This study compared the relative reinforcing efficacy of high-preferred and low-preferred stimuli, as determined by two types of preference assessments, on acquisition rates in three children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The study also evaluated the indirect effects of preference on students’ stereotypy and problem behavior during instructional periods. Participants were presented with a task and provided high or low-preferred stimuli contingent upon correct responding. Results showed that acquisition occurred more rapidly in the highly preferred condition for some participants. Higher rates of problem behavior occurred in the low preferred condition for all participants. These results highlight the importance of utilizing preference assessment procedures to identify and deliver high-preferred items in skill acquisition procedures for individuals with ASD.

I tidigare forskning finns studier gjorda om autism och även om kommunikation. Det finns även forskning som visar sambandet mellan dessa, däremot är perspektivet om socialt arbete något bristfällig. Det har legat till stor grund för denna studie och har därav i syfte att undersöka hur kommunikation med personer med diagnosen autism upplevs av personal på gruppboenden. Det är en kvalitativ studie där empirin samlats in genom intervjuer med personal på ett gruppboende som arbetar med personer med autism. Kommunikation i samband med autism har ett flertal påverkande faktorer som både kan hjälpa och stjälpa kommunikationen. Resultatet av denna studie visar att förtroende och förebyggande arbete är viktigt för att arbeta mot bättre kommunikation och undvika missförstånd. När utvecklingsnivån hos en person med autism är låg är det viktigt att se till alla olika faktorer som kan ligga till grund för exempelvis problemskapande beteende. För att kommunikationen mellan personal och brukare skall bli så ömsesidigt förstådd som möjligt behövs det förebyggande arbete. Att sänka samhällets krav på kommunikation samt att veta vad som påverkar en persons beteende underlättar kommunikationen och gör bandet mellan personal och brukare starkare. / In previous research studies have been done about autism and also about communication. There is also research that shows the relationship between the two, however, is the perspective of social work in connection to autism and communication somewhat inadequate. It has been a great basis for this study and has thereof the purpose to examine how communication with individuals with autism experienced by staff in group homes. It is a qualitative study of empirical data collected through interviews with staff at a group home working with people with autism. Communication in connection with autism have a number of influencing factors which can both help and hinder communication. The results of this study show that trust and preventive work is important to work towards better communication and avoid misunderstandings. When the level of development of a person with autism is low it is important to make sure all the different factors that can be the basis for example problem-creating behavior. For communication between staff and patients to be as mutually understood as possible we need to work preventatively. To reduce society's demands on communication and to know what affects a person's behavior facilitates communication and makes the bond between caregivers and patients stronger.

Background: Research has highlighted that parenting a child with autism can be challenging and stressful. However, many parents successfully cope with the challenges posed by autism. A systematic review investigated parental psychological predictors of positive adjustment and coping in parents with a child with autism. Although a range of potential predictor variables were examined, including social support, coping styles and religious beliefs, the results of the review were inconclusive due to the conceptual overlap of predictor variables, and inconsistent use of outcome indicators of positive adjustment. However, parental perceptions of their situation and themselves as parents were represented across a number of variables, and were thought to be of relevance in understanding processes of adjustment. Therefore, qualitative research was undertaken to explore this further. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight parents of children with autism on their experiences of being a parent, and their perceptions of influences on their sense of self. The data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results: The following five super-ordinate themes emerged from the study: ‘experiencing autism as hard to know’, ‘experiencing autism as all-consuming and extreme’, ‘diagnosis giving understanding and confidence’, ‘parenting in the eyes of others’, and ‘dilemma of acceptance’. The meaning of these themes for parents and how they related to their sense of self and belief in their ability was discussed. For example, the ambiguity and difficulty in understanding autism, and the overwhelming nature of the condition related to feelings of self-doubt in parents. On the other hand, confidence increased when the diagnosis was identified, and when parenting skills and the child’s progress were recognised by others. Discussion: This research has provided a richer understanding of self-perceptions of parenting and the impact of these experiences on a parent’s sense of self. It has contributed to a broader literature on positive adjustment in families with a child with autism. This understanding will be useful to those seeking to engage and support families with a child with autism, and assist parents with coping and adjustment.

Föräldrar till barn med funktionsnedsättningar upplever högre föräldrastress och lägre psykiskt välmående än föräldrar till barn utan funktionsnedsättning, men få studier har undersökt detta hos föräldrar till barn med funktionsnedsättningar i tidig skolålder. Syftet med enkätstudie var att undersöka föräldrastress och psykiskt välmående hos föräldrar till barn, 7-12 år, med funktionsnedsättning i Västerbotten, jämfört med en kontrollgrupp föräldrar till barn utan funktionsnedsättning. Deltagarna bestod av 128 föräldrar till barn med autism, intellektuell funktionsnedsättning eller rörelsehinder och 213 föräldrar till barn utan funktionsnedsättning. Resultaten visade att föräldrar till barn med funktionsnedsättning, i synnerhet autism, skattade generellt högre stress och lägre psykiskt välmående än föräldrar till barn utan funktionsnedsättningar. Detta tyder på att en påverkan av barnets funktionsnedsättning på bland annat sociala, ekonomiska och relationella faktorer kan leda till högre föräldrastress och lägre psykiskt välmående. En ökad vaksamhet för ångest- och depressionssymtom hos föräldrar till barn med funktionsnedsättningar, i synnerhet autism, i den aktuella åldersgruppen rekommenderas.

