Effects of ABRACADABRA Instruction on Spelling in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study explored the effects of an evidence-based literacy program, ABRACADABRA, on the spelling abilities of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Twenty children with ASD aged 5–11 years were assigned to matched instruction and waitlist control groups. Children in the instruction group received 26 hrs of individualized, home-based instruction using ABRACADABRA over a 13-week period. Results showed no change in children’s conventional spelling accuracy skills following ABRACADABRA instruction. However, an analysis of spelling attempts using the Computerized Spelling Sensitivity System (Masterson & Hrbec, 2011) revealed statistically significant gains in linguistic spelling accuracy for children in the instruction group relative to the waitlist control group, with large effect sizes. These findings suggest that ABRACADABRA improves aspects of spelling ability in children with ASD and that the Computerized Spelling Sensitivity System is a useful tool for detecting changes in the spelling abilities of children with ASD following literacy instruction.     

Early Numerical Competencies in 5- and 6-Year-Old Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Research Findings: To date, studies comparing the mathematical abilities of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing children are scarce, and results remain inconclusive. In general, studies on this topic focus on mathematical abilities learned from elementary school onward, with little attention for possible precursors at younger ages. The current exploratory study focused on the important developmental period of preschool age, investigating 5 early numerical competencies in 30 high-functioning children with ASD and 30 age-matched control children: verbal subitizing, counting, magnitude comparison, estimation, and arithmetic operations. Children were examined at 5 or 6 years of age, attending the 3rd and final year of preschool. Overall, rather similar early number processing was found in children with and without ASD, although marginally significant results indicated a weaker performance of children with ASD on verbal subitizing and conceptual counting. Practice or Policy: Given the pervasiveness and impact of ASD on other domains of functioning, it is important to know that no general deficits in early numerical competencies were found in this study. However, some downward trends in mathematics performance were identified in children with ASD, which can serve as the basis for additional research in this field.     

Developing a Scale of Adaptive Behavior for Young Chinese Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

The purpose of the present study was to develop and evaluate a scale to measure adaptive behavior skills in Chinese children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants were 121 young children (M = 55.18 months, SD = 0.18 months) with a formal diagnosis of ASD (73% male). Psychometric evaluation indicated that the reliability and validity of this scale were good. Furthermore, independent t‐tests revealed that boys demonstrated better adaptive behavior skills than girls. The present findings suggest that the scale is a valid measure of adaptive behavior skills in Chinese children with ASD.     

The Relation Between Walking and Language in Infant Siblings of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

In typical development, walk onset is accompanied by increased language growth (e.g., Walle & Campos, 2014). The present study explored whether this relation may be disrupted in the infant siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; heightened risk of receiving an ASD diagnosis; HR), a population exhibiting substantial variability in motor and language development (e.g., Gamliel, Yirmiya, & Sigman, 2007; Landa & Garrett-Mayer, 2006). Receptive and expressive language were examined across the transition to walking in three groups of HR infants (no diagnosis, language delay, and ASD; N = 91, 8–18 months) and in infants with no family history of ASD (N = 25; 9–15 months). Only infants with an eventual ASD diagnosis did not show increased language growth following walk onset.     

Physical Activity of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

A preliminary study was conducted to investigate the physical activity status of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related demographic characteristics. Thirty-four parents completed the IPAQ-S and demographic survey. Mean metabolic equivalent-minutes per week (MET-min/week) across participants was 3371. Significant correlations were found between parent’s age and moderate (τ = .287, p = .034) and vigorous (τ = .318, p = .020) physical activity minutes as well as vigorous (τ = .308, p = .021) and total (τ = .366, p = .005) MET-min/week. Similarly, significant correlations were found between child’s age and walking minutes (τ = .412, p = .002), walking MET-min/week (τ = .380, p = .005) and total MET-min/week (τ = .342, p = .010). This study provides current evidence about the physical activity participation of parents of children with ASD, and demonstrates a need for further research exploring barriers and facilitators towards physical activity for this population.     

Faces Do Not Capture Special Attention in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Change Blindness Study

Two experiments investigated attention of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to faces and objects. In both experiments, children (7- to 15-year-olds) detected the difference between 2 visual scenes. Results in Experiment 1 revealed that typically developing children ( n  = 16) detected the change in faces faster than in objects, whereas children with ASD ( n  = 16) were equally fast in detecting changes in faces and objects. These results were replicated in Experiment 2 ( n  = 16 in children with ASD and 22 in typically developing children), which does not require face recognition skill. Results suggest that children with ASD lack an attentional bias toward others' faces, which could contribute to their atypical social orienting.     

