Integrating evaluation data to enhance treatment planning for students with ASD

Accurate assessment across the various characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its comorbidities can help guide intervention planning. This introduction to the second issue of a double special issue on ASD assessment highlights assessment of various characteristics of and comorbidities with ASD to assist with treatment planning. For instance, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are two of the most common comorbidities with ASD. Educational, clinical, and medical interventions for individuals with ASD can vary based on the unique cognitive and additional mental health needs of the individual.     

Evidence-Based Methods for Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Stakeholder Issues and Perspectives

Despite variable interpretations of the meaning and nature of specific effective practice methods and research-supported strategies, such approaches are generally considered essential for children and youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Indeed, there is general consensus that only by qualified professionals using effective methods in an approved fashion will optimal student outcomes be achieved. Related to this need, this article presents perspectives of stakeholders connected to use of effective practices with children and youth diagnosed with ASD. A parent, educational practitioner, and program administrator each share their unique perspectives on the subject of effective practice methods for learners with ASD.     

An evaluation of a group CBT programme for children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in a school age disability service

Research has shown that rates of clinical anxiety levels are higher among young people with an ASD than their typically developing peers. This study conducted an exploratory investigation into the impact of a specifically tailored CBT group programme on anxiety levels in young people with ASD. The 12 week CBT programme was delivered to 12 children with a diagnosis of ASD in a children’s disability team in Ireland. An embedded mixed methods design was utilised and inferences were drawn by collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative data separately. Findings indicate CBT can be delivered successfully to a group of children with ASD. As is the nature of an embedded design, quantitative findings are reported as supportive evidence for the qualitative findings of this study. The positive preliminary findings suggest a rigorous, large scale evaluation is needed to determine the overall effectiveness of the programme with this population.     

The assessment needs of families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing referred for an autism spectrum disorder evaluation

With the increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), clinicians and schools are receiving a larger number of assessment referrals for eligibility or diagnostic clarification of ASD in children who are deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH). Meeting this increasing demand is often difficult given not all assessment professionals seek specialized ASD training and even fewer have experience working with D/HH children. Therefore, families are disadvantaged because of the lack of assessment professionals who specialize in both these areas. School psychologists without such experience are at-risk for misinterpreting or missing key diagnostic information. This study explored the assessment experiences of four families of D/HH children who have ASD. Hearing parents’ and D/HH parents’ perspectives were gathered to explore the family needs. An open-ended survey asked parents to recall the assessment techniques utilized during the process and relate how their child's language skills were accounted for by the clinician. Parent responses revealed interpreters were utilized for various reasons unique to each family. Families expressed difficulty finding ASD specialists who had experience working with D/HH children. This study highlights the importance of selecting a trained interpreter and emphasizes the need of more professionals who have experience assessing ASD in D/HH children.     

The assessment of creativity for people with autism spectrum disorder

The term “creativity” can conjure various ideas and meanings. It's no surprise that methods for measuring such a concept vary widely and are not without controversy. This is particularly true among people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who are a unique yet incredibly diverse group of individuals. This article provides an overview of the assessment of creativity among individuals with ASD. Findings among studies that have sought to determine whether individuals with ASD are more or less creative than their neurotypical peers are mixed, yet the authors propose that intentional development of creativity in all youth, including those with ASD, can be beneficial.     

A support group for parents of children on a waiting list for an assessment for autism spectrum disorder

Parents of children waiting for a diagnostic assessment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience distress and anxiety while they wait. The present small-scale study took place in a multi-disciplinary therapeutic service in Ireland for children with ASD and was run between April and September 2011. The first author, an educational psychologist on a multi-disciplinary team, designed a qualitative, three-staged study to look at ways of supporting parents of children on the waiting list for assessment. Focus group discussions were analysed using thematic content analysis to identify themes to facilitate the development and evaluation of a pilot parent education group. Findings suggested that the ASD “journey” begins when the disorder is first raised as a possibility. Parents want information about ASD and the diagnostic process at this point. Parents reported benefits from the pilot group through meeting professionals involved in assessment, being supported by other parents, and learning strategies to help their children.     

Autism Spectrum in the College Classroom: Strategies for Instructors

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to several conditions that share the feature of persistent social impairment. The rate of ASD diagnosis has climbed to one in 88 (CDC, 2012), and increasing numbers of individuals with ASD attend college. College students with ASD may share academic challenges related to critical thinking, executive functioning, and classroom anxiety. These challenges can manifest in the classroom, and there are a number of simple strategies for instructors that directly address characteristics of ASD. These strategies are not just good for students on the spectrum, but they can benefit other learners as well.     

