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Updated: Current version includes the name of Supervisor, and Co-supervisor. Error corrected in preliminary pages. / Background: Emerging evidence suggests that there is both within-disorder heterogeneity and across-disorder overlap in the clinical presentation of children with ASD, ADHD, and OCD. Two prevalent dimensional phenotypes in children with these NDDs that warrant close attention, and are suitable for cross-disorder investigation, are internalizing and externalizing problems. Objectives: The current study uses a data-driven, diagnosis-agnostic approach to identify homogenous clusters that describe behavioural profiles of internalizing and externalizing problems within and across ASD, ADHD, and OCD. Methods: Data on 1565 children (M = 10.76 years) were drawn from the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorder (POND) Network. Non-hierarchical clustering approaches were used to empirically derive, distinct behavioural profiles of internalizing and externalizing problems indexed by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Empirically derived groups were characterized using measures of adaptive functioning indexed by the Adaptive Behaviour Assessment (ABAS-II), and interpreted in relation to original diagnoses. Results: Cluster analyses identified four distinct behavioural profiles that cut across all diagnostic groups: High Internalizing Externalizing (HIE; 15%), High Externalizing (HE; 21%), Low Internalizing Externalizing (LIE; 38%), and Low Externalizing (LE; 26%). Derived clusters had variable levels of adaptive behaviours and reflected different behavioural profiles than the ones defined by the original diagnostic category groups of ASD, ADHD, and OCD. Conclusion: Data-driven, diagnosis-agnostic approaches can inform our understanding of the between and within phenotypic heterogeneity seen in ASD, ADHD, and OCD. Empirical ways of classifying children with homogeneous behavioural profiles may complement existing diagnostic models in our efforts to develop cross-disorder, more personalized interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / ASD, ADHD, and OCD are heterogenous neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) with some overlapping clinical characteristics and etiological factors. Internalizing and externalizing behavioural problems persist across these three NDDs, and in this study, are used to identify unique behavioural profiles. Study findings reveal four groups with distinct behavioural profiles of internalizing and externalizing problems that are not identified by the original diagnostic groups. This empirical way of classifying children with similar behavioural profiles can be used in combination with diagnostic labels to enhance transdiagnostic interventions that can be tailored to each child’s needs.

Arbetstagare med en neuropsykiatrisk funktionsnedsättning (NPF), har ibland särskilda utmaningar som kan försvåra en anställning. Med rätt stöd och anpassning från chefen kan dessa individer dock ofta prestera på samma nivå som andra. För att se hur chefer ställer sig till medarbetare med en NPF-diagnos lyder forskningsfrågan: Hur ser chefers inställning ut gentemot arbetstagare med NPF? En kvalitativ intervjustudie genomfördes med sex deltagare som bestod av chefer inom offentlig- samt privat sektor. Intervjuerna bestod av 20 öppna frågor och analyserades genom tematisk analys. Huvudresultatet visade att deltagarna hade en relativt öppen inställning till att ha medarbetare med en NPF-diagnos, däremot återfanns fler faktorer som påverkade deltagarnas inställning, så som rädslor, kommunikation och bristande resurser. Slutsatsen visade att inställningen inte handlade om bristande vilja, utan svårigheter att veta hur man ska gå tillväga vilket implicerar vikten av ökade resurser i form av ökad kunskap och representation. / Employees with a neurodevelopmental disorder (NPF) can have specific challenges that can make employment more difficult. With the right support and accommodation from their manager, these individuals can often perform as well as others. To investigate how managers perceive employees with NPF, the research question reads: What are the managers' attitudes towards employees with NPF? A qualitative study was conducted with six participants. The participants consisted of managers from the public- as well as private sectors. The interviews consisted of 20 open-ended questions and were analysed using thematic analysis. The result indicated that the participants had a relatively open attitudes regarding employees with NPF, however it was recovered that it was more factors than the participants attitude for example fears, communication and lack of resources. The conclusion implies that the attitudes were not primarily about lacking will, but difficulties in knowing how to approach it, and implies the importance of knowledge and representation.

