.
| | - Elizabeth R Crais
- Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Department of Allied Health Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Linda R Watson
- Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Department of Allied Health Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sallie W Nowell
- Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Grace T Baranek
- Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Nelson CA, Sullivan E, Engelstad AM. Annual Research Review: Early intervention viewed through the lens of developmental neuroscience. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:435-455. [PMID: 37438865 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The overarching goal of this paper is to examine the efficacy of early intervention when viewed through the lens of developmental neuroscience. We begin by briefly summarizing neural development from conception through the first few postnatal years. We emphasize the role of experience during the postnatal period, and consistent with decades of research on critical periods, we argue that experience can represent both a period of opportunity and a period of vulnerability. Because plasticity is at the heart of early intervention, we next turn our attention to the efficacy of early intervention drawing from two distinct literatures: early intervention services for children growing up in disadvantaged environments, and children at elevated likelihood of developing a neurodevelopmental delay or disorder. In the case of the former, we single out interventions that target caregiving and in the case of the latter, we highlight recent work on autism. A consistent theme throughout our review is a discussion of how early intervention is embedded in the developing brain. We conclude our article by discussing the implications our review has for policy, and we then offer recommendations for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles A Nelson
- Department of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Eileen Sullivan
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anne-Michelle Engelstad
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Yuan JJ, Zhao YN, Lan XY, Zhang Y, Zhang R. Prenatal, perinatal and parental risk factors for autism spectrum disorder in China: a case- control study. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:219. [PMID: 38509469 PMCID: PMC10956196 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05643-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is heritable neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), but environmental risk factors have also been suggested to a play a role in its development. Prenatal, perinatal and parental factors have been associated with an increased risk of ASD in children. The aim of the present study was to explore the prenatal, perinatal, and parenting risk factors in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from Beijing, China by comparing them with typically developing (TD) children. METHODS A sample of 151 ASD children's parents who from rehabilitation institutions in Beijing were enrolled in this study, and an additional 151 children from kindergartens in Beijing were recruited as a control group (child age: mean = 4.4 years). TD children were matched according to age, sex and maternal education. We explored the maternal AQ (Autism Spectrum Quotient) scores (mean:19.40-19.71, no significant difference between two groups) to referring the genetic baseline. This study evaluated 17 factors with unadjusted and adjusted analyses. RESULTS Birth asphyxia was associated with a more than a thirteen-fold higher risk of ASD (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 13.42). Breastfeeding difficulties were associated with a higher risk of ASD(AOR = 3.46). Parenting influenced the risk of ASD, with low responding (LR) and harsh or neglectful parenting associated with a higher risk of ASD in offspring (AOR = 2.37 for LR, AOR = 3.42 for harsh parenting and AOR = 3.01 for neglectful parenting). Maternal fever during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of ASD in offspring (AOR = 3.81). CONCLUSIONS Many factors were associated with ASD in offspring. Further assessment is needed to elucidate the role of modifiable environmental factors to inform prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Jia Yuan
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Beijing, China
- Autism Research Center of Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Ya-Nan Zhao
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- China Center for Health Development Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- APEC Health Science Academy Peking Universities, Beijing, China
| | - Xing-Yu Lan
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Beijing, China
- Autism Research Center of Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Beijing, China
- Autism Research Center of Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
- Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Beijing, China.
- Autism Research Center of Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
- Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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Carruthers S, Pickles A, Charman T, McConachie H, Le Couteur A, Slonims V, Howlin P, Collum R, Salomone E, Tobin H, Gammer I, Maxwell J, Aldred C, Parr J, Leadbitter K, Green J. Mediation of 6-year mid-childhood follow-up outcomes after pre-school social communication (PACT) therapy for autistic children: randomised controlled trial. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:233-244. [PMID: 37095645 PMCID: PMC10953331 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are very few mechanistic studies of the long-term impact of psychosocial interventions in childhood. The parent-mediated Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) RCT showed sustained effects on autistic child outcomes from pre-school to mid-childhood. We investigated the mechanism by which the PACT intervention achieved these effects. METHODS Of 152 children randomised to receive PACT or treatment as usual between 2 and 5 years of age, 121 (79.6%) were followed 5-6 years after the endpoint at a mean age of 10.5 years. Assessors, blind to the intervention group, measured Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale Calibrated Severity Score (ADOS CSS) for child autistic behaviours and Teacher Vineland (TVABS) for adaptive behaviour in school. Hypothesised mediators were child communication initiations with caregivers in a standard play observation (Dyadic Communication Measure for Autism, DCMA). Hypothesised moderators of mediation were baseline child non-verbal age equivalent scores (AE), communication and symbolic development (CSBS) and 'insistence on sameness' (IS). Structural equation modelling was used in a repeated measures mediation design. RESULTS Good model fits were obtained. The treatment effect on child dyadic initiation with the caregiver was sustained through the follow-up period. Increased child initiation at treatment midpoint mediated the majority (73%) of the treatment effect on follow-up ADOS CSS. A combination of partial mediation from midpoint child initiations and the direct effect of treatment also contributed to a near-significant total effect on follow-up TVABS. No moderation of this mediation was found for AE, CSBS or IS. CONCLUSIONS Early sustained increase in an autistic child's communication initiation with their caregiver is largely responsible for the long-term effects from PACT therapy on autistic and adaptive behaviour outcomes. This supports the theoretical logic model of PACT therapy but also illuminates fundamental causal processes of social and adaptive development in autism over time: early social engagement in autism can be improved and this can have long-term generalised outcome effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Carruthers
- Department of PsychologyInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Andrew Pickles
- Department of Biostatistics and Health InformaticsInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Tony Charman
- Department of PsychologyInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Helen McConachie
- Population Health Sciences InstituteNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Ann Le Couteur
- Population Health Sciences InstituteNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Vicky Slonims
- Department of PsychologyInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUK
- Evelina London Children's HospitalLondonUK
| | - Patricia Howlin
- Department of PsychologyInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Rachel Collum
- Population Health Sciences InstituteNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Erica Salomone
- Department of PsychologyInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUK
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Milano‐BicoccaMilanItaly
| | | | - Isobel Gammer
- Department of PsychologyInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Jessica Maxwell
- Population Health Sciences InstituteNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | | | - Jeremy Parr
- Population Health Sciences InstituteNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | | | - Jonathan Green
- Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Royal Manchester Children's HospitalUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
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7
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Settanni M, Suma K, Adamson LB, McConachie H, Servili C, Salomone E. Treatment mechanism of the WHO caregiver skills training intervention for autism delivered in community settings. Autism Res 2024; 17:182-194. [PMID: 38151484 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3058] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the mechanism of effect of the WHO Caregiver Skills Training (CST) through secondary analysis of a pilot RCT conducted in community settings. Participants were 86 caregivers (77% mothers) of children with ASD (78% male, mean age: 44.8 months) randomized to CST (n = 43) or treatment as usual (n = 43). The primary outcomes, measured at baseline (t1), immediately post-intervention (t2), and 3 months post-intervention (t3), were derived from the coding of caregiver-child free play interactions with the Brief Observation of Social-Communication Change (BOSCC) and the Joint Engagement Rating Inventory scale (JERI). At t3 positive treatment main effects had been observed for caregiver skills supportive of the interaction and for flow of the interaction (JERI), albeit only non-significant changes in the expected direction for child outcomes: autism phenotypic behaviors (BOSCC), joint engagement and availability to interact (JERI). This study tested the theory of change of CST, hypothesizing that the intervention would lead to an improvement on all child and dyad outcomes through an increase in the caregiver skills supportive of the interaction. Serial mediation analyses revealed that the effect of the intervention was significantly influenced by change in caregiver skills. Participation in the intervention led to notable increases in caregiver skills at t2 and t3, which subsequently contributed to improvements at t3 in flow of the interaction, autism phenotypic behavior, joint engagement, and availability to interact. We confirmed our a priori hypothesis showing that change in caregiver skills significantly mediated the effect of treatment on the dyad primary outcome, as well as on the other child outcomes that had shown non-significant changes in the expected direction. Implications for intervention design and policy making in the context of public health services are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katharine Suma
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Helen McConachie
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Chiara Servili
- Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Erica Salomone
- Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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Campi E, Choi E, Chen YJ, Holland CM, Bristol S, Sideris J, Crais ER, Watson LR, Baranek GT. Sensory Reactivity of Infants at Elevated Likelihood of Autism and Associations with Caregiver Responsiveness. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:270-279. [PMID: 36307744 PMCID: PMC9616418 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05764-z] [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: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Infants at elevated likelihood of developing autism display differences in sensory reactivity, especially hyporeactivity, as early as 7 months of age, potentially contributing to a developmental cascade of autism symptoms. Caregiver responsiveness, which has been linked to positive social communication outcomes, has not been adequately examined with regard to infant sensory reactivity. This study examined the multiplicative impact of infant sensory hypo- and hyperreactivity on caregiver responsiveness to sensory reactivity and regulation cues in 43 infants at elevated likelihood of autism. Sensory hyperreactivity was found to moderate the association between sensory hyporeactivity and caregiver responsiveness, such that caregivers of infants with moderately high sensory hypo- and hyperreactivity demonstrated higher responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Campi
- University of Southern California Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, 1540 Alcazar St, 90033, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Health Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Choi
- University of Southern California Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, 1540 Alcazar St, 90033, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yun-Ju Chen
- University of Southern California Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, 1540 Alcazar St, 90033, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Cristin M Holland
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 W 168th St, 10032, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Stephanie Bristol
- Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Bondurant Hall, CB #7122, 27599-7122, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - John Sideris
- University of Southern California Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, 1540 Alcazar St, 90033, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Crais
- Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 321 S Columbia St, 27516, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Linda R Watson
- Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 321 S Columbia St, 27516, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Grace T Baranek
- University of Southern California Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, 1540 Alcazar St, 90033, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Qi X, Zhao Q, To CKS. Empowering Hong Kong Chinese families with autism: A preliminary study of the online Hanen More Than Words Program. AUTISM & DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENTS 2024; 9:23969415241245096. [PMID: 38638395 PMCID: PMC11025426 DOI: 10.1177/23969415241245096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Purpose Parent involvement is crucial for tailored early intervention programs. The Hanen More Than Words (HMTW) program is a parent-implemented language intervention for autistic children. The current study examined the effectiveness of the HMTW program delivered online among Chinese families. Methods Using a randomized controlled trial design, 22 Chinese families of autistic children in Hong Kong completed the trial. Baseline and post-intervention assessments were conducted to measure changes in parent-child interaction, parents' use of linguistic facilitation techniques (LFTs), and children's communication skills. Additionally, the influence of parental self-efficacy and parenting stress on treatment outcomes was explored. Results The intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in parent-child attention synchrony. Although the treatment effect on children's spontaneous communication was not significant, the intervention group showed a larger effect size compared to the controls. The treatment outcomes were mainly influenced by the parents' initial levels of self-efficacy but not by parenting stress. Conclusion These findings provide preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of the online-delivered HMTW program for Chinese parents of autistic children. Further research involving a larger sample and focusing on long-term effects is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Qi
