Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-64).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--York University, 1998. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-145). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNQ39281.

Using the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) database of the Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine of The University of Hong Kong, a retrospective cohort study was carried out exploring the relationship between prematurity and symptom severity by using Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). The premature group was found to have no significant difference in total CARS score as compared to the full term group, and no significant correlation was found between CARS score and gestational age [GA] (for children diagnosed or with suspected ASDs). Significantly higher numbers of the premature group (GA 37 weeks, N = 130) had multiple births, family history of ASDs or related disorders, pre/perinatal complications, as well as a significantly lower mean birth weight as compared to the full term group (GA > 37 weeks, N = 683). Mean total CARS score of very premature cases (M = 32.20, SD = 6.29) was found to be 2 points lower than mean total CARS score of those that were full term (GA > 37 weeks [M = 34.08, SD = 6.53]). However, the result was not statistically significant by unpaired t-test analysis. Therefore, results in this cohort show no relationship between prematurity and CARS score of children with ASDs, however further studies should be carried out in order to better validate existing findings. / published_or_final_version / Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD's) represent some of the most common developmental disorders amongst children today (Rapin, 1994), yet knowledge and interventions for these disorders remain minimal. Access to resources for diagnosis and intervention for children with ASD's in South Africa appears to be limited to a few families. For this select population, many difficulties and much dissatisfaction with diagnostic processes remain. This study aimed to capture the experiences of parents whose children had received ASD diagnoses. This study was qualitative in nature and took the form of semi structured interviews with a total of eight parents of ASD children (7 mothers and 1 father). These interviews highlighted key issues in the area of ASD's in South Africa, including: a lack of knowledge amongst professionals, an unwillingness to diagnose, and lack of available support and facilities. Data collected from this sample revealed that the average age of diagnosis of children was 6 years old, and the average number of years taken to reach diagnosis was 3 years 3 months. Although these figures correlate with international research, participants of this study revealed that it had taken on average 7.2 medical practitioners to diagnose their children with ASD's. This number is significantly higher in South Africa than research from other countries indicates. These findings are discussed in this research study, with emphasis being placed on implications for early intervention in South Africa. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

While there is considerable evidence that applied behaviour analysis (ABA) is an efficacious treatment for Autistic Disorder (AD) in a controlled research setting, the effectiveness of current applications of ABA in the South African context have not yet been established. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an intensive ABA programme for a young child with AD. A single case study was conducted using a within-subject, repeated measures, evaluation design. The ABA treatment, an applied verbal behaviour version ofABA (AVB/ABA), was implemented by behaviour consultants and technicians at TRIAD (Therapy and Research in Autistic Disorders): a private centre in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, that specialises in the behavioural treatment of children with AD. The subject was a young boy, who was diagnosed with AD at the age of 21 months, initiated treatment at TRIAD at 22 month of age, and underwent 20 hours of treatment per week over a 22 month period. Cumulative outcome data across all learning domains was obtained using the standard outcome measure at the centre: the Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (ABLLS). The ABLLS was administered by a senior behaviour consultant on five occasions, namely at baseline (i.e., at 0 months); at various intervals throughout the intervention (at 2,3, and 14 months); and in the final week of the study period (at 22 months). Results were tabulated and converted into linear graph format by the researcher. In addition, the caregiver was asked to rate the child's progress on a five point Likert scale as a means of establishing the social validity of the behaviour change. Visual inspection of the linear graphs revealed that the subject improved considerably across all ABLLS domains over the 22 month period and the child's caregiver rated that his behaviour had "significantly improved" since the onset of the intervention. In addition, at the end of the 22 month treatment period, the subject was enrolled in a mainstream school with the assistance of an aide and was engaging with same-age peers. The present study thus provides support for the effectiveness of the AVBIABA programme at TRIAD, contributes to the existing ABA outcome literature, and provides further evidence for the efficacy of the AVB approach to ABA. Furthermore, results confirm the role of predictor variables, such as age at onset, hours of treatment, skill acquisition rates, and parental involvement. Finally, given the gains made in the present study, it is suggested that the initial cost of intensive treatment may be economical in the long term. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2008.

Caring for children with autism place mothers at high risk for poor health outcomes and compromises the health of all family members (e.g., Bristol, 1987; Hastings et al., 2005a). Although poor outcomes prevail, some mothers do well despite their caregiving challenges. While ample research exists on mothers’ supports and stress, virtually nothing is known about their strengths. Emerging research suggests that parental self-efficacy and empowerment may contribute to better outcomes in mothers of children with autism. The purpose of the present study was to identify predictors of better outcomes in mothers of children with autism. Relationships among child disruptive behaviour, supports, self-efficacy, empowerment, maternal distress and positive perceptions of parenting were examined using a postal survey design. Mothers (N = 114) of school-age children with autism provided demographic information and completed various scales (i.e., the Developmental Behaviour Checklist, Family Support, Difficult Behaviour Self-Efficacy, Family Empowerment, Hospital Anxiety and Depression, Positive Contribution). Overall, 35% of the variance was explained in maternal distress (i.e., anxiety and depression). After accounting for mothers’ age and child disruptive behaviour, support and empowerment were subsumed by parental self-efficacy in predicting lower levels of maternal distress. Collectively, 17% of the variance was explained in mothers’ positive perceptions of parenting. Self-efficacy partially mediated the moderate effect of disruptive behaviour on mothers’ distress and fully mediated the small effect of disruptive behaviour on mothers’ positive perceptions of parenting. Thus, parental self-efficacy for managing children’s difficult behaviour is very promising for preserving mothers’ health. While discussion focuses on outstanding issues to be addressed, the findings suggest that tailoring formal services to enhance parental efficacy, rather than providing support and consultation services alone, would be more in line with mothers’ needs and possibly improve both children’s and families’ outcomes.

It was identified that there was little published research into the lived experience of parenting a child with autism that utilised a qualitative approach. There was a paucity of material in the literature, beyond single parent accounts, for a nurse to turn to develop a beginning understanding of the experience. There was also little for a parent to compare their own experience with. This study of the lived experience of parenting a child with autism provides an exploration of the experience within the framework of a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Initially nine parents were interviewed and the resulting transcripts analysed. This analysis was taken to four focus groups to allow the parent's voice to remain active in the refinement of the analysis. The parents reported a strong resonance with the analysis and the discussion fell silent. The experience identified was not that of a series of activities but profound changes to the self of the parent. This is considered in the discussion in the light of the existential challenge to the parent's being posed by the demands of parenting a child with autism. Chaos theory and its mathematical applications are considered as a potentially fruitful way to pick up the conversational relation with the question of, "what is the lived experience of parenting a child with autism"?

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on March 3, 2008) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-81).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Technology, Sydney, 2003.