The topic of this diploma thesis is Interaction between parent and child with autistic spectrum disorder. The theoretical part is about mental development neurotypical preschool child and child with ASD, focused on social skills, speech and play. Emphasis is placed on reciprocity in parent-child socio-communication interaction. Next chapter is devoted to the specifics of raising a child with ASD. Empirical part contains qualitative research to investigate individual variability in social-communication behaviour in dyadic interaction parent-child with ASD. Videos were taken from which the socio-reciprocal skills, frequency and quality of interactions and initiation of contact on the part of the child and its response to parental initiation were analysed. Special attention was paid to making eye contact. The output of the thesis is practical recommendations for mothers, detailed qualitative analyses of observed interactions and a more detailed description of the socio-communicative behaviour of children with PAS. Keywords: interaction parent-child with ASD, social skills, social reciprocity, reciprocity in social communication, reciprocal-social behavior, play of preschool child, preschool child with ASD

In this paper we have chosen to focus on social workers and their experiences of interacting with clients with neuropsychiatric disabilities, in example persons with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), Asperger syndrome, autism and/or Tourette syndrome. The main purpose was to look into three areas: What knowledge do social workers mean that they need about neuropsychiatric disabilities and how can their needs of knowledge can be met? How do they experience the meeting with a person with neuropsychiatric disabilities? How does the cooperation function between authorities regarding persons with neuropsychiatric disabilities? Definition of the concept of disability and function from a historical perspective points out that the approach has changed over time. Previous research studies of the interaction in meeting between the client and the social worker shows that the social worker carries two faces, so called aspects. The first aspect is about help and care and the second aspect is about administrative functions. These two aspects can be difficult combining due to their differences. The processing in social work consists of three phases. The first is about the client presenting its issues, the next is about gathering background details about the client and the third phase to decide what action is the most adequate for the client. Recent studies show that persons with neuropsychiatric disabilities do not get the help and support they are in need of. This study is based on a qualitative method where we performed semi-structured interviews. We used a strategic sampling with maximum variation to get more in-depth answers from our informants. Interviews were made with six informants who were social workers who all have encountered neuropsychiatric disabilities on a daily basis. The analysis was based on an inductive driven analysis method which we have chosen to carefully describe. It shares some similarities with Grounded theory (GT), but it cannot really be considered as GT. Our results shows that the knowledge has improved due time but there still are some issues with the cooperation between sections due to the lack of knowledge of these diagnosis. With knowledge and interaction with clients our informants experienced that their approach changed. They felt more secure in their role as a social worker in meeting persons with neuropsychiatric disabilities. The prevalence of these disabilities has increased. Our informants noted that females are more noticeable than before and that the diagnosis can be performed in an earlier stage in life. / I denna uppsats har vi valt att fokusera på socialarbetare och deras upplevelser av att interagera med klienter som har neuropsykiatriska funktionsnedsättningar, exempelvis personer med ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), Aspergers syndrom, autism och/eller Tourettes syndrom. Syftet  var att undersöka tre områden: Vilken kunskap anser sig socialarbetarna behöva om neuropsykiatriska funktionsnedsättningar och hur kan de tillgodose den kunskap de behöver om funktionsnedsättningarna? Hur upplever de mötet med en person med neuropsykiatriska funktionsnedsättningar? Hur fungerar samarbetet mellan olika instanser när det gäller neuropsykiatriska funktionsnedsättningar?   