- Academic Unit of Human Communication, Learning, and Development, Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Qiwei Zhao
- Academic Unit of Human Communication, Learning, and Development, Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Carol K S To
- Academic Unit of Human Communication, Learning, and Development, Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Uzonyi TE, Grissom AC, Anderson RV, Lee H, Towner-Wright S, Crais ER, Watson LR, Landa RJ. Scoping review of behavioral coding measures used to evaluate parent responsiveness of children with autism or elevated risk of autism. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2023; 27:1856-1875. [PMID: 36802822 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231152641] [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: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT The topic of how parents react (e.g., how they talk and act) to their child with autism or elevated likelihood of autism, often called parent responsiveness, has been studied by researchers for over 50 years. Many methods for measuring behaviors around parent responsiveness have been created depending on what researchers were interested in discovering. For example, some include only the behaviors that the parent does/says in reacting to something the child does/says. Other systems look at all behaviors in a period of time between child and parent (e.g., who talked/acted first, how much the child or parent said/did). The purpose of this article was to provide a summary of how and what researchers looked at around parent responsiveness, describe the strengths and barriers of these approaches, and suggest a "best practices" method of looking at parent responsiveness. The model suggested could make it more possible to look across studies to compare study methods and results. The model could be used in the future by researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to provide more effective services to children and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thelma E Uzonyi
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, USA
- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA
| | | | | | - Helen Lee
- University of Southern California, USA
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11
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McGlade A, Whittingham K, Barfoot J, Taylor L, Boyd RN. Efficacy of very early interventions on neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants and toddlers at increased likelihood of or diagnosed with autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Autism Res 2023; 16:1145-1160. [PMID: 37036800 PMCID: PMC10946707 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this systematic review was to determine the efficacy of very early interventions for infants and toddlers at increased likelihood of or diagnosed with autism for autism symptomatology, developmental outcomes and/or neurocognitive markers. Eight databases were searched (14 April 2022) with inclusion criteria: (i) RCTs with care as usual (CAU) comparison group, (ii) participants at increased likelihood of or diagnosed with autism and aged <24 months corrected age (CA), (iii) parent-mediated and/or clinician directed interventions, and (iv) outcome measures were autism symptomatology, cognition, language, adaptive skills, or neurocognitive assessments (EEG and eye tracking). Quality was assessed using Risk of Bias 2 and GRADE. Nineteen publications from 12 studies reported on 715 infants and toddlers. There was low to moderate certainty evidence that clinician-assessed outcomes did not show significant treatment effects for: autism symptomatology (ADOS CSS: MD -0.08, 95% CI -0.61, 0.44, p = 0.75), cognitive outcome (Mullen Scales of Early Learning-Early Learning Composite (MSEL-ELC): SMD 0.05, 95% CI -0.19, 0.29, p = 0.67), receptive language (MSEL-Receptive Language: SMD 0.04, 95% CI -0.21, 0.3, p = 0.74) or expressive language (MSEL-Expressive Language: SMD 0.06, 95% CI -0.1, 0.23, p = 0.45). Neurocognitive outcomes (EEG and eye tracking) were heterogeneous, with inconsistent findings. There is low to moderate certainty evidence that very early interventions have limited impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes by age 3 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea McGlade
- Faculty of MedicineThe University of Queensland, Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research CentreBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Koa Whittingham
- Faculty of MedicineThe University of Queensland, Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research CentreBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Jacqui Barfoot
- Faculty of MedicineThe University of Queensland, Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research CentreBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Leisa Taylor
- Department of Humanities EducationUniversity of New EnglandArmidaleNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Roslyn N. Boyd
- Faculty of MedicineThe University of Queensland, Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research CentreBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
- Queensland Paediatric Rehabilitation ServiceQueensland Children's HospitalBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
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12
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Delehanty A, Hooker JL, Wetherby AM. Verbal Responsiveness in Parents of Toddlers With and Without Autism During a Home Observation. J Autism Dev Disord 2023:10.1007/s10803-023-05935-6. [PMID: 37171767 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-05935-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
This study examined patterns of verbal responsiveness in parents of toddlers (Mage = 20 months) later identified with autism (n = 121), developmental delay (n = 46), or typical development (n = 44) during an hourlong home observation. Parent verbal responsiveness (PVR) was compared using MANOVA across groups and by child expressive language phase. Multiple regression analyses controlling for child age and maternal education were employed to examine the extent to which PVR predicted variance in concurrent child social communication and prospective language skills. Parents provided synchronous responses approximately 90% of the time. Parents of children with autism and developmental delay used smaller proportions of responses that added linguistic information (i.e., expansions and follow-in directives for language) than those of children with typical development. Parents of children in the preverbal phase were more likely, on average, to affirm their children's acts of intentional communication or provide a follow-in directive for action that did not necessitate a verbal response than to expand or elicit language. Regression results indicated that parental use of expansions and follow-in directives for language made significant contributions to child language outcomes. The patterns we observed may reflect parents' attunement to their child's developmental level. Responsiveness to a child's focus of attention is vital in the earlier stages of language learning; however, results point to the potential importance of parental expansions and follow-in directives for promoting language development across groups in this sample. Directions for intervention research targeting PVR and language skills in toddlers with autism and developmental delays are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Delehanty
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA.
| | - Jessica L Hooker
- Florida State University Autism Institute, 2312 Killearn Center Blvd., Building A, Tallahassee, FL, 32309, USA
| | - Amy M Wetherby
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4300, USA
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13
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Kulasinghe K, Whittingham K, Mitchell AE, Boyd RN. Psychological interventions targeting mental health and the mother-child relationship in autism: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Dev Med Child Neurol 2023; 65:329-345. [PMID: 36208472 PMCID: PMC10953452 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.15432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
AIM To investigate the efficacy of psychological interventions delivered to mothers of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in improving maternal mental health and the parent-child relationship. METHOD Electronic databases were searched from inception to December 2021. Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of psychological interventions that targeted maternal mental health (primary outcome) and/or the parent-child relationship (secondary outcome), delivered to mothers of children (mean age < 60 months) with ASD. Meta-analyses of three parent mental health outcomes (stress, depressive symptomatology, and general mental health) and seven parent-child relationship outcomes (parent responsiveness, affect, directiveness, non-directiveness, child initiation, infant positive affect, and infant attentiveness) were conducted using both mean and standardized mean differences. RESULTS Thirty-two RCTs met the inclusion criteria (2336 participants). Six RCTs showed improved maternal mental health (Cohen's d = 0.41-1.15), with moderate certainty of evidence for improvement in parental stress. There was low and high certainty of evidence of treatment effect on parental depressive symptoms and general mental health respectively, which did not show significant treatment effects post-intervention. Seventeen RCTs showed improved parent-child relationship (d = 0.33-2.28; low certainty of evidence). INTERPRETATION Results demonstrated that parenting interventions promoting responsiveness had the largest positive effect on the parent-child relationship and a moderate effect on overall parenting stress; however, the studies were heterogeneous, making it difficult to identify the intervention components that were responsible for the positive treatment effects. There was no significant treatment effect for studies targeting depression or general mental health, likely due to the lack of an interventional component directly targeting mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavindri Kulasinghe
- Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Centre for Children's Health Research, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Koa Whittingham
- Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Centre for Children's Health Research, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Amy E. Mitchell
- School of Nursing and MidwiferyGriffith UniversityBrisbaneQLDAustralia
- Menzies Health Institute QueenslandGriffith UniversityBrisbaneQLDAustralia
- Parenting and Family Support Centre, School of PsychologyUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Roslyn N. Boyd
- Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Centre for Children's Health Research, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
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14
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Jatkar A, Garrido D, Zheng S, Silverman G, Elsayed H, Davis PH, Lee H, Crais ER, Sideris J, Turner-Brown L, Baranek GT, Watson LR, Grzadzinski R. Toddlers at Elevated Likelihood for Autism: Exploring Sensory and Language Treatment Predictors. JOURNAL OF EARLY INTERVENTION 2023; 45:39-62. [PMID: 36969559 PMCID: PMC10038203 DOI: 10.1177/10538151211067227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Baseline child characteristics may predict treatment outcomes in children with or at elevated likelihood of developing autism (EL-ASD). Little is known about the role of child sensory and language features on treatment outcome. Participants were randomly assigned to a parent-mediated intervention or control condition. Analyses explored the relationship between baseline child sensory and language characteristics and changes in ASD symptoms over approximately 9 months. Higher baseline sensory hyporeactivity was significantly related to less improvement in social communication (SC) for the treatment group only. More baseline atypical vocalizations were significantly related to less improvement on SC across treatment and control groups. This work provides an initial framework to encourage the tailoring of interventions for EL-ASD children, suggesting sensory reactivity and atypical vocalizations may be useful behaviors to consider in treatment planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alapika Jatkar
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Dunia Garrido
- The University of Granada, Mind, Brain, and Behaviors
Research Center, Granada, Spain
| | - Shuting Zheng
- The University of California at San Francisco, San
Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Greyson Silverman
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Division
of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Heba Elsayed
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Division
of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Alexandria University, Phoniatrics Unit, Otolaryngology
Department, Egypt
| | - Paige Huguely Davis
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Helen Lee
- The University of Southern California, Mrs. T.H. Chan
Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Los Angeles, CA,
USA
| | - Elizabeth R. Crais
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Division
of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - John Sideris
- The University of Southern California, Mrs. T.H. Chan
Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Los Angeles, CA,
USA
| | - Lauren Turner-Brown
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department
of Psychiatry, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Grace T. Baranek
- The University of Southern California, Mrs. T.H. Chan
Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Los Angeles, CA,
USA
| | - Linda R. Watson
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Division
of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca Grzadzinski
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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15
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Uzonyi TE, Crais ER, Watson LR, Nowell SW, Baranek GT, Turner-Brown LM. Measuring Transactional Engagement Among Young Children with Elevated Likelihood for Later Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:759-775. [PMID: 34117956 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05124-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
This analytical study documented the presence of transactions in parent-child engagement within a sample of young children at an elevated likelihood for an eventual diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Specifically, the study examined the establishment of transactional engagement through reciprocal behaviors between parents and their young children at-risk for ASD. In the study sample, established transactional engagement occurred at a higher rate than other levels of engagement. Additionally, transactional engagement had a higher likelihood of being established when parents initiated. Post-hoc analyses revealed possible early markers of ASD within a certain behavior displayed in transactions. This study signifies the initial efforts in identifying transactions within parent-child engagement, and foremost, how transactional engagement is established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thelma E Uzonyi
- Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 578 South Stadium Hall, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA.
