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Woods SEO, Estes A. Toward a more comprehensive autism assessment: the survey of autistic strengths, skills, and interests. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1264516. [PMID: 37867767 PMCID: PMC10587489 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1264516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Eileen O'Neil Woods
- Autism Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Discover Psychology Services, Lacey, WA, United States
| | - Annette Estes
- Autism Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Bertilsdotter Rosqvist H, Hjorth E, Nygren A. Meeting up in broken word/times: communication, temporality and pace in neuromixed writing. MEDICAL HUMANITIES 2023; 49:407-415. [PMID: 36631251 DOI: 10.1136/medhum-2022-012384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The article investigates letter writing as a way to explore neurodiverse collectives, neuromixed communication and neurodiverse research collaboration. From the perspective of neurodiversity studies and translation practice/studies, the article negotiates new perspectives of inherited images of neurological selves and others, such as the non-autistic as the 'typical' in contrast to the 'atypical' autistic person. Experimenting with autistic time, allowing different sensory modalities and different approaches to time, detail and narrative, the article challenges deficit approaches to autism. Through a letter writing practice the possibilities and challenges of subjectivity, cultural translation and writing as method are examined. The article suggests that 'counter narratives' are important sources of knowledge as they reclaim personhood from dehumanising perspectives. By performing neuromixed conversation and dialogue with theoretical concepts, and pen paling as play as a fruitful form for responsible cross-neurotype translation, the article illuminates challenges and opportunities in neurodiverse collective writing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elisabeth Hjorth
- HDK-Valand-Academy of Art and Design, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anna Nygren
- HDK-Valand-Academy of Art and Design, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
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St John T, Woods S, Bode T, Ritter C, Estes A. A review of executive functioning challenges and strengths in autistic adults. Clin Neuropsychol 2021; 36:1116-1147. [PMID: 34499568 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2021.1971767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Objective: There has been a steady rise in research characterizing executive functioning (EF) impairments in autistic individuals but limited research investigating EF strengths. This review provides a summary of current EF research in autistic adults with a focus on EF challenges and strengths and potential sources of heterogeneity in research findings. New avenues for addressing gaps in our understanding of EF strengths are proposed.Method: A review of the EF literature was conducted. One hundred twenty-four studies of inhibition, working memory, cognitive flexibility, fluency, planning, decision-making, and subjective measures of EF in autistic adults were included.Results: Autistic adults with average intellectual functioning demonstrate difficulties with cognitive flexibility, phonemic fluency, and working memory. Strengths in planning, decision-making, and semantic verbal fluency were evident in some but not all studies. Findings regarding inhibition are inconclusive. Key findings across each EF domain are discussed and sources of potential heterogeneity across studies were evaluated. The type of measure used appears to contribute to heterogeneous findings. Subjective EF measures revealed more consistent findings of deficits in autistic adults than objective EF measures.Conclusions: Research reveals areas of EF weaknesses as well as strengths in autistic adults. Unlike EF challenges, EF strengths are not well understood. Future research identifying EF strengths is needed to improve services and supports for autistic adults. Further investigation of potential factors that interact with or constrain EF such as comorbid disorders, verbal ability, sensory processing, and other factors specific to autism will be critical to move the field forward and increase understanding of how EF is related to everyday functioning in autistic adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya St John
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,University of Washington Autism Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sara Woods
- University of Washington Autism Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Cassidy Ritter
- College of Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Annette Estes
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,University of Washington Autism Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Wagner J, Grigor J, Abdullah A, Cannon P, Wilkin J, Robertson P, Szymkowiak A. The relationship between tendency to attend to detail, sensory sensitivity, and affective response to food cues - A registered report. Int J Psychophysiol 2021; 166:50-60. [PMID: 33965421 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.05.003] [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: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the underlying drivers of food choice remains a challenge and has highlighted the need for measures that capture data over and above that offered by self-reporting tools. Consequently, a growing body of research has set out to interpret facial responses to food cues to offer a greater insight into the emotional responses that may drive food acceptance. However, interpreting facial responses is challenging, as there are numerous factors that may influence affective response to foods, including expectation, context, and individual differences. Existing findings suggest there is a link between autistic traits and sensory sensitivities; research highlights further links between sensory sensitivities and eating behaviour, and autistic traits and eating behaviour, with a body of research focusing on the autistic trait attention to detail (ATD). As such, the current study aimed to examine rapid facial activity in response to foods cues while capturing these individual differences present in the general population. This study found no evidence to suggest facial responses to food pictures were linked with attention to detail or hyper-sensitivity. The findings did support a general link between self-reported pleasantness ratings of viewed foods and activity of facial muscles. Post-hoc analyses suggested scoring on the social skills sub-scale of the Autism Quotient (AQ) was associated with levator activity while viewing pictures low in pleasantness. This study offers a greater understanding of variations, at the individual level, which are associated with affective response to foods, and may help to inform the development of tools that set out to predict food acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Wagner
- Abertay University, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - John Grigor
- Abertay University, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - Ahmed Abdullah
- Abertay University, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Peter Cannon
- Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan Wilkin
- Abertay University, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Paul Robertson
- Abertay University, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Andrea Szymkowiak
- Abertay University, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Silverstein SM, Demmin DL, Schallek JB, Fradkin SI. Measures of Retinal Structure and Function as Biomarkers in Neurology and Psychiatry. Biomark Neuropsychiatry 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bionps.2020.100018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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