A Genome‐Wide Association Study of Autism Incorporating Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised,Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule,and Social Responsiveness Scale

Efforts to understand the causes of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have been hampered by genetic complexity and heterogeneity among individuals. One strategy for reducing complexity is to target endophenotypes, simpler biologically based measures that may involve fewer genes and constitute a more homogenous sample. A genome‐wide association study of 2,165 participants (mean age = 8.95 years) examined associations between genomic loci and individual assessment items from the Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, and Social Responsiveness Scale. Significant associations with a number of loci were identified, including KCND2 (overly serious facial expressions), NOS2A (loss of motor skills), and NELL1 (faints, fits, or blackouts). These findings may help prioritize directions for future genomic efforts.     

Diagnosis, Intuition and Autism

The authors discuss the need for diagnosis and the place for intuition in the education of pupils with autism. They are in the Educational Research into Autism Group, School of Humanities and Education, University of Hertfordshire.     

自闭症的病因、诊断及心理干预

自闭症是一种小儿广泛性的发展障碍 ,语言障碍、社会性障碍和想象障碍是自闭症的三个核心障碍。研究者从生物学水平、行为水平、认知水平等多种图式来说明不同的自闭症障碍类型 ,认为自闭症的病因主要是脑生物学上的因素导致认知和情感上的障碍。对自闭症的神经生物学研究已经有了一些进展 ,引发自闭症的遗传因素正在得到确定。目前对自闭症的认知方面的研究集中在“心的理论”上。自闭症的诊断标准经历了一个发展过程 ,目前国际上一般以DSM第四版 ( 1 994)中自闭症的诊断标准来诊断。对自闭症的心理干预以教育训练和心理辅导为主。目前还不能证明心理干预完全有效 ,但取得了一定的成果。     

一个患自闭症的弟弟

My brother Pat is 1)brilliant.He is priceless.His brain works in ways that mine never will.But he has autism. I have had a unique life.I grew up with a little brother whose needs were always more important than mine.To be the sister of a child with autism means every day is crazy.You never know what to expect.It's stressful.You grow up very quickly.You deal with a lot of emotions and anxieties that never cross the minds of other 8-year-olds.However,what you gain are 2)irreplaceable life experiences.     

Structured Management and Autism

The authors are educational psychologists in the Schools' Psychological Service, Hull. They compare two forms of intervention with a three-year-old who presented with severe autistic behaviour and absence of expressive language. The first intervention sought to stimulate development through play and immediate pleasant adult contact. The second applied behavioural techniques to specific problems at home and at school.     

融合教育环境中普通幼儿与自闭症幼儿的互动研究

本研究以北京市朝阳区一所融合教育机构中班幼儿为观察对象,以一名自闭症儿童为中心,采用观察法观察和分析其余普通幼儿与该特殊幼儿的互动研究状况。结果显示:融合教育对于普通幼儿所带来的益处远远大于融合教育对于特殊幼儿所带来的益处。融合活动会促进普通幼儿的社会性交往,普通幼儿与特殊幼儿的互动在很多情况下都需要老师在中间作为桥梁,但是也存在很多不足。