| | - Elizabeth R Crais
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, The University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Linda R Watson
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, The University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sallie W Nowell
- Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, The University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Grace T Baranek
- Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lauren M Turner-Brown
- TEACCH Autism Program, The University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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16
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Roberts MY, Stern YS, Grauzer J, Nietfeld J, Thompson S, Jones M, Kaat AJ, Kaiser AP. Teaching Caregivers to Support Social Communication: Results From a Randomized Clinical Trial of Autistic Toddlers. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY 2023; 32:115-127. [PMID: 36525627 PMCID: PMC10023141 DOI: 10.1044/2022_ajslp-22-00133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies of early caregiver-mediated interventions targeting social communication of young autistic children have yielded variable child outcomes. This study examined the effects of combining two caregiver-mediated interventions on caregiver strategy use and child social communication and language outcomes. METHOD This was a multisite parallel randomized controlled trial. Participants included 120 caregivers and their autistic children between 24 and 36 months of age. Dyads were randomly assigned to receive a hybrid intervention that combined Enhanced Milieu Teaching (EMT) and Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement, and Regulation (JASPER) or to a behavior management control condition, each delivered over 6 months. Caregivers in the JASP-EMT group received twice-weekly, in-home, and hour-long sessions. Outcomes were measured at baseline, the end of intervention (T1), and 6 months later (T2) and included a naturalistic language sample procedure, standardized measures, and caregiver report measures. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02595697). RESULTS Child outcomes did not differ between conditions at T1 or T2 for child primary (social communication) or secondary (language, play, and autism symptoms) outcomes. Relative to control group caregivers, intervention group caregivers demonstrated significantly higher use of JASP-EMT strategies at T1 and T2, with the exception of two strategies (Responsiveness and Matched Responsiveness), which were used significantly more by control group caregivers. Neither autism severity nor baseline caregiver responsiveness moderated outcomes. Post hoc analyses revealed significant correlations between specific strategies and all child outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Twice-weekly caregiver-mediated intervention that taught caregivers of autistic children to use social communication support strategies did not yield significant child outcomes. Future studies should examine possible sources for the lack of main effects including unexpected differences in linguistic features of caregiver input, changes in control group caregiver behavior, and insufficient intervention dosage. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.21714278.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Y. Roberts
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Yael S. Stern
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Jeffrey Grauzer
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Jennifer Nietfeld
- Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Suzanne Thompson
- Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Maranda Jones
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Aaron J. Kaat
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Ann P. Kaiser
- Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
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17
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Weitlauf AS, Broderick N, Alacia Stainbrook J, Slaughter JC, Taylor JL, Herrington CG, Nicholson AG, Santulli M, Dorris K, Garrett LJ, Hopton M, Kinsman A, Morton M, Vogel A, Dykens EM, Pablo Juárez A, Warren ZE. A Longitudinal RCT of P-ESDM With and Without Parental Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction: Impact on Child Outcomes. J Autism Dev Disord 2022; 52:5403-5413. [PMID: 35040001 PMCID: PMC9289080 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05399-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
This randomized controlled trial (NCT03889821) examined Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in conjunction with the Parent-implemented Early Start Denver Model (P-ESDM). A previous report described improved metrics of parental distress (Weitlauf et al. in Pediatrics 145(Supplement 1):S81-S92, 2020). This manuscript examines child outcomes. 63 children with ASD (< 36 months) and their parents received 12 P-ESDM sessions. Half of parents also received MBSR. Longitudinal examination of whole sample means revealed modest improvements in autism severity, cognitive, and adaptive skills. There was not a significant time × group interaction for children whose parents received MBSR. Future work should examine more proximal markers of child or dyadic change to enhance understanding of the impact of providing direct treatment for parents as part of early intervention initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy S Weitlauf
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Neill Broderick
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - J Alacia Stainbrook
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - James C Slaughter
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA
| | - Julie Lounds Taylor
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | - Amy G Nicholson
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Madeline Santulli
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kristin Dorris
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | - Michelle Hopton
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Amy Kinsman
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Mary Morton
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ashley Vogel
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Elisabeth M Dykens
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - A Pablo Juárez
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Zachary E Warren
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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18
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Ravi S, Bradshaw A, Abdi H, Meera SS, Parish-Morris J, Yankowitz L, Paterson S, Dager SR, Burrows CA, Chappell C, St.John T, Estes AM, Piven J, Swanson MR. Are early social communication skills a harbinger for language development in infants later diagnosed autistic?-A longitudinal study using a standardized social communication assessment. FRONTIERS IN COMMUNICATION 2022; 7:977724. [PMID: 37168581 PMCID: PMC10167971 DOI: 10.3389/fcomm.2022.977724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The early emergence of social communication challenges and their impact on language in infants later diagnosed with autism has sparked many early intervention programs that target social communication skills. While research has consistently shown lower scores on social communication assessments in the first year of life, there is limited research at 12-months exploring associations between different dimensions of social communication and later language. Understanding associations between early social communication skills and language would enhance our ability to choose high priority intervention goals that will impact downstream language skills. The current study used a standardized assessment to profile social communication skills across 516 infants with a high (HL) or low likelihood (LL-Neg) for autism (84% White, 60% Male), based on the presence of a sibling with autism in the family. The primary aim of the study was to profile social communication skill development in the second year of life and to evaluate associations between social communication skills and later language. HL infants who met criteria for autism (HL-ASD, N = 81) demonstrated widespread reductions in social communication skills at 12-months compared to HL infants who did not meet criteria for autism (HL-Neg, N = 277) and LL-Neg (N = 158) infants. Across all infants in the study, those with better social communication skills at 12-months had better language at 24-months. However, within group analyses indicated that infants who met criteria for autism did not show this developmental coupling until 24-months-of-age at which point social communication was positively associated with downstream language skills. The cascading pattern of reduced social communication skills as well as overall significant positive associations with later language provide further evidence for the need to support developing social communication skills prior to formal autism diagnosis, a goal that could possibly be reached through pre-emptive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruthi Ravi
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Allison Bradshaw
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Hervé Abdi
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Shoba Sreenath Meera
- Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Julia Parish-Morris
- Center for Autism Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Lisa Yankowitz
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sarah Paterson
- The James S. McDonnell Foundation, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Stephen R. Dager
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Catherine A. Burrows
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Chad Chappell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Tanya St.John
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Annette M. Estes
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Joseph Piven
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Meghan R. Swanson
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
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19
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Kellerman AM, Masters C, Schwichtenberg AJ. Are Maternal Self-Reports of Social Difficulties Apparent in Interactions with their Children? J Autism Dev Disord 2022:10.1007/s10803-022-05786-7. [PMID: 36241958 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05786-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
To inform parent-mediated intervention models, this study assessed if family affectedness (i.e., elevated autism symptoms in more than one child) was associated with maternal self-reported social difficulties (as indexed by the Social Responsiveness Scale; SRS-2), and social interactions during play. As part of a prospective study, 71 mothers completed the SRS-2 and a play session. Interactions were coded for a range of prosocial behaviors, including gaze, positive affect, and vocalizations. Overall, mothers with multiple children exhibiting autism symptoms self-reported significantly more social difficulties on the SRS-2, when compared to mothers raising only typically developing children, or one child with autism. However, even with elevated SRS-2 scores, mothers with higher family affectedness demonstrated comparable social exchanges with their children during play.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Kellerman
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, 1202 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - C Masters
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - A J Schwichtenberg
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, 1202 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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20
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DuBay M. Cultural Adaptations to Parent-Mediated Autism Spectrum Disorder Interventions for Latin American Families: A Scoping Review. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY 2022; 31:1517-1534. [PMID: 35302877 DOI: 10.1044/2022_ajslp-21-00239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This scoping review maps research in parent-mediated autism spectrum disorder interventions culturally adapted for Latin American populations, to provide an overview of the available evidence across perspectives and disciplines and to identify gaps in the research knowledge base. METHOD A systematic search for relevant articles was conducted using six databases and archival and forward hand searches of articles that met inclusion criteria. Titles and abstracts were reviewed by three authors, followed by full-text reviews of remaining articles. Twenty-one articles met inclusion criteria and were retained for data extraction. The ecological validity framework was used to frame data analysis and results. RESULTS In total, 19 studies described unique implementations of 16 different interventions, which spanned 21 articles, representing a range of study designs and implementing a variety of adaptations. Most adaptations consisted of surface-structure changes, spanning the dimensions of language, concepts, methods, context, and persons. Few articles were identified that described international studies or studies examining direct parent-mediated strategies with large sample sizes and strong methodological designs. CONCLUSIONS Several intervention adaptations that have potential for clinical utility are presented. Clinicians working with Latin American families are encouraged to discuss potential adaptations openly with families before choosing and implementing specific strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela DuBay
- Department of Human Services, School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
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21
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Green J, Leadbitter K, Ainsworth J, Bucci S. An integrated early care pathway for autism. THE LANCET. CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2022; 6:335-344. [PMID: 35303486 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(22)00037-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
In this Viewpoint, we argue for the need to reconceptualise an integrated early-care provision for autistic children in the light of their enduring support needs and relevant new findings from developmental and intervention research. This model goes beyond short-term reactive care to outline an early proactive, evidenced, developmentally phased, and scalable programme of support for autistic children and their families from the earliest opportunity, with timely access to later step-up care when needed. We also integrate this model with emerging opportunities from data science and digital health technologies as a potential facilitator of such a pathway. Building on this work, we argue that the best current autism intervention evidence can be integrated with concepts and evidence gained in the management of other enduring health conditions to support an autistic child and their family through their early development. The aim is to improve those children's social communication abilities, expand their range and flexibility of interests, and mitigate any negative impacts of sensory difficulties and restricted, repetitive behaviours on the child and their family wellbeing. The pathway solutions described could also be adapted for older adolescents and adults and could be used within the health systems of different countries, including within low-income and middle-income contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Green
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester, UK; Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Manchester Royal Children's Hospital, Manchester, UK.