Definitionen av begreppet handikapp och funktion utifrån  ett historiskt perspektiv påvisar att synsättet har förändrats över tid. Tidigare forskning visar att i interaktionen i mötet mellan socialarbetaren och klienten visar att socialarbetaren bär på två ansikten, så kallade aspekter. Den första aspekten handlar om hjälp och omtanke och den andra aspekten handlar om administrativa funktioner. Dessa två aspekter kan vara svåra att kombinera I och med deras olikheter. Handläggningen i socialt arbete består av tre faser. Den första handlar om att klienten skall presentera sina problem, den andra att samla in information rörande bakgrund och den tredje fasen handlar om att bestämma vilken insats som är mest lämpad för klienten. Nyare studier visar att personer med neuropsykiatriska funktionsnedsättningar inte får den hjälp och stöd de är i behov av. Denna studie är baserad på en kvalitativ metod där vi genomförde semi-strukturerade intervjuer. Vi använde oss av ett strategiskt urval med maximal variation för att få mer djupgående svar från våra informanter. Intervjuerna gjordes med sex informanter som var socialarbetare varav alla hade kommit i kontakt med neuropsykiatriska funktionsnedsättningar på en daglig basis. Analysen grundade sig i en induktivt driven kvalitativ analys som vi har valt att beskriva noggrant. Den delar vissa likheter med Grounded Theory (GT), men den kan inte riktigt betraktas som GT. Våra resultat visar att kunskapen har ökat över tid, men att det finns svårigheter med samarbetet mellan instanser på grund av bristande kunskap om dessa diagnoser. Med kunskap och interaktion med klienter så upplever våra informanter att deras synsätt har förändrats. De känner sig mer säkra i sin roll som socialarbetare i att möta personer med neuropsykiatriska funktionsnedsättningar. Prevalensen av dessa funktionsnedsättningar har ökat. Våra informanter noterade att kvinnor är mer förekommande än tidigare och att diagnostisering kan ske i ett tidigare skede i livet.

Thesis(MEdPsych)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that, at present, affects approximately one out of every 100 children globally and indications are that the prevalence thereof is steadily on the rise. ASD is a complex neurological condition that impairs social interaction, communication and behaviour. Research on the wide-ranging effects of ASD and its unique characteristics in each child with ASD is widely available. Several studies refer to the fact that ASD has an impact on the family unit, but very few researchers have investigated the support that families from different cultural groups in South Africa are enjoying whilst raising a child with autism. The current situation being what it is means that professionals and families have very little data on the subject and inadequate support is available to address the specific needs of families who are raising a child with autism. The aim of this study was to investigate the support structures of three families from three different cultural groups in South Africa who were raising a child with autism. The central issue that was researched was the support structures available to parents raising a child with autism, and how parents access that support. This is a qualitative study within an interpretive research paradigm. In this case study, the methods of data collection comprised semi-structured interviews, observations and reflective journals. This design embraced qualitative research methods that could expose the uniqueness of each family’s experience and allowed participants the freedom to express this. The three families, who were purposefully selected for this study, were from different cultural backgrounds. One of the children in each family met the criteria published in the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition, text revision (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) for Autism or Pervasive Developmental Disorder not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). The study found that the parents in the three families received support from their spouses and the neuro-typical siblings. The families also enjoyed physical support, financial support and emotional support from different sources. Parents reported feeling supported when others show acceptance and understanding of their children’s deficits and when such others are prepared to ‘go the extra mile’. The three families also perceived information and guidance as a valuable source of support. Even though they had firm support structures in place, they also reported on the lack of support available to them. All three families enjoyed these forms of support, but it was interesting to find out that the families received the support from different sources. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Outisme of outisme spektrum versteuring (OSV) is 'n toestand wat tans ongeveer een uit elke 100 kinders wêreldwyd affekteer en daar is aanduidings dat die voorkoms daarvan steeds toeneem. OSV is 'n komplekse neurologiese toestand wat swak sosiale interaksie, kommunikasie en gedrag tot gevolg het. Navorsingsresultate oor die breë gevolge van OSV en die unieke eienskappe daarvan in elke kind met OSV is algemeen beskikbaar. Verskeie studies verwys na die feit dat OSV 'n impak het op die gesinseenheid, maar tot dusver het baie min navorsers die ondersteuning ondersoek wat gesinne uit verskillende kulturele groepe in Suid-Afrika tydens die opvoeding van 'n kind met outisme geniet . Die huidige situasie voorsien professionele mense en gesinne van baie min data oor die onderwerp en onvoldoende ondersteuning is beskikbaar om die spesifieke behoeftes van gesinne met 'n kind met outisme aan te spreek. Die doel van hierdie studie was om ondersoek in te stel na die ondersteuning wat gesinne in verskillende kultuurgroepe in Suid-Afrika tydens die opvoeding van ‘n kind met outisme geniet. Die sentrale ondersoekvraag het betrekking gehad op ondersteuningstrukture vir gesinne met ‘n kind met outisme binne hul kultuurgroep, sowel as die wyse waarop die gesinne toegang tot die ondersteuning verkry. Die studie was kwalitatief van aard binne 'n interpretatiewe navorsingsparadigma en ’n gevallestudie is as navorsingsontwerp gekies. Data is deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude, waarnemings en reflektiewe joernale ingesamel. Die kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes omvat die uniekheid van elke gesin se ervaring en laat deelnemers die vryheid om uitdrukking daaraan te gee. Drie gesinne is doelbewus vir hierdie studie gekies. Die gesinne moes oor die volgende kenmerke beskik: Hulle moes uit verskillende kulturele agtergronde (Afrikaan, Wit en Indiër) kom. Hul kind moes voldoen aan die kriteria in die Diagnostiese en Statistiese Handleiding van geestesversteurings, vierde uitgawe, teks hersiening (2000) vir Outisme of pervasieve ontwikkelingsstoornis nie anders gespesifiseer nie (PDD-NOS). Verskeie etiese beginsels is vir hierdie studie nagekom om te verseker dat die navorsing eties was. Die studie het bevind dat die ouers in die drie gesinne ondersteuning van hul gades en die neurotipiese broers en susters van die kind met outisme ontvang het. Die gesinne het ook fisiese ondersteuning, finansiële steun en emosionele ondersteuning vanuit verskillende bronne geniet. Die gesinne het aangedui dat hul ondersteun voel wanneer hul kinders se afwykings aanvaar word, begrip daarvoor getoon word en andere bereid was om die ‘ekstra myl te loop’. Die drie gesinne het ook inligting en leiding as waardevolle bronne van ondersteuning ervaar. Selfs al het die families sterk ondersteuningstrukture in plek gehad, het hulle ook die gebrek aan ondersteuning uitgelig. Al drie gesinne geniet die bogenoemde vorme van ondersteuning, maar dit was interessant om uit te vind dat die families hierdie ondersteuning vanuit verskillende bronne ontvang het.

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2018-07-18T11:46:06Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Renata Cristina Michel.pdf: 1614274 bytes, checksum: e95f711d2385e57a6d1783ef14a0dfa6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-18T11:46:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Renata Cristina Michel.pdf: 1614274 bytes, checksum: e95f711d2385e57a6d1783ef14a0dfa6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-05-10 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Results from previous studies indicated that there was a reduction in the percentage of intervals with occurrence of disruptive behaviors after children with ASD were taught a verbal response relevant to the situation that evoked such behaviors; and there was an increase in the percentage of intervals with occurrence of relevant verbal responses (control). In the present study, we sought to verify the effect, on disruptive behaviors, on the emission of verbal responses and non-verbal responses, from a Functional Communication Training (FCT), plus a procedure to avoid escape of important activities by participants; it was also sought to verify if there was a generalization of the verbal response before a naive experimenter. Participants were three children between three and six years old, diagnosed with autism, who attended to school for at least one year, had verbal behavior below that expected for the age, and disruptive behaviors maintained by negative reinforcement (task escape). A functional analysis was performed composed of three experimental conditions: Demand; Attention; and Control. The results of the functional analysis showed that there was a considerably greater number of disruptive responses emitted by the three participants in the demand condition. In the Functional Communication Training (FCT) phase, each participant was taught to request a pause to perform tasks through verbal command responses. Initially, the participant was instructed to issue the verbal response, immediately after the presentation of the task, and gradually increased the time between the issuance of the experimenter's instruction ("Do ...") and the tip for verbal response by participant, until the verbal response was issued without any prompt. The results showed that the three participants presented a decrease in the emission of disruptive responses after the acquisition of the verbal response to request a pause to perform tasks. Then, in the Fading out phase for the task execution response and a gradual decrease of the prompt was