自闭症谱系障碍自我刺激行为研究综述

自我刺激行为是自闭症的常见行为之一,虽然它不一定是挑战性行为,但是严重的自我刺激行为会损害自闭症的身体,阻碍自闭症的社会性发展.通过对文献的梳理,分析自我刺激行为与挑战性行为、重复刻板行为的关系、自我刺激行为的表现形式及形成原因等,重点探讨自闭症自我刺激行为的干预策略,为今后的研究和干预提供参考.     

美国循证实践在自闭症谱系障碍儿童干预中的应用及其对我国的启示

国际趋势表明自闭症谱系障碍儿童干预方法的有效性需循证实践来检验。美国自闭症干预方法的循证实践过程经历了研究文献筛选、建立证据强度分类系统、干预次级分类系统三个阶段,循证实践结果将当前的自闭症干预方法划分为已经证实有效的方法、正在形成有效的方法、尚未证实的方法。我国自闭症教育研究者及临床工作者应遵循循证实践,科学选择干预方法。     

自闭症谱系障碍者面孔加工障碍的成因——来自不同理论的解释

通过分析自闭症谱系障碍者面孔加工障碍的相关理论,揭示该群体面孔加工障碍的形成原因。首先,自闭症谱系障碍者在面孔加工中对社会刺激感知异常,对面孔缺乏兴趣,忽视面孔;在特定条件下回避眼睛,依靠嘴部进行面孔识别。相关理论有:社交动机假说、眼睛威胁假说和嘴部信息补偿假说。其次,自闭症谱系障碍者面孔加工能力不足,面孔加工相关脑区存在功能损伤、加工策略可能异常。相关理论有:加工策略异常假说、社会脑假说。最后,根据自闭症谱系障碍者面孔加工障碍的形成原因,提出教学启示。     

孤独症谱系儿童社会交往干预研究———视觉文本干预法研究综述

孤独症谱系儿童的典型特点之一是社会性发展障碍,目前国外有许多针对孤独症谱系儿童的社会交往干预方式,近几年也出现了视觉文本干预方式的研究,因此,需要对视觉文本干预方式的有效性进行分析。通过对国外文献的查询、整理和分析,发现各研究结果均显示出视觉文本干预能够增加儿童积极的沟通行为,社会交往也能够泛化到新的同伴、新的环境以及新的刺激当中。     

Improved Social Communication Abilities and Reduced Autism Severity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Highly Sensitive Mothers

SYNOPSIS

Objective . To explore whether maternal sensitivity is associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) severity in children with and without ASD. Design . The samples consisted of 25 Mexican dyads of children with ASD (aged 3.1-6.9 years) and their mothers (aged 20-47 years) and 24 Mexican dyads of children without ASD (aged 3.4-6.7 years) and their mothers (aged 24-45 years). Maternal sensitivity and ASD severity symptoms were scored from 2-h videos of mother-child daily interactions. Results . A between-group comparison showed a trend toward less severe ASD in children with highly sensitive mothers, specifically in the Nonverbal Communication subdomain. Conclusions . Greater maternal sensitivity is associated with improved social ability in children with ASD.     

Interventions and Adaptations for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Inclusive Early Childhood Settings

The inclusive education of children with disabilities is considered best practice, yet many early childhood educators feel unprepared to deliver appropriate instruction for children with disabilities and often require supports to successfully meet the children’s unique needs. Young children experiencing autism spectrum disorder are being diagnosed at a young age and they are commonly receiving their education within inclusive early childhood settings. This article presents two methods to meet the needs of children with autism spectrum disorder. First, early childhood educators can provide interventions tailored to the children’s learning needs. Second, educators can adapt the environment, materials, activity, instruction, and assistance they provide so that each child is appropriately supported, while still being encouraged to succeed as independently as possible. This article summarizes research-based interventions and adaptations that early childhood educators can implement within inclusive settings to meet the diverse needs of young children with autism spectrum disorder and presents a case study to describe how these practices can support young children with autism spectrum disorder within inclusive settings.     