| | - Kathy Leadbitter
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester, UK
| | - John Ainsworth
- Division of Imaging, Informatics and Data Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sandra Bucci
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Complex Trauma and Resilience Research Unit, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
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22
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Davis PH, Elsayed H, Crais ER, Watson LR, Grzadzinski R. Caregiver responsiveness as a mechanism to improve social communication in toddlers: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Autism Res 2022; 15:366-378. [PMID: 34799999 PMCID: PMC8821206 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Early intensive behavioral interventions (EIBI) for children at elevated likelihood for a later diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (EL-ASD), are often delivered through parent-mediated models. An area of current exploration is whether changes in caregiver behaviors are a mechanism through which to improve and track child behaviors in these interventions. Toddlers and their caregivers participated in an intervention trial (randomized controlled trial) and were randomized to either a parent-mediated intervention (adapted responsive teaching; ART) or a control condition (referral to early intervention and monitoring; REIM). Changes in toddler social communication (SC) behaviors and characteristics of caregiver responsiveness (CR) were quantified over 8 months. Analyses were conducted to assess whether changes in CR mediated the relation between group (ART vs. REIM) and changes in child SC. Results of the current study indicated that caregivers who participated in a parent-mediated intervention improved in three domains of CR (contingent verbal sensitivity, responsivity, affect). CR was also found to be a mechanism through which children's SC skills improved. This work provides evidence that qualities of CR serve as mechanisms through which to improve and monitor child behaviors over the course of EIBIs. These results may lead to novel intervention targets, methods for tracking change, and tailored treatment planning for toddlers with EL-ASD. The data used in this study comes from a clinical trial that was prospectively registered with the Registry of Efficacy and Effectiveness Studies (Registry ID: 316.1v1). LAY SUMMARY: Interventions for toddlers with high likelihood for a later diagnosis of autism often include the caregiver as an active participant in the intervention. In this study, we aimed to understand qualities of caregiver responsiveness (CR) that facilitate improvements in child behaviors during intervention. Results show that increasing verbal CR and affect are ways to improve child social skills over the course of intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige Huguely Davis
- Program for Early Autism Research Leadership and Service (PEARLS), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Heba Elsayed
- Program for Early Autism Research Leadership and Service (PEARLS), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC,Phoniatrics unit, ENT Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt
| | - Elizabeth R. Crais
- Program for Early Autism Research Leadership and Service (PEARLS), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC,University of North Carolina, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences
| | - Linda R. Watson
- Program for Early Autism Research Leadership and Service (PEARLS), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC,University of North Carolina, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences
| | - Rebecca Grzadzinski
- Program for Early Autism Research Leadership and Service (PEARLS), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC,University of North Carolina, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Chapel Hill, NC
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23
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Brian J, Drmic I, Roncadin C, Dowds E, Shaver C, Smith IM, Zwaigenbaum L, Sacrey LAR, Bryson SE. Effectiveness of a parent-mediated intervention for toddlers with autism spectrum disorder: Evidence from a large community implementation. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2022; 26:1882-1897. [PMID: 35037520 DOI: 10.1177/13623613211068934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT In an effort to increase access to intervention as early as possible for toddlers with autism spectrum disorder or signs thereof, many researchers have developed interventions that can be delivered by parents in their own homes. These parent-mediated approaches have gained a lot of research attention in recent years and have been found to be helpful in terms of parent and toddler learning. Several studies have used a rigorous research design (a randomized controlled trial) to show that parent-mediated intervention can work under ideal well-controlled conditions. To build on this evidence, we also need to examine whether parent-mediated interventions can be taught well through community service providers and delivered in more "real-world" conditions. This study used a research-community partnership to provide a parent-mediated intervention (called the Social ABCs) to 179 families (mean toddler age was 25 months; ranging from 14 to 34 months). Almost 90% of the families completed the 12-week program and 70% returned for a follow-up assessment 3 months later. Analyses showed that parents learned the strategies that were designed to help them support their toddlers' development. Also, toddlers made gains in their language, communication, and social skills. Importantly, parents' use of the strategies was related to toddlers' skill gains, suggesting that the use of the strategies made a difference for the toddlers. Findings support the use of parent-mediated intervention in this very young age group and suggest that such intervention approaches should be made available for community delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Brian
- Bloorview Research Institute, Canada.,University of Toronto, Canada
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24
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Whitehouse AJO, Varcin KJ, Pillar S, Billingham W, Alvares GA, Barbaro J, Bent CA, Blenkley D, Boutrus M, Chee A, Chetcuti L, Clark A, Davidson E, Dimov S, Dissanayake C, Doyle J, Grant M, Green CC, Harrap M, Iacono T, Matys L, Maybery M, Pope DF, Renton M, Rowbottam C, Sadka N, Segal L, Slonims V, Smith J, Taylor C, Wakeling S, Wan MW, Wray J, Cooper MN, Green J, Hudry K. Effect of Preemptive Intervention on Developmental Outcomes Among Infants Showing Early Signs of Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Outcomes to Diagnosis. JAMA Pediatr 2021; 175:e213298. [PMID: 34542577 PMCID: PMC8453361 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.3298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) typically commences after diagnosis. No trial of an intervention administered to infants before diagnosis has shown an effect on diagnostic outcomes to date. OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of a preemptive intervention for ASD beginning during the prodromal period. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This 2-site, single rater-blinded randomized clinical trial of a preemptive intervention vs usual care was conducted at 2 Australian research centers (Perth, Melbourne). Community sampling was used to recruit 104 infants aged 9 to 14 months showing early behaviors associated with later ASD, as measured by the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance-Revised. Recruitment occurred from June 9, 2016, to March 30, 2018. Final follow-up data were collected on April 15, 2020. INTERVENTIONS Infants were randomized on a 1:1 ratio to receive either a preemptive intervention plus usual care or usual care only over a 5-month period. The preemptive intervention group received a 10-session social communication intervention, iBASIS-Video Interaction to Promote Positive Parenting (iBASIS-VIPP). Usual care comprised services delivered by community clinicians. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Infants were assessed at baseline (approximate age, 12 months), treatment end point (approximate age, 18 months), age 2 years, and age 3 years. Primary outcome was the combined blinded measure of ASD behavior severity (the Autism Observation Scale for Infants and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, second edition) across the 4 assessment points. Secondary outcomes were an independent blinded clinical ASD diagnosis at age 3 years and measures of child development. Analyses were preregistered and comprised 1-tailed tests with an α level of .05. RESULTS Of 171 infants assessed for eligibility, 104 were randomized; 50 infants (mean [SD] chronological age, 12.40 [1.93] months; 38 boys [76.0%]) received the iBASIS-VIPP preemptive intervention plus usual care (1 infant was excluded after randomization), and 53 infants (mean [SD] age, 12.38 [2.02] months; 32 boys [60.4%]) received usual care only. A total of 89 participants (45 in the iBASIS-VIPP group and 44 in the usual care group) were reassessed at age 3 years. The iBASIS-VIPP intervention led to a reduction in ASD symptom severity (area between curves, -5.53; 95% CI, -∞ to -0.28; P = .04). Reduced odds of ASD classification at age 3 years was found in the iBASIS-VIPP group (3 of 45 participants [6.7%]) vs the usual care group (9 of 44 participants [20.5%]; odds ratio, 0.18; 95% CI, 0-0.68; P = .02). Number needed to treat to reduce ASD classification was 7.2 participants. Improvements in caregiver responsiveness and language outcomes were also observed in the iBASIS-VIPP group. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Receipt of a preemptive intervention for ASD from age 9 months among a sample of infants showing early signs of ASD led to reduced ASD symptom severity across early childhood and reduced the odds of an ASD diagnosis at age 3 years. TRIAL REGISTRATION http://anzctr.org.au identifier: ACTRN12616000819426.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. O. Whitehouse
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia,University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia,Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism, Long Pocket, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kandice J. Varcin
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia,School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sarah Pillar
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Wesley Billingham
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Gail A. Alvares
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Josephine Barbaro
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism, Long Pocket, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia,Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Catherine A. Bent
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Daniel Blenkley
- Perinatal Mental Health and Parenting Research Unit, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Maryam Boutrus
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia,Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism, Long Pocket, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia,School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Abby Chee
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Lacey Chetcuti
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism, Long Pocket, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia,Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alena Clark
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Emma Davidson
- Child and Adolescent Health Service, Child Development Service, West Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Stefanie Dimov
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cheryl Dissanayake
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism, Long Pocket, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia,Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jane Doyle
- Child and Adolescent Health Service, Child Development Service, West Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Megan Grant
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cherie C. Green
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Megan Harrap
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Teresa Iacono
- Living with Disability Research Centre, College of Science, Health, and Engineering, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lisa Matys
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Murray Maybery
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Daniel F. Pope
- Perinatal Mental Health and Parenting Research Unit, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle Renton
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia,Child and Adolescent Health Service, Child Development Service, West Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Catherine Rowbottam
- Child and Adolescent Health Service, Child Development Service, West Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Nancy Sadka
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leonie Segal
- Australian Centre for Precision Health, Allied Health and Human Movement, University of South Australia, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Vicky Slonims
- Children’s Neurosciences, Evelina London Children’s Hospital/Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jodie Smith
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Carol Taylor
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Scott Wakeling
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ming Wai Wan
- Perinatal Mental Health and Parenting Research Unit, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - John Wray
- Child and Adolescent Health Service, Child Development Service, West Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Matthew N. Cooper
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jonathan Green
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom,Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Kristelle Hudry
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism, Long Pocket, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia,Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
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25
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Stephens RL, Elsayed HE, Reznick JS, Crais ER, Watson LR. Infant Attentional behaviors Are Associated With ADHD Symptomatology and Executive Function in Early Childhood. J Atten Disord 2021; 25:1908-1918. [PMID: 32749184 PMCID: PMC8427808 DOI: 10.1177/1087054720945019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Objective: We explored associations between infant attentional behaviors as measured by the First Year Inventory (FYIv2.0) and dimensional ratings of ADHD symptomatology and executive function (EF) in early childhood. Methods: This study included parents (N = 229) who filled out the FYIv2.0 when their children were 12 months of age. When children were approximately 54 months (4.5 years) of age, parents completed reports of children's ADHD symptomatology and EF abilities. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted among measures. Results: We found significant associations among the variables of interest, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, as well as gender differences. Notably, non-social sensory attention (NSA) was significantly related to 54-month ADHD symptom severity. All three 12-month attention variables were significantly related to 54-month EF. Conclusion: Results suggest that infant attentional behaviors predict later ADHD-related behaviors in early childhood. Future research should explore associations using laboratory-based measures and could inform early intervention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heba E. Elsayed
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
- Alexandria University, Egypt
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26