From eligibility assessment to intervention for students with autism spectrum disorder

The mean age of identification for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) occurs during the months before children enter kindergarten. The incidence and prevalence of “autistic behaviors” in the general population are not fully understood, however, census-matched studies of these behaviors have yielded important new data. As children presenting with behaviors characteristic of ASD enter school, school psychologists are increasingly faced with the assessment and determination of individuals with disabilities improvement act (IDEIA) eligibility, often with students yet to be formally diagnosed with ASD. In many US states, a clinical diagnosis of ASD is not required for a child's eligibility to be served under the category of other health impaired as autism. Nor does a diagnosis of ASD automatically qualify a student as eligible under IDEIA. Eligibility hinges on educational impact. This article briefly reviews the current state of knowledge as it relates to understanding and evaluating children with suspected ASD in the schools, offers a framework for assessment, and discusses a set of proposed guidelines to assist in effectively utilizing assessment data in the development of individualized education plan goals.     

Assessment of Children's Social Skills: Recent Developments,Best Practices,and New Directions

This article provides an overview of some of the recent developments in assessing social skills of children and youth, as well as a discussion of "best practices" in conducting assessment and linking assessment to effective intervention. Naturalistic behavioral observation and behavior rating scales are proposed as the 2 assessment methods that should be considered primary or "first-line" choices for social skills assessment. A review of some specific tools that have been developed within these 2 assessment methods is provided. Interviewing and sociometric techniques, although not necessarily primary methods of assessment for children's social skills, sometimes may be an important part of an assessment design, or "second-line" choices. Projective-expressive techniques or objective self-report instruments for assessing children's social skills sometimes may help illuminate the overall assessment results but should never be used as primary assessment methods for social skills; thus, these methods are considered "third-line" methods for this purpose. Six best-practices recommendations, all of which are supported by previous empirical research, are offered for improving social skills assessment efforts. Finally, conclusions are drawn regarding the current state of the art in social skills assessment, as well as implications for future directions in this area. Clearly, the challenge facing researchers and practitioners who are concerned with this area will be to make assessment "functional" and link it to intervention more effectively.     

Making the transition to post-secondary education: opportunities and challenges experienced by students with ASD in the Republic of Ireland

Abstract

Internationally there are increasing numbers of young people on the ASD spectrum attending higher education. Early transition planning is essential and students with ASD often require support to articulate their post-school educational goals and actively participate in transition planning meetings. Services within higher education are primarily designed to provide academic supports however, non-academic supports may be an even more crucial factor in enabling successful transitions for young people on the ASD spectrum who often experience heightened anxiety within an unfamiliar environment. Within this paper, the results of a small-scale exploratory study of the transition experiences of six young people on the ASD spectrum to post-secondary education will be shared. There was limited evidence that transition planning had been initiated as a formal process for the six students. Accessing support in higher education proved to be a complex process for some students who required sustained input from parents to ensure that they would utilise the supports available. Encouraging the development of self-determination skills, a key predictor of success in higher education, needs to begin in secondary school. It is anticipated insights from this study can contribute to the development of an embedded infrastructure to support effective transitions for students with ASD to post-secondary education.     

Outcomes of Home-Support Consultation on the Maintenance of Bicycle-Riding Skills for Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Bicycle riding is a functional motor skill that increases physical activity opportunities, social interaction, and independence. However, bicycle riding is difficult for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to learn. This study examined the effectiveness of home-support consultation (HSC) on increasing the maintenance of independent bicycle riding following initial skill acquisition. Fifty-one youth with a confirmed ASD diagnosis learned to ride a two-wheeled bicycle during a training camp. Twenty-nine riders enrolled in a HSC intervention to promote distributed practice of the learned skill. The control cohort (N = 22) was exempt from the HSC intervention. One year following initial skill acquisition, 62.07% of the HSC cohort compared to 36.36% of the control cohort still reportedly displayed the skill. Within the HSC cohort, riders who reported at least 8 weeks of practice following acquisition on average maintained the skill. Implications of home consultation are discussed.     

高职教师一般心理问题的诊断与咨询——以一位高职教师的焦虑情绪诊治为例

运用认知行为疗法的相关理论对一高职女教师的焦虑情绪进行心理分析与行为治疗,其过程包括来访者的一般资料的搜集、评估与诊断、咨询目标与方案的制定,咨询过程与效果的评估。在求助者的积极配合下,最终达到心理咨询的目标。咨询后,来访者的焦虑情绪有了缓解。     

Differences in the Prevalence,Severity and Symptom Profiles of Depression in Boys and Adolescents with an Autism Spectrum Disorder versus Normally Developing Controls

The prevalence, severity and symptom profiles for major depressive disorder (MDD) were compared in samples of boys and adolescents with and without an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Self-reports were obtained on the Depression subscale of the Child and Adolescent Symptoms Inventory (CASI-D) with 70 ASD and 50 non-ASD male participants between the ages of 8 and 18 from Queensland, Australia who were matched for age and IQ. Results indicated that the ASD participants had significantly higher total CASI-D scores, a greater proportion of participants who qualified for a diagnosis of MDD, and over 50% higher scores for 8 of the 10 CASI-D symptoms than non-ASD participants. The MDD profiles for the ASD participants were dominated by anhedonia. Issues for assessment and diagnosis of comorbid MDD in young males with an ASD, plus targeted treatment planning that directly addresses their MDD profile, are discussed.     