自闭症谱系障碍儿童与普通儿童入学成熟水平的比较

从全国幼儿园大班儿童入学成熟水平标准化测量数据库中的四万多个样本中随机抽取100名普通儿童,同时选取47名自闭症谱系障碍儿童入学成熟水平的有效数据,探究自闭症谱系障碍儿童与普通儿童在入学成熟水平方面的差异。结果表明,自闭症谱系障碍儿童在视知觉能力、听知觉能力、运动协调能力、知觉转换能力、数学准备能力、语言沟通能力、社会适应能力、学习品质八个入学成熟水平维度上均显著低于普通儿童。参照本研究结果,可为随班就读的自闭症谱系障碍儿童做好全面科学的入学准备提出合理建议。     

Gaze‐Contingent Display Changes as New Window on Analytical and Holistic Face Perception in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

The strength of holistic face perception in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was evaluated by applying the gaze‐contingent mask and window technique to a face matching and discrimination task in 6‐ to 14‐year‐old children with (n = 36) and without ASD (n = 47), and by examining fixation patterns. Behavioral results suggested a slower and less efficient face processing in the ASD sample compared with the matched control group. Comparing the moving mask and window conditions revealed a reduced holistic face processing bias in the younger age group but not in the older sample. Preferential viewing patterns revealed both similarities and differences between both participant groups.     

运用视觉支持策略提高自闭症幼儿生活技能

如何有效促进自闭症幼儿更好地融入幼儿园集体生活,是融合教育需要加以重点关注的问题之一.研究者对在开展融合教育实践的幼儿园就读的3名自闭症幼儿进行了为期3～6个月的视觉支持策略干预,以探讨视觉支持策略在促进自闭症幼儿提高生活技能、融入幼儿园集体生活方面的效果.研究结果表明,视觉流程图、视觉任务分析图、规则提示卡、环境组织图等一系列视觉支持工具可以有效提高自闭症幼儿的生活技能,从而促进自闭症幼儿更好地融入幼儿园集体生活.建议教师在融合教育中科学使用这一策略.     

Comparison of Most-to-Least Prompting to Flexible Prompt Fading for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study compared most-to-least prompting to flexible prompt fading for teaching four children with an autism spectrum disorder various expressive tasks. Using a parallel treatment design nested into a multiple probe design, researchers taught each participant how to expressively label six pictures with most-to-least prompting and six pictures with flexible prompt fading. The researchers evaluated effectiveness, maintenance, efficiency, and performance across both prompting conditions and across all participants. Results indicated that both prompting procedures were effective across all four participants. Results also indicated that flexible prompt fading led to a higher percentage of independent correct responding during teaching trials. For three of the participants, flexible prompt fading was also a more efficient procedure. Results were mixed in terms of maintenance across the four participants.     

孤独症谱系障碍儿童教育干预康复效果探究

孤独症谱系障碍（ASD）儿童是一群存在社交沟通障碍并且行为重复刻板的孩子,在症状和严重程度上存在着连续性特征,其中一部分ASD儿童具有接受普通教育的可能,将其与发育落后儿童一起进行小组教学,互相取长补短,对于两类孩子的生涯发展都大有裨益,这种联合教育的模式就是混合教育模式.另一部分ASD儿童或者属于中重度范畴,或者随着年龄的增长而出现能力的倒退和停滞,针对这些儿童,建议采用传统的教育康复模式.论文作者在证明教育康复对于孤独症谱系障碍儿童社会交往障碍具有明显效果的基础上,验证了教育实践中因材施教,区分使用混合教育和传统教育的必要性.     

Partners in School: An Innovative Parent-Teacher Consultation Model for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

ABSTRACT

Little research examines the best ways to improve communication between parents and teachers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its effect on child outcomes. The present study tests an innovative parent-teacher consultation model, entitled Partners in School. The goal of Partners in School is to improve parent-teacher communication about evidence-based practices (EBPs) and, subsequently, outcomes for children with ASD. Participants were 26 teachers and 49 parents of children with ASD from a large urban public school district. Parents and teachers completed measures of their communication and child outcomes prior to and after receiving consultation through Partners in School. Results indicated that parents and teachers perceived improvements in child outcomes after participation in Partners in School. Changes in parent-teacher communication also were associated with changes in some child outcomes. Discussion highlights the important role of communication in consultations targeting family–school partnerships for children with ASD.