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Manzini A, Jones EJ, Charman T, Elsabbagh M, Johnson MH, Singh I. Ethical dimensions of translational developmental neuroscience research in autism. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2021; 62:1363-1373. [PMID: 34405894 PMCID: PMC7611913 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the 1990s, increasing research has been devoted to the identification of biomarkers for autism to help attain more objective diagnosis; enable early prediction of prognosis; and guide individualized intervention options. Early studies focused on the identification of genetic variants associated with autism, but more recently, research has expanded to investigate neurodevelopmental markers. While ethicists have extensively discussed issues around advances in autism genomics, much less ethical scrutiny has focused on research on early neurodevelopment and on the interventions being developed as a result. OBJECTIVES We summarize the current state of the science on the identification of early markers for autism and its potential clinical applications, before providing an overview of the ethical issues arising from increasing understanding of children's neurodevelopment in very early life. RESULTS Advances in the understanding of brain and behavioral trajectories preceding later autism diagnosis raise ethical concerns around three themes: (a) New models for understanding autism; (b) Risks and benefits of early identification and intervention; and (c) Communication of early concerns to families. These ethical issues should be further investigated in research conducted in partnership with autistic people and their families. CONCLUSIONS This paper highlights the need for ethical scrutiny of early neurodevelopmental research in autism. Scrutiny requires expertise and methods from the basic sciences and bioethics, as well as constructive collaborations among autistic people, their parents, and autism researchers to anticipate early interventions that serve the community's interests and accommodate the varied experiences and preferences of people on the spectrum and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Manzini
- Centre for Ethics in Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Emily J.H. Jones
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
| | - Tony Charman
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Mayada Elsabbagh
- Azrieli Centre for Autism Research, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Mark H. Johnson
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Ilina Singh
- Department of Psychiatry and Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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27
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Grzadzinski R, Amso D, Landa R, Watson L, Guralnick M, Zwaigenbaum L, Deák G, Estes A, Brian J, Bath K, Elison J, Abbeduto L, Wolff J, Piven J. Pre-symptomatic intervention for autism spectrum disorder (ASD): defining a research agenda. J Neurodev Disord 2021; 13:49. [PMID: 34654371 PMCID: PMC8520312 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-021-09393-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) impacts an individual's ability to socialize, communicate, and interact with, and adapt to, the environment. Over the last two decades, research has focused on early identification of ASD with significant progress being made in understanding the early behavioral and biological markers that precede a diagnosis, providing a catalyst for pre-symptomatic identification and intervention. Evidence from preclinical trials suggest that intervention prior to the onset of ASD symptoms may yield more improved developmental outcomes, and clinical studies suggest that the earlier intervention is administered, the better the outcomes. This article brings together a multidisciplinary group of experts to develop a conceptual framework for behavioral intervention, during the pre-symptomatic period prior to the consolidation of symptoms into diagnosis, in infants at very-high-likelihood for developing ASD (VHL-ASD). The overarching goals of this paper are to promote the development of new intervention approaches, empirical research, and policy efforts aimed at VHL-ASD infants during the pre-symptomatic period (i.e., prior to the consolidation of the defining features of ASD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Grzadzinski
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Program for Early Autism Research Leadership and Service (PEARLS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Dima Amso
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca Landa
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Linda Watson
- Program for Early Autism Research Leadership and Service (PEARLS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Michael Guralnick
- Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Gedeon Deák
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Annette Estes
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington Autism Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jessica Brian
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kevin Bath
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Jed Elison
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Leonard Abbeduto
- University of California, Davis, MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jason Wolff
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Joseph Piven
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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28
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Hampton LH, Rodriguez EM. Preemptive interventions for infants and toddlers with a high likelihood for autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2021; 26:1364-1378. [PMID: 34628968 DOI: 10.1177/13623613211050433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Interventions to address core symptoms for young children on the autism spectrum have a strong and growing evidence base. Adapting and delivering evidence-based interventions to infants and toddlers with a high likelihood for autism is a logical next step. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarize the association between infant and toddler interventions and developmental and family outcomes. Results indicate that these early interventions are effective for improving parent implementation of core strategies, yet the effects do not readily translate to child outcomes. However, key studies demonstrate conditional results that indicate that parent implementation is associated with child outcome. Implications for research and practice toward building adaptive interventions that respond to parent implementation and changing child characteristics are discussed.
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29
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Law ML, Singh J, Mastroianni M, Santosh P. Parent-Mediated Interventions for Infants under 24 Months at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:2553-2574. [PMID: 34236590 PMCID: PMC9114042 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05148-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Prodromal symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have been detected within the first year of life. This review evaluated evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of parent-mediated interventions for infants under 24 months who are at risk for ASD. Electronic databases, including grey literature, were searched up till November 2019. Seven RCTs were identified. There was substantial heterogeneity in recruitment, outcome measures and effect size calculations. Interventions did not reduce the risk of later ASD diagnosis and post-intervention effects on infant outcomes were inconsistent, with five studies reporting significant improvements across both treatment and control groups. Moderate level of evidence of intervention effects on parental interaction skills and the small number of RCTs, and significant limitations restrict generalizability across studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei L Law
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King's College London, Addiction Sciences Building, 1-4 Windsor Walk, Denmark Hill, London, London, SE5 8BB, UK
- Centre for Interventional Paediatric Psychopharmacology and Rare Diseases, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Jatinder Singh
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King's College London, Addiction Sciences Building, 1-4 Windsor Walk, Denmark Hill, London, London, SE5 8BB, UK
- Centre for Interventional Paediatric Psychopharmacology and Rare Diseases, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Mathilde Mastroianni
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King's College London, Addiction Sciences Building, 1-4 Windsor Walk, Denmark Hill, London, London, SE5 8BB, UK
- Centre for Interventional Paediatric Psychopharmacology and Rare Diseases, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Paramala Santosh
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King's College London, Addiction Sciences Building, 1-4 Windsor Walk, Denmark Hill, London, London, SE5 8BB, UK.
- Centre for Interventional Paediatric Psychopharmacology and Rare Diseases, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
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30
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Grzadzinski R, Nowell SW, Crais ER, Baranek GT, Turner-Brown L, Watson LR. Parent responsiveness mediates the association between hyporeactivity at age 1 year and communication at age 2 years in children at elevated likelihood of ASD. Autism Res 2021; 14:2027-2037. [PMID: 34128355 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Studies suggest that higher parent responsiveness is associated with higher child language abilities. Infants and toddlers later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often display hyporeactivity to sensory stimuli, which has also been associated with lower child communication abilities and lower parent responsiveness. Yet, whether parent responsiveness mediates the relationship between child hyporeactivity and later communication outcomes remains unexplored. This study is a secondary data analysis which includes children (n = 83; 56 males) identified as at elevated likelihood of later ASD. Children completed an observational measure of sensory reactivity and a standard developmental assessment at 14 (Time 1) and 23 months old (Time 2). At each time point, parents reported on the child's adaptive communication behaviors and sensory behaviors, and Parent Verbal Responsiveness (AvgPVR) was coded from parent-child free-play videos. Results indicated that the association between child sensory hyporeactivity at Time 1 (observed and parent-reported) and communication at Time 2 (observed and parent reported) was significantly mediated by AvgPVR. Although child hyporeactivity predicts poorer communication outcomes, increased parent verbal responsiveness may attenuate this negative impact. Parent responsiveness, a focus of many parent-mediated interventions, may be an important mechanism of treatment response that should be directly tested in future research. LAY SUMMARY: Toddlers at elevated likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often under-reactive (hyporeactive) to sensory stimuli. This hyporeactivity slows learning of communication skills and provides parents with fewer opportunities to respond to their children. In this study, children with hyporeactivity at 14 months generally had poorer communication at 23 months; however, the more responsive their parents were, the weaker the relationship between early hyporeactivity and later communication. Thus, increasing parent responsiveness may lead to better communication outcomes for toddlers with the early ASD symptom of hyporeactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Grzadzinski
- Program for Early Autism Research, Leadership, and Service (PEARLS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,University of North Carolina, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sallie W Nowell
- University of North Carolina, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Crais
- Program for Early Autism Research, Leadership, and Service (PEARLS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of North Carolina
| | - Grace T Baranek
- Program for Early Autism Research, Leadership, and Service (PEARLS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,The Mrs. T. H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lauren Turner-Brown
- Program for Early Autism Research, Leadership, and Service (PEARLS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,University of North Carolina, TEACCH Autism Program, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Linda R Watson
- Program for Early Autism Research, Leadership, and Service (PEARLS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of North Carolina
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31
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Constantino JN, Charman T, Jones EJH. Clinical and Translational Implications of an Emerging Developmental Substructure for Autism. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2021; 17:365-389. [PMID: 33577349 PMCID: PMC9014692 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-110503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
A vast share of the population-attributable risk for autism relates to inherited polygenic risk. A growing number of studies in the past five years have indicated that inherited susceptibility may operate through a finite number of early developmental liabilities that, in various permutations and combinations, jointly predict familial recurrence of the convergent syndrome of social communication disability that defines the condition. Here, we synthesize this body of research to derive evidence for a novel developmental substructure for autism, which has profound implications for ongoing discovery efforts to elucidate its neurobiological causes, and to inform future clinical and biomarker studies, early interventions, and personalized approaches to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- John N Constantino
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA;
| | - Tony Charman
- Department of Psychology, King's College London Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Emily J H Jones
- Centre for Brain & Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom
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32
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Sandbank M, Chow J, Bottema-Beutel K, Woynaroski T. Evaluating evidence-based practice in light of the boundedness and proximity of outcomes: Capturing the scope of change. Autism Res 2021; 14:1536-1542. [PMID: 33943022 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Evidence-based practice (EBP) reviews abound in early childhood autism intervention research. These reviews seek to describe and evaluate the evidence supporting the use of specific educational and clinical practices, but give little attention to evaluating intervention outcomes in terms of the extent to which they reflect change that extends beyond the exact targets and contexts of intervention. We urge consideration of these outcome characteristics, which we refer to as "proximity" and "boundedness," as key criteria in evaluating and describing the scope of change effected by EBPs, and provide an overview and illustration of these concepts as they relate to early childhood autism intervention research. We hope this guidance will assist future researchers in selecting and evaluating intervention outcomes, as well as in making important summative determinations of the evidence base for this population. LAY SUMMARY: Recent reviews have come to somewhat different conclusions regarding the evidence base for interventions geared toward autistic children, perhaps because such reviews vary in the degree to which they consider the types of outcome measures used in past studies testing the effects of treatments. Here, we provide guidance regarding characteristics of outcome measures that research suggests are particularly important to consider when evaluating the extent to which an intervention constitutes "evidence-based practice."
