Previous research demonstrates an uneven pattern of cognitive abilities in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This study examined whether this uneven pattern exists in preschool children. Participants include 24 children with high-functioning ASD and 28 typically developing (TD) children aged 4 to 6 with comparable average age and development level. No significant group difference in cognitive abilities was found between the ASD and TD group on the MANOVA. Patterns of cognitive functioning found include better performance on memory, weaker performance on language comprehension and expression, fine motor and speed of processing. Nonverbal and visual motor abilities were comparable between groups. Language expression was less impaired than language comprehension, and fine motor abilities were correlated with more cognitive abilities. / published_or_final_version / Educational Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder affecting individuals along a continuum of severity in communication, social interaction and behaviour. The impact of ASD significantly varies amongst individuals, and the cause of ASD can originate broadly between genetic and environmental factors. Previous ASD researches indicate that early identification combined with a targeted treatment plan involving behavioural interventions and multidisciplinary therapies can provide substantial improvement for ASD patients. Currently there is no cure for ASD, and the clinical variability and uncertainty of the disorder still remains. Hence, the search to unravel heterogeneity within ASD by subgroup classification may provide clinicians with a better understanding of ASD and to work towards a more definitive course of action. In this study, a norm of physical measurements including height, weight, head circumference, ear length, outer and inner canthi, interpupillary distance, philtrum, hand and foot length was collected from 658 Typical Developing (TD) Chinese children aged 1 to 7 years (mean age of 4.19 years). The norm collected was compared against 80 ASD Chinese children aged 1 to 12 years (mean age of 4.36 years). We then further attempted to find subgroups within ASD based on identifying physical abnormalities; individuals were classified as (non)dysmorphic with the Autism Dysmorphology Measure (ADM) from physical examinations of 12 body regions. Our results show that there were significant differences between ASD and TD children for measurements in: head circumference (p=0.009), outer (p=0.021) and inner (p=0.021) canthus, philtrum length (p=0.003), right (p=0.023) and left (p=0.20) foot length. Within the 80 ASD patients, 37(46%) were classified as dysmorphic (p=0.00). This study attempts to identify subgroups within ASD based on physical measurements and dysmorphology examinations. The information from this study seeks to benefit ASD community by identifying possible subtypes of ASD in Chinese population; in seek for a more definitive diagnosis, referral and treatment plan. / published_or_final_version / Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Texas, May, 2009. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

While a stable diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders can be made as early as 2 years of age, the diagnosis of mild ASD cases are usually not made until primary school age or much later; and yet it is these milder cases that can benefit the most from early intervention. The present study aimed at pushing the identification of mild ASD children earlier to preschool age. A review of current screening tools revealed that they were not effective in identifying milder ASD variants. One reason perhaps is that the existing tools rely primarily on parental reports. Note that young children with mild ASD often function adequately interacting with an adult who knows them well; they typically face more difficulty in free play with other children. Parents as a result may not be in a good position to detect milder ASD. The present study therefore took a very different approach from existing screening tools by developing a more objective scale based on observation by of peer interaction in preschools. Considering peer interaction deficits are central for ASD, and deficits of these milder individuals might be more obvious in a setting that tax their social skills. A screening tool based on peer interaction observation in preschool, namely the Structured Classroom Observation Scale (SCOS), was thus developed. Drawing on existing screening tools and experts input, 84 items were compiled and pilot tested. An initial psychometric study of the scale was conducted using a community sample, with 304 preschoolers aged 3 and 4, from four English-language international schools in Hong Kong. The initial 84-item version was trimmed substantially to result in a user-friendly 13-item observation scale with good psychometric properties. The final SCOS includes 3 items depicting self-regulation challenges and 10 items describing difficulties in peer interaction. The initial psychometric study using a community sample indicated substantial interrater reliability (u= .76) and acceptable test-retest reliability (ICC = .72). The average agreement for individual items was less satisfactory (T = .40). Using Latent Class Analysis, the present scale delineated the children into 4 groups: Typical, Shy, Behavioral and High Risk of ASD. A subsequent validity study (n = 186) comparing the SCOS with ADOS scores showed that the class membership of the children based on SCOS predicted their ADOS results, after controlling for age and gender. Children from the High Risk group were found to have significantly higher Calibrated ADOS Severity scores than the other 3 groups; and their mean ADOS scores (i.e., 8.18) were above the cutoff for ASD on the ADOS. A 9-month follow found more reports of parental concerns in the High Risk group with ADOS scores above the cutoff. Discriminant validity of the SCOS was demonstrated between the scale and Head Start Competence Scale (parent version). In contrast to the usual portrayal of active but odd stereotypical children with Asperger Syndrome, the High Risk group identified by the SCOS consisted of children with infrequent interfering behaviors. They were relatively passive but not necessarily odd during social interactions, which might perhaps explain why early identification was difficult. The current scale also identified another two groups of children (Shy group and Behavioral group), which will require longitudinal follow up to ascertain educational or intervention implications. / published_or_final_version / Clinical Psychology / Doctoral / Doctor of Psychology

Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains iii, 35 p. : col. ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 30-32). WVU users: Also available in print for a fee.