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Autism diagnoses are on the rise and part of the explanation is that society is making increasing demands on us and our brains. Autism is largely about how we perceive and interpret our surroundings, so there should be opportunities to support people with autism through thoughtful architecture to reduce stress levels and save energy. What is autism-friendly architecture and what might it look like?  In this project, I have designed a service residence (a type of LSS accommodation) for adults diagnosed with autism. By reviewing relevant literature and reference projects on the topic, I have tried to find keys on how to design a home that can support a person with autism. The overall objectives of the design are to reduce stress, enhance the individual's independence and support social interaction. The architectural aspects I have mainly worked on to achieve this are daylight, views, visual connections and boundaries and the organisation of the programme. Since people with autism have, among other symptoms, a different sensory experience often being hyper- or hypersensitivity to sensory input, an autism-friendly architecture is very much about designing for the senses.  The conclusion is that accommodation suitable for a person with an autism diagnosis can suit most people. It’s more about avoiding certain things that may be experienced as disturbing in different ways by people with autism, rather than adding special features.

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In today’s society, neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) have been researched in different areas of life. However, what has yet to be explored broadly is the correlation between the characteristics of various neurodevelopmental disorders and their possible impact on a primary school student’s language learning, speaking development, and inclusivity in the English as a Foreign language (EFL) classroom. Additionally, the term neurodiversity is introduced as a shift in viewing disorders as solely deficits, but rather from a practical aspect that should be attended to positively.  This secondary data analysis aims to focus on what particular beneficial and problematic characteristics students with NDDs might experience. As well as, how these characteristics might affect language learning and speaking development in an EFL classroom. Since neurodevelopmental disorders is an abstract term with different disorders and characteristics, this analysis chose to further research Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD). This thesis attempts to answer and observe the impact Autism Spectrum disorder characteristics have in an EFL classroom. The results will provide three key findings. The first finding presents the strengths and challenges of ASD in English language learning. The second finding analyzes useful tools to help students with communication. The third and last finding will discuss the perception regarding the disorder and its effects in the inclusive classroom. Furthermore, the correlation between the research and the Swedish school institution, its laws, its curriculum, teachers’ impact, and a useful theoretical approach can be seen. Lastly, a thorough discussion regarding bilingualism, multilingualism, and its benefits will be delved into.

Diverse clinical presentation in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) leads to difficulty in matching individuals with effective treatments. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are the two most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), characterized by deficits in communication, social interactions, and behaviours. There is high within-diagnosis heterogeneity and striking overlap between diagnoses. The literature suggests that current diagnostic criteria do not align well with behaviour metrics. Therefore, identifying novel biomarkers underlying behaviour in NDDs may provide a reliable way to group individuals with similar behavioural phenotypes. This thesis examines how gut-immune biology is linked to clinical heterogeneity in children with NDDs. The first study used unsupervised machine learning to cluster typically developing (TD), ADHD, and ASD participants by their behaviour metrics in a diagnosis-agnostic approach. The results produced a six-cluster solution, five of which were a mix of all diagnostic categories. Further, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms were mapped to the clusters, revealing a link between constipation, social communication deficits and restrictive-repetitive behaviours. The second study used hierarchical clustering to group TD and NDD participants based on a profile of gut and inflammatory markers. Participants clustered into two biotypes, both containing TD and NDD participants. Additionally, using regression analysis, novel markers were linked to anxiety. The third study evaluated the multisite biospecimen collection protocol of the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders (POND) Network. The final study used biospecimens collected from the POND network to phenotype peripheral blood mononuclear cells in TD and NDD participants. In NDD groups, monocyte and B cell activation markers were differentially expressed compared to TD. Overall, this thesis demonstrates that gut-immune mechanisms contribute to clinical heterogeneity in a subset of people and contribute to the search for biomarkers in NDDs. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are diagnosed based on behavioural symptoms. However, symptoms can vary a lot from person to person, and some symptoms are shared between ASD and ADHD. Understanding the biological reasons for symptom differences between people can help pinpoint treatments which work best for an individual. This thesis looks at the role of the gut and immune system in ASD and ADHD. Blood samples and behaviour questionnaires were collected to study how immune cells, inflammation, and intestinal permeability shape behaviour symptoms. The results show that diagnosis is not the most accurate way to group people. Anxiety symptoms were different when people were grouped based on their inflammation levels. Also, specific immune cells appear to work differently in people with ASD and ADHD. These findings clarify some of the biology that affects behavioural symptoms in ASD and ADHD.