implemented, from highest to lowest: DF - total physical hint, DL - light physical tip, DG - gestural tip and I - independent response. The results indicated that the three participants acquired the response for the task execution, reducing the emission of verbal pause requests for execution and maintaining a low number of disruptive responses. In the generalization test of the verbal response (mand) and the non-verbal response (do the task) to a naive experimenter, it was verified that for all the participants there was generalization of the verbal response and generalization of the nonverbal response / Resultados de estudos anteriores apontaram que houve redução da porcentagem dos intervalos com ocorrência de comportamentos disruptivos após crianças com TEA serem ensinadas a emitir resposta verbal relevante à situação que evocava tais comportamentos; e houve aumento da porcentagem dos intervalos com ocorrência de respostas verbais relevantes (mando). No presente estudo, buscou-se verificar o efeito, sobre comportamentos disruptivos, sobre a emissão de respostas verbais e de respostas não verbais, de um Treino de Comunicação Funcional (FCT), acrescido de um procedimento para evitar a esquiva de atividades importantes pelos participantes; buscou-se, também, verificar se ocorria generalização da emissão da resposta verbal diante de experimentadora ingênua. Foram participantes três crianças, entre três e seis anos de idade, diagnosticadas com autismo, que frequentavam escola há pelo menos um ano, apresentavam comportamento verbal abaixo do esperado para a idade e comportamentos disruptivos mantidos por reforçamento negativo (fuga da tarefa). Foi conduzida análise funcional composta de três condições experimentais: Condição de demanda; Condição de atenção; e Condição controle. Os resultados da análise funcional mostraram que houve um número consideravelmente maior de respostas disruptivas emitidos pelos três participantes na condição de demanda. Na fase do Treino de Comunicação Funcional (FCT), cada participante foi ensinado a solicitar pausa da execução de tarefas através de respostas verbais de mando. Inicialmente, era dada dica ao participante para emissão da resposta verbal, imediatamente após a apresentação da tarefa, e aumentava-se gradativamente o tempo entre a emissão da instrução da experimentadora (“Faça...”) e a dica para a resposta verbal pelo participante, até que a resposta verbal fosse emitida sem nenhuma dica. Os resultados mostraram que os três participantes apresentaram diminuição na emissão de respostas disruptivas após a aquisição da resposta verbal para solicitação de pausa para a execução de tarefas. Em seguida, na fase de Dica para a resposta de execução da tarefa e diminuição gradativa da dica (Fading-out), foi implementado um procedimento de alteração do nível de dica, da maior para a menor: DF - dica física total, DL – dica física leve, DG – dica gestual e I – resposta independente. Os resultados apontaram que os três participantes adquiriram a resposta de execução das tarefas, reduzindo a emissão de respostas verbais de solicitação de pausa para a sua execução e mantendo baixo número de emissão de respostas disruptivas. No teste de generalização da emissão de resposta verbal (mando) e do tempo de permanência na tarefa diante de uma experimentadora ingênua, verificou-se que, para todos os participantes, houve generalização da resposta verbal e generalização da resposta não verbal

Des anomalies biochimiques de la voie sérotonine-N-acétylsérotonine-mélatonine ont été observées dans les Troubles du Spectre Autistique (TSA) et la prématurité. Cependant, les mécanismes moléculaires de régulation de cette voie et les causes des anomalies biochimiques observées dans ces maladies sont encore mal connus. Afin de mieux comprendre les bases génétiques de la voie sérotonine-N-acétylsérotonine-mélatonine, nous avons utilisé une approche de génétique quantitative au travers de deux populations d’étude indépendantes, dans lesquelles des paramètres de cette voie ont été mesurés. Ces deux cohortes, composées d’une part de plus de 250 familles avec autisme et plus de 300 témoins et d’autre part, de 183 nouveau-nés dont 93 nés très prématurés, incluent ainsi des individus présentant deux situations pathologiques différentes associées à des anomalies de cette voie. Une première étude de la voie sérotonine-N-acétylsérotonine-mélatonine dans les familles avec TSA a permis d’obtenir des estimations de l’héritabilité au sens strict, allant de 0,22 pour la mélatonine à 0,72 pour la N-acétylsérotonine (NAS). Des études d’association portant dans un premier temps sur une liste de 812 gènes candidats pour la régulation de la voie sérotonine-NAS-mélatonine et dans un second temps sur tout le génome, n’ont pas permis d’identifier des variants significativement associés aux traits biochimiques. Cependant, des études d’association par gènes ont permis d’identifier trois nouveaux gènes candidats (IL21R, JMJD7 et MAPKBP1) pour la