The present study aims at pushing the identification process earlier to preschool age for children on the mild end of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by validating teachers’ use of the 13-item Classroom Social Behaviors Observation Scale (CSBOS) (Au, Cheung, Tse, & Au, In Prep) that focuses on children’s peer interaction in class. 　　Seven teachers and 149 children in an international kindergarten in Hong Kong participated in the study. The “At-risk” group for mild cases of ASD was identified by using one standard deviations below the mean as the cutoff for CSBOS scores independently given by research assistants and teachers; the control group was formed by random selection from the non-“At-risk” group. Based on the teachers’ input, the CSBOS was revised to clarify its wording and make it more user-friendly (CSBOS-R). These children were also rated by their class teachers again – this time using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and CSBOS-R (the revised CSBOS; based on overall impression). . They were assessed individually by a clinical psychologist using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, and observed by a research assistant in the classroom with the revised CSBOS-R and time-sampling methodology. Result showed that teacher’s CSBOS-R impression rating was highly correlated with children’s calibrated ADOS severity score (r(37)= -.62), and total SRS-2 score (r(40)= -.86). Teacher’s CSBOS-R impression rating correlated well with CSBOS-R rated by the clinical psychologist (r(18)= .82) and the research assistant (r(35)= .74). The result, therefore, validated teacher’s use of CSBOS-R in identifying preschool children at risk for mild ASD. / published_or_final_version / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has traditionally been understood and treated bio‐medically. However, bio‐ecological and eco‐systems theory, as well as a vast body of literature, suggests that ASD has a systemic impact, unique to each context. This study aimed to understand the systemic and ecological experiences of parents’ to children with ASD in the South African context with regard to ASD and ASD intervention. Eight parents to children with ASD were interviewed using a semi‐structured interview schedule. The data were analysed using deductive thematic content analysis. The study found that, in the South African context, both Indigenous and Western Knowledge Systems impact on parents’ experiences of having a child with ASD. It further found that ASD had a systemic impact, and that current ASD intervention failed to target the needs across the system. Lastly, it found that stigma originates from both Indigenous and Western Knowledge Systems, and that information about ASD is of great importance to parents in the South African context.

Background: Autistic spectrum disorder or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is nowadays remained a global issue as well as in Hong Kong. Since the earlier the children with ASD get intervened, the better the result they will receive. Early Intensive Behavioral Intensive Intervention (EIBI) based on a clinic or center setting is now provided in Hong Kong. Due to the limited resources and developed diagnosis and screening tool for ASD, there exists a long waiting time for the children to get access to the services. No review on comparing early interventions based on home or preschool setting other than EIBI had been conducted for the children with ASD in Hong Kong, which are most likely benefit for the children who are on the waiting list. Objective: (i) This systematic review is on the randomize control trials of the early interventions other than EIBI to identify interventions that can be conveyed or mediated by non-professionals in a non-clinical or center based setting that might be possible to implement in Hong Kong. (ii) To evaluate the effectiveness of the early interventions on development such as intellectual, cognitive and social behavior for the children from 0-6 years with ASD. Methods: A systematic review of RCTs is conducted. Studies were searched in PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE by using MeSH. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to the selection process. RCTs that target on the effect of early interventions for the toddlers/preschoolers other than EIBI based on a non-clinical setting delivered by non-professionals were included in this review. Studies mainly focused on the screening or diagnose of early onset ASD were excluded. Results: Out of 319 RCTs were retrieved from the database with 16 of them were included and analyzed in this review. 12 kinds of early interventions are identified with 11 them carried out under a home or preschool setting, 1 of them carried out under a clinical setting by using acupuncture. Large effect size was found in Qi-gong (ES=0.59, 0.80, 0.85; p<0.05), Joint attention (JA) (ES=0.44, 0.67; p<0.05 and ES=1.09, 0.74, 0.88; p<0.05), Preschool Autism Communication Trial (PACT) (ES=1.22, 0.41, 0.33; p<0.05), Autism 1-2-3 (χ2=-2.85, -2.65, -2.81, -2.69; p<0.01), and Communication focused Interpersonal Synchrony (IS) (ES=0.86; p<0.05) interventions, which all intervened with high intensity. Children with ASD showed large improvement in the development outcomes from these studies. Conclusions: Early interventions based on a home or preschool setting delivered by parents and teachers are identified in this systematic review and can be used for children diagnosed with ASD who are on a waitlist and not be able to go to a therapy center. Intervention with higher intensity such as JA, PACT, Qi-gong and Communication focused intervention are highly recommended to do pilot study in Hong Kong as none of them have been applied in Hong Kong before. Since Autism 1-2-3 study were done in Hong Kong with a good compliance and the effective result, it is a recommended for the Department of Health and Non-governmental organizations to consider providing these interventions for the children diagnose as ASD. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health