形成性评价与大学英语教学评价体系改革取向

回顾了国内外有关形成性评价的概念、基本理论及功能,分析了现行大学英语教学评价体系存在评价概念过于狭小、评价主体过于单一、评价内容重知识轻能力、评价功能缺乏激励、评价结果缺少反馈、评价方式过于单一的问题,总结了形成性评价在大学英语教学评价体系中具有评价主体更加多元化、评价内容更加全面、评价方式更加多样化、评价结果具有反馈作用的优势,并提出形成性评价是今后大学英语教学评价体系改革取向。     

Patterns of maltreatment and diagnosis across levels of care in group homes

Patterns of Axis I psychiatric diagnosis and maltreatment history were explored among youth in group homes, including match of clinical need to level or restrictiveness of care. Data on demographics, diagnoses, maltreatment, and group home level of care (Level I, II, or III homes, representing lower to higher intensity of supervision and treatment) were obtained from 523 youth who participated in a quasi-experimental study of group homes. Three quarters of youth had a diagnosis and two-thirds of youth had a maltreatment history. Youth in higher level homes had more diagnoses and higher rates of all disorders except adjustment disorders. Youth in Level I homes had a history of more maltreatment types, particularly high rates of neglect. Sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse were most common among youth in higher level homes. Regardless of diagnosis history, comparable proportions of youth had a maltreatment history, and similar patterns were found across levels of care. Together, findings indicate that group homes with varying degrees of restrictiveness serve youth with different psychiatric diagnosis and maltreatment histories. Youth triaged to higher level homes had more diagnoses, while youth placed in the least restrictive homes had a history of more maltreatment subtypes. Further, distinct patterns of diagnosis types and maltreatment subtypes were seen across homes. Implications include the importance of assessing unique clinical needs of youth to promote an appropriate match to level of care and treatment plan.     

核心素养的认知诊断测评体系建构

核心素养作为人的必备品质和关键能力,其测评成为了教育教学研究的主要议题。认知诊断理论与素养测评具有内在一致性,在分析认知诊断测评核心素养的合理性和可行性的基础上,借助认知诊断测评理论,文章从核心素养的基本属性关系构建、认知诊断测试的编制、认知诊断模型的选择与应用、测评结果解释与诊断报告的制定等方面建构起素养测评的完整体系,并以数感为例对测评体系的应用做了解析。结合当前核心素养测评的现状,文章针对认知诊断的核心素养测评给出了启示,为核心素养的测评提供了新的视角。     

AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDERS AND ASIAN CHILDREN

ABSTRACT:  This paper compares the incidence of the diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) among White and Asian children with reference to data obtained from thirteen local education authorities (LEAs) in England. It begins by outlining some of the theoretical debates associated with the definition, diagnosis and prevalence of ASD. The empirical component underpinning this work uses logistic modelling to ascertain whether the proportion of children with a statement of special educational need (SEN) for ASD is different for Asian and for White children and whether the proportion of children with a statement of SEN for ASD varies between LEAs. The discussion speculates as to possible reasons for the differences found and identifies areas for further research.     

Children with epilepsy: the role of the educational psychologist

Childhood epilepsy is the most common paediatric neurological disorder. It is a condition with a well-documented association with cognitive, behavioural and emotional difficulties. Children with epilepsy are at increased risk of global and specific cognitive impairments. They are also at increased risk for symptoms associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), depression and anxiety. The cognitive, behavioural and emotional difficulties associated with childhood epilepsy are often overshadowed by the need to treat epileptic seizures. Psychologists working in schools can provide valuable insight into the cognitive, behavioural and emotional issues faced by children with epilepsy through appropriate assessment and the recommendation of interventions which will lessen the impact of such difficulties. Educational psychologists can also help the children’s families cope with a condition with challenging psychosocial implications and provide a valuable link between school staff and supporting health professionals.     

Virtually in the Middle: Alternative Avenues for Parental Involvement in Middle-Level Schools

The incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is increasing in the United States. The rate of diagnosis, combined with the trend towards more inclusive classrooms, means that general education teachers will most likely be teaching some students with ASD. In their teacher preparation course in special education, pre-service teachers learned about characteristics of students with ASD by reading literature with positive portrayals of individuals with ASD. In conjunction, pre-service teachers received instruction on teaching strategies to use in the classroom for students with ASD. By combining good literature with instruction in inclusive teaching practices, teacher educators can model the use of disability literature in the classroom to the benefit of all students.