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Affiliation(s)
- Micheal Sandbank
- Department of Special Education, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Jason Chow
- College of Education, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Kristen Bottema-Beutel
- Lynch School of Education and Human Development, Boston College, Newton, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tiffany Woynaroski
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Gangi DN, Boterberg S, Schwichtenberg AJ, Solis E, Young GS, Iosif AM, Ozonoff S. Declining Gaze to Faces in Infants Developing Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence From Two Independent Cohorts. Child Dev 2021; 92:e285-e295. [PMID: 33615438 PMCID: PMC8169511 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Two independent cohorts (N = 155, N = 126) of infants at high and low risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were followed prospectively between 6 and 36 months of age, when n = 46 were diagnosed with ASD. Gaze to adult faces was coded-during a developmental assessment (Cohort 1) or a play interaction (Cohort 2). Across both cohorts, most children developing ASD showed sharp declines in gaze to faces over time, relative to children without ASD. These findings suggest that declining developmental trajectories may be more common than previously recognized by retrospective methods. Trajectory-based screening methods could potentially identify children in the early stages of symptom onset and allow for early intervention before the full disorder has developed.
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Grzadzinski R, Donovan K, Truong K, Nowell S, Lee H, Sideris J, Turner-Brown L, Baranek GT, Watson LR. Sensory Reactivity at 1 and 2 Years Old is Associated with ASD Severity During the Preschool Years. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 50:3895-3904. [PMID: 32157566 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04432-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often display atypical sensory reactivity within the first years of life, prior to a diagnosis. This study examined sensory reactivity patterns at 14 months, changes from 14 to 23 months, and later ASD severity at 3 to 5 years of age in children (n = 87) at elevated likelihood of ASD. Results indicated that observed hyporeactivity at 14 months and increases from 14 to 23 months were related to higher ASD severity during the preschool years. Parent report of hyperreactivity at 14 months was associated with higher ASD severity in the RRB domain during the preschool years. Early hypo and hyperreactivity may predict later severity of ASD and aid in subtyping and developing individualized treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Grzadzinski
- University of North Carolina, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Kevin Donovan
- University of North Carolina, Department of Biostatistics, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kinh Truong
- University of North Carolina, Department of Biostatistics, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sallie Nowell
- University of North Carolina, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Helen Lee
- Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - John Sideris
- Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Grace T Baranek
- Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Linda R Watson
- University of North Carolina, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Parent-child interaction during the first year of life in infants at elevated likelihood of autism spectrum disorder. Infant Behav Dev 2021; 62:101521. [PMID: 33387898 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2020.101521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) likely emerges from a complex interaction between pre-existing neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities and the environment. The interaction with parents forms a key aspect of an infant's social environment, but few prospective studies of infants at elevated likelihood (EL) for ASD (who have an older sibling with ASD) have examined parent-child interactions in the first year of life. As part of a European multisite network, parent-child dyads of free play were observed at 5 months (62 EL infants, 47 infants at typical likelihood (TL)) and 10 months (101 EL siblings, 77 TL siblings). The newly-developed Parent-Infant/Toddler Coding of Interaction (PInTCI) scheme was used, focusing on global characteristics of infant and parent behaviors. Coders were blind to participant information. Linear mixed model analyses showed no significant group differences in infant or parent behaviors at 5 or 10 months of age (all ps≥0.09, d≤0.36), controlling for infant's sex and age, and parental educational level. However, without adjustments, EL infants showed fewer and less clear initiations at 10 months than TL infants (p = 0.02, d = 0.44), but statistical significance was lost after controlling for parental education (p = 0.09, d = 0.36), which tended to be lower in the EL group. Consistent with previous literature focusing on parent-infant dyads, our findings suggest that differences between EL and TL dyads may only be subtle during the first year of life. We discuss possible explanations and implications for future developmental studies.
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36
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Bottema-Beutel K, Kim SY. A Systematic Literature Review of Autism Research on Caregiver Talk. Autism Res 2020; 14:432-449. [PMID: 33377301 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Describing how caregivers' talk to their autistic children, and how their talk may influence social and language outcomes, has important implications for developmental theory and intervention research. In this systematic literature review, we examine 294 caregiver talk variables extracted from 65 studies, provide a narrative overview of research findings, and link measurement approaches to various theories of language development. The majority of variables included only talk directed to children (90%), and specified the speech act being performed (57%). More than one-third of variables measured talk that was responsive to children's attention, activities, or communication (38%), and slightly less than a third measured variables that elicited children's communication or engagement. Semantic aspects of talk were specified in 41% of variables, structural features were measured in 20% of variables, and suprasegmental features were measured in only 1% of variables. Talk quantity (without reference to other aspects of talk) was measured in 8% of variables. We found strong support that talk related to children's attention is implicated in autistic children's language development, but this construct has been measured inconsistently in terms of semantic, structural, and functional features. There is also evidence for bi-directional relationships between caregiver's talk and autistic children's development on a variety of semantic and structural variables. LAY SUMMARY: In our review, we found many differences in how researchers measured caregiver's talk, but also some promising leads. Researchers should continue examining caregiver talk related to children's focus of attention to clarify how this type of language contributes to autistic children's development. We also found interesting research on how children influence caregiver's talk, and encourage researchers to continue to study how this occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Bottema-Beutel
- Lynch School of Education and Human Development, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
| | - So Yoon Kim
- Lynch School of Education and Human Development, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
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MacDuffie KE, Turner-Brown L, Estes AM, Wilfond BS, Dager SR, Pandey J, Zwaigenbaum L, Botteron KN, Pruett JR, Piven J, Peay HL. "If He Has it, We Know What to Do": Parent Perspectives on Familial Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Pediatr Psychol 2020; 45:121-130. [PMID: 31764985 DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsz076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Predictive testing for familial disorders can guide healthcare and reproductive decisions. Familial disorders with onset in childhood (e.g., autism spectrum disorder [ASD]) are promising targets for presymptomatic prediction; however, little is known about parent perceptions of risk to their children in the presymptomatic period. The current study examined risk perceptions in parents of infants at high familial risk for ASD enrolled in a longitudinal study of brain and behavior development. METHODS Semistructured interviews were conducted with 37 parents of high-risk infants during the presymptomatic window (3-15 months) that precedes an ASD diagnosis. Infants were identified as high familial risk due to having an older sibling with ASD. Parent interview responses were coded and interpreted to distill emerging themes. RESULTS The majority of parents were aware of the increased risk of ASD for their infants, and risk perceptions were influenced by comparisons to their older child with ASD. Parents reported a variety of negative emotions in response to perceived risk, including worry, fear, and sadness, and described impacts of perceived risk on their behavior: increased vigilance to emerging symptoms, altered reproductive and healthcare decisions, and seeking ongoing assessment through research. CONCLUSIONS Parents of children at high familial risk for childhood-onset disorders like ASD face a period of challenging uncertainty during early development. In anticipation of a future in which presymptomatic testing for ASD is made available, it is important to understand how parents react to and cope with the elevated-but still highly uncertain-risk conveyed by family history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E MacDuffie
- University of Washington Autism Center, Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences.,Seattle Children's Hospital, Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics
| | - Lauren Turner-Brown
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, TEACCH Autism Program, Department of Psychiatry
| | - Annette M Estes
- University of Washington Autism Center, Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences
| | - Benjamin S Wilfond
- Seattle Children's Hospital, Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics
| | | | - Juhi Pandey
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Center for Autism Research
| | | | - Kelly N Botteron
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis
| | - John R Pruett
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis
| | - Joseph Piven
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Holly L Peay
- Research Triangle Institute, Center for Newborn Screening, Ethics, and Disability Studies
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Madarevic M, Van Leeuwen K, Warreyn P, Noens I. Conceptualisation of Parenting in Research on Young Children with or at Elevated Likelihood of Autism: a Systematic Review of Observational Measures. REVIEW JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40489-020-00217-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Talbott MR, Miller MR. Future Directions for Infant Identification and Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder from a Transdiagnostic Perspective. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL FOR THE SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY, AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, DIVISION 53 2020; 49:688-700. [PMID: 32701034 PMCID: PMC7541743 DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2020.1790382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
By the time they are typically detected, neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are already challenging to treat. Preventive and early intervention strategies in infancy are critical for improving outcomes over the lifespan with significant cost savings. However, the impact of prevention and early intervention efforts is dependent upon our ability to identify infants most appropriate for such interventions. Because there may be significant overlap between prodromal symptoms across neurodevelopmental disorders and child psychopathology more broadly which may wax and wane across development, we contend that the impact of prevention and early intervention efforts will be heightened by identifying early indicators that may overlap across ASD and other commonly co-occurring disorders. This paper summarizes the existing literature on infant symptoms and identification of ASD to demonstrate the ways in which a transdiagnostic perspective could expand the impact of early identification and intervention research and clinical efforts, and to outline suggestions for future empirical research programs addressing current gaps in the identification-to-treatment pipeline. We propose four recommendations for future research that are both grounded in developmental and clinical science and that are scalable for early intervention systems: (1) development of fine-grained, norm-referenced measures of ASD-relevant transdiagnostic behavioral domains; (2) identification of shared and distinct mechanisms influencing the transition from risk to disorder; (3) determination of key cross-cutting treatment strategies (both novel and extracted from existing approaches) effective in targeting specific domains across disorders; and (4) integration of identified measures and treatments into existing service systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meagan R Talbott
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of California
| | - Meghan R Miller
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of California
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40
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Whittingham K, McGlade A, Kulasinghe K, Mitchell AE, Heussler H, Boyd RN. ENACT (ENvironmental enrichment for infants; parenting with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): a randomised controlled trial of an innovative intervention for infants at risk of autism spectrum disorder. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e034315. [PMID: 32819928 PMCID: PMC7440709 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition with impacts on behaviour, cognition, communication, social interaction and family mental health. This paper reports the protocol of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a very early intervention, ENACT (ENvironmental enrichment for infants; parenting with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), for families of infants at risk of ASD. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We aim to recruit 66 mothers of infants at risk of ASD (ie, infants with a sibling or parent diagnosed with ASD) to this RCT. Families will be randomly assigned to care-as-usual or ENACT. ENACT is a very early intervention, leveraging parent-child interactions to improve early social reciprocity, while supporting parental mental health and the parent-child relationship through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Intervention content is delivered online (approximately 8 hours) and supported by more than 7 consultations with a clinician. Parents will perform the social reciprocity intervention with their child (30 min per day). Assessments at four time points (baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months corrected age) will assess parent-infant interaction, parental mental health, infant development and early ASD markers. Analysis will be by intention to treat using general linear models for RCTs. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This protocol has been approved by the Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/19/QCHQ/50131) and the University of Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee (2019000558). If efficacy is demonstrated, the intervention has the potential for wide and accessible dissemination. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618002046280).