Syftet med denna studie är att få en fördjupad kunskap om hur lärare formar sin undervisning för elever inom autismspektrumtillstånd, både i termer av lärande av kunskap samt den del som handlar om den sociala och kommunikativa förmågan som är en viktig förutsättning för en fungerande kunskapsinlärning. Vi vill ta reda på vilken kunskap pedagoger visar samt vilka verktyg de använder i sin undervisning och har därför intervjuat pedagoger som arbetar med elever inom autismspektrumtillstånd. Vi har gjort en studie utifrån en kvalitativ ansats där vi undersöker kunskapen om den visuella och tydliggörande pedagogiken i tre olika skolformer; särskilda skolor med inriktning mot elever inom autismspektrumtillstånd, särskilda undervisningsgrupper och skolor där elever inom autismspektrumtillstånd är inkluderade i vanliga klasser. Vi har utgått från ett sociokulturellt perspektiv där ett kommunikativt socialt deltagande ses som en förutsättning för lärande. Resultaten visar att den största kunskapen om elever inom autismspektrumtillstånd och olika visuella pedagogiska verktyg finns hos de särskilda skolorna. På dessa skolor görs de flesta pedagogiska och miljömässiga anpassningarna. Anpassningar av detta slag görs i några av de särskilda undervisningsgrupperna men i mindre omfattning medan det i den vanliga skolan oftare är eleven som måste anpassa sig efter rådande skolkultur och undervisning. Slutsatser som framkommit är att kunskap om vad autismspektrumtillstånd innebär och vilka olika visuella och pedagogiska verktyg som hjälper dessa elever i sin kunskapsinhämtning är av största vikt

A lack of social competence is one of the primary characteristics of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This pervasive lack of social competence can cause individuals with ASD to struggle to develop meaningful social relationships with peers and adults across their lifetime. Thus, learning appropriate socialization skills is an essential component in the education of this population. The purpose of the current study was to provide an initial investigation into the effectiveness of a comprehensive social skills training intervention on the social competence of young children with ASD using direct recording methods. Eight students with ASD between the ages of 5 and 7 years, with current placements in self-contained kindergarten or first grade classrooms in the public school setting participated in a 12 week intervention. The intervention implemented was “The Incredible Flexible You: A Social Thinking Curriculum for Preschool and Early Elementary Years” (Hendrix, Palmer, Tarshis, & Winner, 2013), a packaged, multi-sensory social skills training program developed to promote the social competence of young children with ASD. The intervention was presented daily for approximately 20 minutes in a small group school setting. Using a concurrent multiple baseline across participants single-case research design, the research study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the program upon the participant’s positive social initiations, positive social responses, and active engagement during recess. Observational data were collected utilizing both a frequency behavior count system and a timed interval behavioral observation system. Additionally, data were collected via the Autism Social Skills Profile (ASSP; Bellini & Hopf, 2007) through pre- and post-intervention parent forms to determine the effects of the program on the overall social functioning of the participants. Procedural fidelity was collected throughout the research, and social validity was also assessed utilizing the Behavior Intervention Rating Profile (BIRP, Von Brock & Elliott, 1987). Overall, participants made slight gains in social competency, yet the data did not support a functional relation between the intervention and dependent variables. Individual participant progress was discussed in detail. Limitations of the study and implications for practice and future research in social competency for young children with ASD were further discussed.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Psychiatry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Zoology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Divided attention, or the ability to respond to more than one task simultaneously, is an important skill for navigating complex social, communicative, academic, and professional settings. The purpose of the current study was to understand the association between the volume of the posterior cerebellum and divided attention in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and control participants. It was hypothesized that the ASD group would have worse divided attention abilities and smaller posterior cerebellar volumes compared to the control group. Furthermore, reduced posterior cerebellar volume was expected to be associated with weaker divided attention abilities. Participants were young adult males with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (n=15) and controls matched for age, handedness, and nonverbal IQ (n=19). Results showed partial support for worse divided attention performance in ASDs and for a positive association between posterior cerebellar volume and divided attention performance. There were no group differences in posterior cerebellar volume, and accounting for intracranial volume did not affect findings. Limitations of the current study and future directions are discussed. / text