régulation de cette voie dans les familles avec TSA ainsi qu’un nouveau gène (RAET1G) dans la cohorte de nouveau-nés prématurés et témoins. Enfin une étude biochimique des phénol-sulfotransférases (PST) dans les familles avec TSA a mis en évidence une faible activité enzymatique chez 29% des patients en comparaison avec les témoins (5ème percentile). Le séquençage et le génotypage du nombre de copies des gènes de la famille SULT1A1 n’ont pas permis d’identifier des variations génétiques associées aux TSA, à l’activité PST, ou aux taux de sérotonine et de mélatonine. En conclusion, ces résultats confirment la complexité de l’architecture génétique de la voie sérotonine-NAS-mélatonine. D’autre part, ils ont permis de mettre en évidence une héritabilité élevée de cette voie et d’identifier de nouveaux gènes candidats pour comprendre la diversité inter-individuelle de cette voie chez les personnes avec TSA, les enfants prématurés et la population générale. / Biochemical abnormalities of the serotonin-N-acetylserotonin-melatonin pathway have been reported in many clinical conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorders and preterm birth. However, molecular mechanisms underlying this pathway regulation, as well as the causes of these biochemical abnormalities remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was thus to characterize the genetic basis of the serotonin-N-acetylserotonin-melatonin pathway. To do so, we used a quantitative genetic approach in two independent populations that were previously biochemically explored for this pathway. One cohort consisted of more than 250 families with ASD and more than 300 controls and the other was composed of 183 infants including 93 very preterm newborns. Both cohorts included individuals with clinical conditions associated with disruptions of the serotonin-N-acetylserotonin-melatonin pathway. Narrow sense heritability analysis of this pathway showed relatively high estimates, ranging from 0.22 for melatonin to 0.72 for N-acetyserotonin (NAS). First, candidate-gene association studies including 812 genes related to the serotonin-NAS-melatonin pathway, then genome-wide association studies were conducted. These analyses did not identify any variant associated at the genome-wide significance level. However, a gene-based approach identified three new candidate genes (IL21R, JMJD7 and MAPKBP1) for the regulation of the pathway in families with ASD as well as one gene (RAET1G) in the cohort of preterm and term newborns. Finally, a biochemical exploration of the phenol-sulfotransferases (PST) in families with ASD revealed a decreased enzyme activity in 29% of patients compared with controls (5th percentile). SULT1A1-4 genes were then sequenced and copy number variants (CNV) were genotyped. No genetic variant could be significantly associated with PST activity, melatonin and serotonin levels, or ASD status. In conclusion, these results confirm the complexity of serotonin-NAS-melatonin pathway genetic architecture. Furthermore, this study revealed high heritability of this pathway and identified new candidate genes to understand the inter-individual variability of this pathway in ASD, preterm birth and the general population.

Bien que les troubles du langage formel affectent une grande partie des enfants avec Trouble du Spectre Autistique (TSA), leur nature reste encore incertaine. Certaines études postulent que le trouble observable chez ces enfants est de même nature que celui dont souffrent les enfants avec trouble spécifique du langage (TSL), tandis que d’autres argumentent en faveur de deux troubles qui diffèrent dans leur étiologie. Au centre de ce débat réside la complexité à recueillir des données sur le langage chez les enfants avec TSA, notamment quand il s’agit de participer de manière active. Dans cette étude, nous explorons l’interprétation en temps réel des indices grammaticaux chez des enfants avec TSA monolingues francophones, en nous intéressant aux pronoms clitiques objets, dont la faible production en contexte obligatoire a été proposée comme marqueur du TSL pour le français. / It is well-known that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have language impairment. However, the nature of this impairment is still largely unknown. Some studies hold that language impairment in children with ASD is of the same nature as impairment found in children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI), whereas others argue that SLI and language impairment in ASD may be different both in their structure and their etiology. At the heart of this debate lies the difficulty of assessing language abilities of children with ASD, especially when active participation is required. Moreover, to date, few studies have investigated formal aspects of language in children with ASD in languages other than English. In this study, we explore real-time interpretation of grammatical cues in French-speaking children with ASD, with a focus on object clitics.