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Affiliation(s)
- Koa Whittingham
- Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, UQ Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrea McGlade
- Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, UQ Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kavindri Kulasinghe
- Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, UQ Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Amy E Mitchell
- Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, UQ Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Honey Heussler
- Mater Medical Research Institute, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Roslyn N Boyd
- Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, UQ Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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41
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Grzadzinski R, Janvier D, Kim SH. Recent Developments in Treatment Outcome Measures for Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Semin Pediatr Neurol 2020; 34:100806. [PMID: 32446440 PMCID: PMC7248125 DOI: 10.1016/j.spen.2020.100806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Significant advancements have been made in early intervention programs for children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, measuring treatment response for children with ASD is difficult due to the heterogeneity of changes in symptoms, which can be subtle, especially over a short period of time. Here we outline the challenge of evaluating treatment response with currently available measures as well as newly developed or refined measures that may be useful in clinical trials for young children with ASD. Continued development of treatment outcome measures will help the field identify and compare efficacious interventions and tailor treatments for children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Grzadzinski
- University of North Carolina, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Chapel Hill, NC.
| | - Denisse Janvier
- Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, White Plains, NY
| | - So Hyun Kim
- Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, White Plains, NY
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42
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Weitlauf AS, Broderick N, Stainbrook JA, Taylor JL, Herrington CG, Nicholson AG, Santulli M, Dykens EM, Juárez AP, Warren ZE. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Parents Implementing Early Intervention for Autism: An RCT. Pediatrics 2020; 145:S81-S92. [PMID: 32238534 PMCID: PMC8025402 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-1895k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Systems of care emphasize parent-delivered intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Meanwhile, multiple studies document psychological distress within these parents. This pilot longitudinal randomized controlled trial compared the parent-implemented Early Start Denver Model (P-ESDM) to P-ESDM plus mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for parents. We evaluated changes in parent functioning during active treatment and at follow-up. METHODS Participants included children (<36 months old) with autism spectrum disorder and caregivers. Participants were randomly assigned to P-ESDM only (n = 31) or P-ESDM plus MBSR (n = 30). Data were collected at baseline, midtreatment, the end of treatment, and 1, 3, and 6 months posttreatment. Multilevel models with discontinuous slopes were used to test for group differences in outcome changes over time. RESULTS Both groups improved during active treatment in all subdomains of parent stress (β = -1.42, -1.25, -0.92; P < 0.001), depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms (β = -0.62 and -0.78, respectively; P < 0.05). Parents who received MBSR had greater improvements than those receiving P-ESDM only in parental distress and parent-child dysfunctional interactions (β = -1.91 and -1.38, respectively; P < 0.01). Groups differed in change in mindfulness during treatment (β = 3.15; P < .05), with P-ESDM plus MBSR increasing and P-ESDM declining. Treatment group did not significantly predict change in depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, or life satisfaction. Differences emerged on the basis of parent sex, child age, and child behavior problems. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that manualized, low-intensity stress-reduction strategies may have long-term impacts on parent stress. Limitations and future directions are described.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Amy G Nicholson
- Departments of Pediatrics and
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; and
| | | | - Elisabeth M Dykens
- Departments of Pediatrics and
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; and
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - A Pablo Juárez
- Departments of Pediatrics and
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; and
- Departments of Special Education and
| | - Zachary E Warren
- Departments of Pediatrics and
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; and
- Departments of Special Education and
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Evidence-based support for autistic people across the lifespan: maximising potential, minimising barriers, and optimising the person-environment fit. Lancet Neurol 2020; 19:434-451. [PMID: 32142628 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(20)30034-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Autism is both a medical condition that gives rise to disability and an example of human variation that is characterised by neurological and cognitive differences. The goal of evidence-based intervention and support is to alleviate distress, improve adaptation, and promote wellbeing. Support should be collaborative, with autistic individuals, families, and service providers taking a shared decision-making approach to maximise the individual's potential, minimise barriers, and optimise the person-environment fit. Comprehensive, naturalistic early intervention with active caregiver involvement can facilitate early social communication, adaptive functioning, and cognitive development; targeted intervention can help to enhance social skills and aspects of cognition. Augmentative and alternative communication interventions show preliminary evidence of benefit in minimising communication barriers. Co-occurring health issues, such as epilepsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders, sleep problems, and mental health challenges, should be treated in a timely fashion. The creation of autism-friendly contexts is best achieved by supporting families, reducing stigma, enhancing peer understanding, promoting inclusion in education, the community, and at work, and through advocacy.
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Schertz HH, Lester JN, Erden E, Safran S, Githens P. Challenges and contributors to self-efficacy for caregivers of toddlers with autism. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2020; 24:1260-1272. [PMID: 31968998 DOI: 10.1177/1362361319899761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Parent-participatory early intervention practices are linked to parents' positive views of their own and their children's capabilities, beliefs that are associated with a range of parent and child outcomes. A qualitative study was conducted with 11 mothers of toddlers with autism who had experience with both professionally directed and parent-mediated early intervention. Participants were interviewed to explore their perspectives on their roles in relation to professionals and on how they viewed their ability to support their toddlers' social learning. An in-depth analysis of the transcribed interviews resulted in four themes. First, in the early stages, participants experienced challenges to their self-efficacy as they adjusted to the diagnosis and reached to connect with their child when social challenges emerged. Second, participants' views of their capability were stronger when they were provided with background knowledge enabling them to take the lead in guiding their children's learning than when professionals modeled predetermined intervention strategies for them to copy. Third, participants provided specific examples of their expertise to support their toddlers' social learning and viewed their close parent-child relationship and intimate knowledge of their children as valuable to the intervention. Fourth, participants voiced respect for their toddlers' natures and preferences, positioning them to build on their toddlers' strengths in everyday interactions. The results support the need for early intervention providers to promote and leverage family capacity for facilitating toddler learning as social challenges begin to appear for toddlers with autism.
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Developing an Evaluation Framework for Parent Education and Training in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results of a Multi-stakeholder Process. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 49:4468-4481. [PMID: 31463631 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04176-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Despite the need for parent education and training programmes in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there is no generally-accepted evaluation framework to select programmes for different settings. Here we generated an evaluation framework using a multi-stakeholder, implementation science approach. Purposive sampling identified ASD experts, implementation/health systems experts, and parents/carers of individuals with ASD. A consensus-building stakeholder workshop with 14 stakeholders and thematic analysis was used to generate themes and components of the framework. Main themes included 'Outcomes' (parent, child, family and community), 'Processes and Procedures' (accessibility, acceptability, psychological process, and referral pathways) and 'Implementation Landscape' (sustainability, scalability, integration and coordination, and monitoring and evaluation). We propose that the evaluation framework and Evaluation Framework Checklist generated could guide clinicians, researchers and policy-makers.
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Pathways Early ASD Intervention as a Moderator of Parenting Stress on Parenting Behaviors: A Randomized Control Trial. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:4280-4293. [PMID: 31342445 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04144-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
We examined the relationship between initial parenting stress and change in parental responsivity for 56 culturally and socioeconomically diverse families in a 12 week randomized control trial of Pathways Early ASD Intervention. Families were randomized into the Pathways (n = 32) or treatment-as-usual (TAU n = 24) group. Overall, Pathways parents experienced decreased stress, while TAU parents experienced an increase. The relationship between initial parental stress and change in parent responsivity was moderated by group membership. Pathways parents became more responsive but responsivity was not influenced by initial parental stress. In contrast, responsivity was negatively affected by initial parenting stress in the TAU group. Results are discussed in terms of components of a parent-mediated ASD intervention that may reduce parental stress.