As the demand for energy continues to increase around the world, more vessels used in the transport of energy, such as Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) and crude oil tankers are being built to transport energy to market overseas. The escort tug has been developed in order to assist in the safe transit of such vessels in confined waterways. Designed to apply emergency braking and steering forces to the stern of a tanker while underway, an escort tug features a hull shape that generates large hydrodynamic lift and drag forces when operating at high angles of attack, this is known as indirect mode. This escorting mode is highly effective at speeds 8 knots and above, often generating towline forces well in excess of bollard pull. Escort performance prediction is a vital aspect of the design of escort tugs. It is important to know a priori if a design will meet the necessary performance criteria. In the past, performance predictions have relied heavily on model testing and empirical methods. With the recent emergence of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as a commercially viable design tool for naval architects, extensive escort performance predictions can now be carried out more accurately in less time and at less cost than was previously possible. This thesis describes the methodology of a CFD based escort performance prediction method that is accurate and cost effective. / Graduate

Thesis (MSc (Computer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this thesis is to develop a generic 3D virtual environment development platform for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) therapy tools. The potential of using computerised therapy tools for ASD therapy is well known. However, the development of such tools is expensive and time-consuming, and is language and culture speci c. This work intends to alleviate these problems. The design of the platform is based on known game engine designs, but adapted for the requirements of ASD therapy tools. It supports standard features such as 3D rendering, animation and audio output. Speci c features, aimed at ASD therapy tools and educational games, included in our engine are: replays, data capturing, remote monitoring over a network and language localisation. We also implemented an input hardware abstraction layer to allow support for non-standard input peripherals in the future, without modifying existing game implementations. Furthermore, to separate the development of games and tools from the engine, we include wrapper libraries in our engine for Lua and Java. We successfully developed our engine and implemented a number of prototype therapy tools and educational games. These implementations confirmed that the engine works as expected. Some of these programs are currently in use at a local primary school. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie tesis is om 'n 3D virtuele omgewing en ontwikkelingsplatform vir outistiese spektrum versteuring (OSV) terapiemiddels te ontwikkel. Die gebruik van rekenaargebaseerde terapiemiddels vir OSV terapie is bekend. Om sulke terapiemiddels te ontwikkel is egter duur, tydrowend en is dikwels gerig op spesi eke taal- en kultuurgroepe. Hierdie werk het dit ten doel om hierdie probleme te bowe te kom. Die ontwerp van die platform is gebaseer op die ontwerp van bekende videospeletjie-enjins, maar is aangepas vir die benodigdhede van OSV terapiemiddels. Dit ondersteun standaard funksionaliteit soos 3D uitbeelding, animasie en klank. Ons platform sluit in spesi eke funksionaliteit, wat gerig is op OSV terapiemiddels en opvoedkundige speletjies, naamlik: kykweer, datavaslegging, afstandswaarneming oor 'n netwerk en taal-lokalisering. Verder is 'n abstrakte koppelvlak vir toevoerapparatuur ontwikkel, wat dit moontlik maak om in die toekoms nie-standaard toevoerapparatuur te ondersteun, sonder om bestaande speletjies se implementasies aan te pas. Verder, om die ontwikkeling van speletjies en terapiemiddels te skei van die enjin, is koppelvlakke ontwikkel wat dit moontlik maak om die enjin in Lua en Java te gebruik.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:40:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniel de Sousa Filho.pdf: 797124 bytes, checksum: b6136c0e2a983cf0eaad975c2f8445b7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-06 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Background: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are developmental disorders characterized by qualitative impairment in reciprocal social interaction, language and communication and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities and they are defined based on standardized clinical criteria as such those from international manuals as ICD and DSM, or based on clinical tools, mainly the semi-structured interviews, such as the Autism Diagnostic Interview- Revised (ADI-R), a recognized gold standard diagnostic tool for ASD. This interview was recently translated into brazilian Portuguese, and it was preliminarily validated for this language. However, this process has been occurred with a small sample in a specific state of Brazil. Besides, other validity evidences, as convergent validity were not explored in this study. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the Convergent Validity between the Brazilian version of the ADI-R and a screening tool Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). Method: For this study, 20 parents or caregivers of children and teens diagnosed with ASD were recruited from the Presbyterian Mackenzie University ASD Clinic, and from the Federal of São Paulo State University Social Cognition Clinic. The children were submitted to a clinical multidisciplinary evaluation, and neuropsychological evaluation that also consisted on application of the ABC. Another researcher, a Child Psychiatrist with expertise on ASD was previously trained and allowed for conducting and codificating the ADI-R. Results: The age of the probands has ranged between 6 and 19 years old, 90% of them were male. The correlations between both the tools, using the Pearson coefficient were mostly positive, and they have ranged between average to high with statistical significance., considering the 3 mains domains of the ADI-R and the five main domains of the ABC. Conclusions: Evidence of convergent validity was found when comparing ADI-R results with ABC/ICA. / Introdução: Os Transtornos do Espectro do Autismo (TEA) são transtornos do desenvolvimento caracterizados por prejuízos qualitativos na interação social recíproca, comunicação e linguagem e pela presença de padrões de comportamentos estereotipados, restritos e repetitivos e sua caracterização se faz a partir de critérios clínicos definidos e padronizados por classificações internacionais como as da CID ou DSM ou por instrumentos, principalmente as entrevistas, como a Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), instrumento considerado pela literatura padrão-ouro para diagnóstico de TEA e que recentemente foi traduzido e preliminarmente validado para o português brasileiro. Entretanto, tal processo ocorreu com uma amostra reduzida e numa região específica do Brasil, assim como outras evidências de validade do instrumento tais como validade convergente não foram exploradas. Objetivo: Investigar evidências de validade de convergente entre a versão brasileira da entrevista diagnóstica ADI-R e os instrumento de triagem Inventário de Comportamentos Autísticos (ICA). Método: Foram selecionados 20 pais e/ou cuidadores de 20 sujeitos a partir da Clínica de TEA da Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie e da Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Os sujeitos foram submetidos à avaliação clínica multidisciplinar médica e neuropsicológica a qual incluía a aplicação do ICA. Um outro avaliador, psiquiatra da Infância e Adolescência com experiência em TEA e habilitado a aplicar a ADI-R foi responsável pela aplicação e codificação da entrevista. Resultados: A idade dos sujeitos variou de 6 a 19 anos, com média de 10,1. Desses, 90% eram do sexo masculino. Os coeficientes de correlação de Pearson entre os 3 domínios da ADI-R (comunicação, interação social e comportamentos restritos) entre si e destes com o e os do ICA (escrever todos), foram moderados e altos, positivos e a maioria com significância estatística. Conclusões: Evidências de Validade Convergente foram encontradas, comparando-se a ADI-R com o ABC/ICA.