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Whitehouse AJO, Varcin KJ, Alvares GA, Barbaro J, Bent C, Boutrus M, Chetcuti L, Cooper MN, Clark A, Davidson E, Dimov S, Dissanayake C, Doyle J, Grant M, Iacono T, Maybery M, Pillar S, Renton M, Rowbottam C, Sadka N, Segal L, Slonims V, Taylor C, Wakeling S, Wan MW, Wray J, Green J, Hudry K. Pre-emptive intervention versus treatment as usual for infants showing early behavioural risk signs of autism spectrum disorder: a single-blind, randomised controlled trial. THE LANCET. CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2019; 3:605-615. [PMID: 31324597 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(19)30184-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Great interest exists in the potential efficacy of prediagnostic interventions within the autism spectrum disorder prodrome, but available evidence relates to children at high familial risk. We aimed to test the efficacy of a pre-emptive intervention designed for infants showing early behavioural signs of autism spectrum disorder. METHODS In this single-blind, randomised controlled trial done at two specialist centres in Australia, infants aged 9-14 months were enrolled if they were showing at least three early behavioural signs of autism spectrum disorder on the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance-Revised (SACS-R) 12-month checklist. Infants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive a parent-mediated video-aided intervention (iBASIS-VIPP) or treatment as usual. Group allocation was done by minimisation, stratified by site, sex, age, and the number of SACS-R risk behaviours. Assessments were done at baseline (before treatment allocation) and at the 6 month endpoint. The primary outcome was Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI), which measures early behavioural signs associated with autism spectrum disorder. Secondary outcomes were a range of infant and caregiver outcomes measured by Manchester Assessment of Caregiver-Infant interaction (MACI), Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL), Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales, 2nd edition (VABS-2), MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory (MCDI), and Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) scale. This trial is registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number ANZCTR12616000819426. FINDINGS Between June 9, 2016, and March 30, 2018, 103 infants were randomly assigned, 50 to the iBASIS-VIPP group and 53 to the treatment-as-usual group. After the intervention, we observed no significant differences between groups on early autism spectrum disorder behavioural signs measured by the AOSI (difference estimate -0·74, 95% CI -2·47 to 0·98). We also observed no significant differences on secondary outcomes measuring caregiver non-directiveness (0·16, -0·33 to 0·65), caregiver sensitive responding (0·24, -0·15 to 0·63), and infant attentiveness (-0·19, -0·63 to 0·25) during parent-child interactions (MACI), as well as on researcher-administered measures of receptive (1·30, -0·48 to 3·08) and expressive language (0·54, -0·73 to 1·80), visual reception (0·31, -0·77 to 1·40), and fine motor skills (0·55, -0·32 to 1·41) using the MSEL. Compared with the treatment-as-usual group, the iBASIS-VIPP group had lower infant positive affect (-0·69, -1·27 to -0·10) on the MACI, but higher caregiver-reported receptive (37·17, 95% CI 10·59 to 63·75) and expressive vocabulary count (incidence rate ratio 2·31, 95% CI 1·22 to 4·33) on MCDI, and functional language use (difference estimate 6·43, 95% CI 1·06 to 11·81) on VABS. There were no significant group differences on caregiver-reported measures of MCDI infant gesture use (3·22, -0·60 to 7·04) and VABS social behaviour (3·28, -1·43 to 7·99). We observed no significant differences between groups on self-reported levels of parenting satisfaction (difference estimate 0·21, 95% CI -0·09 to 0·52), interest (-0·23, -0·62 to 0·16) and efficacy (-0·08, -0·38 to 0·22) on PSOC. INTERPRETATION A pre-emptive intervention for the autism spectrum disorder prodrome had no immediate treatment effect on early autism spectrum disorder symptoms, the quality of parent-child interactions, or researcher-administered measures of developmental skills. However, we found a positive effect on parent-rated infant communication skills. Ongoing follow-up of this infant cohort will assess longer-term developmental effects. FUNDING Western Australia Children's Research Fund, Autism Cooperative Research Centre, La Trobe University, and Angela Wright Bennett Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J O Whitehouse
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia.
| | - Kandice J Varcin
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Gail A Alvares
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Josephine Barbaro
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia; Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Catherine Bent
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Maryam Boutrus
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia; School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Lacey Chetcuti
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia; Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Matthew N Cooper
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Alena Clark
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Emma Davidson
- Child and Adolescent Health Service, Child Development Service, West Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Stefanie Dimov
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Cheryl Dissanayake
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia; Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Jane Doyle
- Child and Adolescent Health Service, Child Development Service, West Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Megan Grant
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Teresa Iacono
- La Trobe Rural Health School, Bendigo, VIC, Australia
| | - Murray Maybery
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Sarah Pillar
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Michelle Renton
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia; Child and Adolescent Health Service, Child Development Service, West Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Catherine Rowbottam
- Child and Adolescent Health Service, Child Development Service, West Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Nancy Sadka
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Leonie Segal
- Australian Centre for Precision Health, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Vicky Slonims
- Children's Neurosciences, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Carol Taylor
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Scott Wakeling
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Ming Wai Wan
- School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - John Wray
- Child and Adolescent Health Service, Child Development Service, West Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jonathan Green
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Kristelle Hudry
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
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Kasari C. Time to rethink pre-emptive interventions for infants with early signs of autism spectrum disorder. THE LANCET CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2019; 3:586-587. [PMID: 31324598 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(19)30234-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Connie Kasari
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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49
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Roberts MY, Curtis PR, Sone BJ, Hampton LH. Association of Parent Training With Child Language Development: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr 2019; 173:671-680. [PMID: 31107508 PMCID: PMC6537769 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.1197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Training parents to implement strategies to support child language development is crucial to support long-term outcomes, given that as many as 2 of 5 children younger than 5 years have difficulty learning language. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between parent training and language and communication outcomes in young children. DATA SOURCES Searches of ERIC, Academic Search Complete, PsycINFO, and PsycARTICLES were conducted on August 11, 2014; August 18, 2016; January 23, 2018; and October 30, 2018. STUDY SELECTION Studies included in this review and meta-analysis were randomized or nonrandomized clinical trials that evaluated a language intervention that included parent training with children with a mean age of less than 6 years. Studies were excluded if the parent was not the primary implementer of the intervention, the study included fewer than 10 participants, or the study did not report outcomes related to language or communication. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were applied to a total of 31 778 articles identified for screening, with the full text of 723 articles reviewed and 76 total studies ultimately included. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Main outcomes included language and communication skills in children with primary or secondary language impairment and children at risk for language impairment. RESULTS This meta-analysis included 59 randomized clinical trials and 17 nonrandomized clinical trials including 5848 total participants (36.4 female [20.8%]; mean [SD] age, 3.5 [3.9] years). The intervention approach in 63 studies was a naturalistic teaching approach, and 16 studies used a primarily dialogic reading approach. There was a significant moderate association between parent training and child communication, engagement, and language outcomes (mean [SE] Hedges g, -0.33 [0.06]; P < .001). The association between parent training and parent use of language support strategies was large (mean [SE] Hedges g, 0.55 [0.11], P < .001). Children with developmental language disorder had the largest social communication outcomes (mean [SE] Hedges g, 0.37 [0.17]); large and significant associations were observed for receptive (mean [SE] Hedges g, 0.92 [0.30]) and expressive language (mean [SE] Hedges g, 0.83 [0.20]). Children at risk for language impairments had moderate effect sizes across receptive language (mean [SE] Hedges g, 0.28 [0.15]) and engagement outcomes (mean [SE] Hedges g, 0.36 [0.17]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The findings suggest that training parents to implement language and communication intervention techniques is associated with improved outcomes for children and increased parent use of support strategies. These findings may have direct implications on intervention and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Y. Roberts
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Philip R. Curtis
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Bailey J. Sone
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Lauren H. Hampton
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
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50
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Stephens RL, Watson LR, Crais ER, Reznick JS. Infant quantitative risk for autism spectrum disorder predicts executive function in early childhood. Autism Res 2018; 11:1532-1541. [PMID: 30345650 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Much of the current research concerning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) focuses on early identification of behaviors that may indicate future deficits or higher risk for a later diagnosis. Additionally, there exists a strong claim regarding the dimensional nature of ASD, such that even among non-diagnosed individuals, a continuous distribution of symptom severity can be observed. Executive function (EF) has been widely studied in children, adolescents, and adults with ASD, with a robust body of research supporting widespread EF deficits in diagnosed individuals. However, it remains unclear how the degree of ASD symptomatology, outside of the presence of a diagnosis, affects EF abilities in a community sample. The First Year Inventory 2.0 (FYI 2.0), a parent-report measure, was designed to identify infants at 12 months who are at risk for an eventual ASD diagnosis. In the current study, a continuous scoring scale was used to examine risk (overall, Social-Communication, and Sensory-Regulatory) from a dimensional perspective. Parents also completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version and the Social Responsiveness Scale-2nd edition when their children were 42 months (3.5 years) old. Each FYI 2.0 risk variable significantly predicted scores on an overall EF composite and specific EF subscales. When controlling for general ASD symptomatology, Sensory-Regulatory risk still significantly predicted EF deficits. This research provides additional support for a quantitative consideration of risk for ASD and presents novel findings regarding the relation between infant behaviors indicative of ASD risk and EF in early childhood. Autism Research 2018, 11: 1532-1541. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have difficulty with executive function (EF) tasks that require a set of mental processes involved in goal-directed behaviors. Studying children without ASD who may have symptoms affecting EF is also important. This study demonstrates that certain infant behaviors related to ASD are linked to early childhood EF difficulties. These results support looking at a range of ASD symptoms to better understand children who struggle with EF and potentially design tools to help them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Stephens
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Linda R Watson
- Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Elizabeth R Crais
- Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - J Steven Reznick
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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