A vulnerable group in society is people with ASD (autism spectrum disorders) or autism. This group seems to increase, mainly due to genetic factors but also environmental problems. Medical research has accelerated in the U.S. and Europe. The biggest problem for people with disabilities is the inability to communicate, both verbally and socially. Parallel communication is growing strongly, a technique that can help these people much, if only there were an adaptation to the needs. There are already technical communication aids developed for people with autism. But they do not seem to fit the target group's communication needs well enough. These aids are designed to handle a superficial communication and people with autism do not understand this type of communication at all. People with ASD would rather appreciate the deeper relationships that can support them on important issues, such as to clarify the context for them are hard to understand. E.g. "inside" and "beyond" could tell that there are a number of houses behind them closer to the houses. They need a different type of support and this support must be provided by close caregivers. Closely support by caregivers seems to be essential for successful development. In other words, they do not have the extensive list of contacts that are in their communication tool today. In my theses, I look primarily at the core needs behind the communication of people with autism. But I also present a design proposal in the form of some sketches on the basis of these needs. The reason for focusing on the analysis is that the majority of existing technical communication aids never seems to have questioned the basis for the decisions shaping the design, i.e. the real needs of the people with ASD. Too often wrong design decisions seem to be made mainly due to an incorrect analysis. Several functions ought to coincide in a single tool that can support the people with ASD to talk, think clearer thoughts, to reflect, formulate an opinion and dream. I would like them to reach deeper thoughts than was possible so far. The features are not new but the combination is. I count to seven features which I consider to be crucial for my result: “Emphasized transfer”, “transparency”, “structure à la Talking Mats”, “imaging”, “digital camera”, “the real meeting”, and “caregivers as important role models”. The communicators should be geographically close to each other and carry one’s own portable technical communication aids, their “BeAKKta”, the name of this design proposal. My result identifies needs of disabled people in their communication, and gives suggestions on how to respond to those needs by presenting different sketches from an analysis. The sketches show up a new design for this communication tool, both in terms of form and function. Lovisa, my daughter and her communication problem is the origin of the trials and she is also the one who gave me both insights and inspiration. / Personer med autism är en utsatt grupp i samhället – en grupp som tycks öka främst på grund av genetiska faktorer men också på grund av miljöfaktorer. Den medicinska forskningen intensifieras både i USA och i Europa. Det största problemet för dessa funktionshindrade handlar om en oförmåga att kommunicera, såväl verbalt som socialt. Parallellt utvecklas kommunikationstekniken starkt, en teknik som skulle kunna hjälpa dessa personer avsevärt om bara det fanns en anpassning till deras behov. Det finns ju visserligen redan tekniska kommunikationshjälpmedel utvecklade för personer med autism. Det är bara det att dessa fortfarande inte passar målgruppens behov av kommunikation särskilt väl. Hjälpmedlen är konstruerade att hantera en mer ytlig kommunikation, det vill säga en kommunikationsform som personer med autism inte använder, än mindre förstår sig på. De vill ofta istället ha en djupare relation som kan stötta dem i viktigare frågor. Det kan till exempel handla om att reda ut huruvida det finns ett ”inuti” och ett ”bortom”; att det finns många hus bortom dem som man kan se närmast. Att se stora sammanhang är nästintill obegripligt för dem. Här behövs verklig hjälp och stöttningen bör förmedlas av en nära vän. Den omfattande kontaktlista som nuvarande kommunikationshjälpmedel tillhandahåller, står alltså inte högt i kurs. I mitt magisterarbete tittar jag framför allt på de centrala behoven bakom kommunikationen hos personer med autism. Men jag presenterar också ett designförslag i form av några enklare skisser med utgångspunkt i just dessa behov. Anledningen till att fokus ligger på analysskedet är att flertalet hittillsvarande tekniska kommunikationshjälpmedel aldrig tycks ha ifrågasatt grunden till de beslut som formar designen det vill säga behoven hos de funktionshindrade personerna. Alltför ofta tas fel designbeslut på grund av en grundlös analys. Flera funktioner sammanfogas här inom ett och samma hjälpmedel som kan stödja de funktionshindrade att tala, tänka klarare tankar, att reflektera, formulera sin åsikt och att drömma. Jag vill att de ska nå djupare tankar än vad som hittills varit möjligt. Funktionerna är identifierade men finns inte inom ett och samma hjälpmedel. Sju funktioner sammanfogas inom ett och samma hjälpmedel: ”Betonad överföring”, ”överblickbarhet”, ”struktur à la Talking Mats”, ”bildhantering”, ”digitalkamera”, ”reellt möte” samt ”närstående som viktiga förebilder”. Båda parter bör befinna sig geografiskt nära varandra och båda måste ha med sig sin egen ”BeAKKta”. Jag identifierar kommunikationsbehoven hos personer med autism och ger förslag på hur behoven skulle kunna mötas genom analys och skisser. Resultatet blir en ny design som sammanför tidigare förvisso identifierade funktioner, varav dock fåtalet utvecklats med tanke på den digitala tekniken. Lovisa, min dotter och hennes brist på kommunikationsförmåga, är upprinnelsen till mitt försök och det är också hon som givit mig både insikter och inspiration. / Phone number: 46709981048