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The Importance of Architectural Factors on Increasing Social Interactions of Children with Autism in Educational Centers
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The lack of social interest is one of the core features of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Individuals with ASD suffer direct and indirect consequences related to their social interaction deficits. The effect of these deficits often increases during adolescence. In this period, adolescents with ASD start to report their desire for peer social interaction, and may also experience more loneliness than their typically developing peers. It is especially vital for adolescents with ASD to have emotionally non-threatening social experiences. The non-threatening and acquiescent nature of music helps to decrease the anxiety experienced during direct interaction with others and improve the social skills of adolescents with ASD. In this study,video recordings of music therapy activities carried out with a group of adolescents with ASD are analyzed, and the outcomes are presented. While activities such as singing, rhythmic games, creative movement and dance were performed; adolescents were asked to work in dyads, in small groups and in a large group. Adolescents initiated and sustained social interactions during music sessions and less resistance was observed while interacting with their peers.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder of social behavior, which is more common in males than in females. The causes of autism are unknown; there is evidence for a substantial genetic component, but it is likely that a combination of genetic, environmental and epigenetic factors contribute to its complex pathogenesis. Rodent models that mimic the behavioral deficits of autism can be useful tools for dissecting both the etiology and molecular mechanisms. This review discusses animal models of autism generated by prenatal or neonatal environmental challenges, including virus infection and exposure to valproic acid (VPA) or stress. Studies of viral infection models suggest that interleukin-6 can influence fetal development and programming. Prenatal exposure to the histone deacetylase inhibitor VPA has been linked to autism in children, and male VPA-exposed rats exhibit a spectrum of autistic-like behaviors. The experience of prenatal stress produces male-specific behavioral abnormalities in rats. These effects may be mediated by epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation resulting in alterations to the transcriptome.
Rett syndrome (RTT, MIM#312750) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is classified as an autism spectrum disorder. Clinically, RTT is characterized by psychomotor regression with loss of volitional hand use and spoken language, the development of repetitive hand stereotypies, and gait impairment. The majority of people with RTT have mutations in Methyl-CpG-binding Protein 2 (MECP2), a transcriptional regulator. Interestingly, alterations in the function of the protein product produced by MECP2, MeCP2, have been identified in a number of other clinical conditions. The many clinical features found in RTT and the various clinical problems that result from alteration in MeCP2 function have led to the belief that understanding RTT will provide insight into a number of other neurological disorders. Excitingly, RTT is reversible in a mouse model, providing inspiration and hope that such a goal may be achieved for RTT and potentially for many neurodevelopmental disorders.
The psychosocial outcomes of individuals with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) appear to be diverse and are often poor relative to their intellectual or language level. To identify predictive variables that are potentially ameliorable by therapeutic intervention, this study investigated self-reported psychosocial quality of life and associated factors for adults with HFASD. All participants (n = 154) had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, were over 18 years of age, lived in the community, and had used one or more support services during the survey period. The results demonstrated that psychosocial quality of life was lower than that of the general Japanese adult population. Environmental factors, such as mother’s support and early diagnosis, were associated with better quality of life, and aggressive behaviors were associated with poorer quality of life, while expressive language level at preschool years, a conventional outcome predictor, did not predict quality of life. These results emphasize that quality of life measures should be included as outcome indicators in treating individuals with HFASD.
Background:
Research has suggested a different, less visible, clinical manifestation of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in females. There is, however, limited research into possible underlying mechanisms explaining the female phenotype.
Aims:
This study investigates social attention in females with ASD.
Methods and procedures:
26 women diagnosed with ASD and 26 typical female controls were shown three video clips containing intense emotions. Social attention was assessed by measuring eye fixation patterns during the video clips. Autism symptoms were assessed using the informant reported Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS).
Outcome and results:
Results show normal time to first fixation to the face, but lower fixation duration to the face in women with ASD. Analyzing the visual patterns further, there were similar impairments in fixation to mouth, eyes and other facial areas. Relating social attention to autism symptoms revealed several significant correlations within the ASD group.
Conclusions and implications:
Women with ASD show abnormalities in social attention and these abnormalities are related to level of autism symptoms. In contrast to other studies which investigate male dominated ASD samples, a hyperfocus to the mouth area could not be found.
LEGO® therapy uses children's natural interest in play to help motivate behavioural change and may be an effective teaching tool to increase social competency and communication skills. Although the literature is growing it has not been synthesized. The objective was to review the literature on the role of LEGO therapy on social skills and inclusion among children and youth with autism spectrum disorder.A scoping review was conducted, involving comprehensive searches of international databases. Eligible articles included:
(a) youth aged 19 or younger, with ASD; (b) empirical research on LEGO® therapy interventions; (c) published
from 1996 to 2016 in a peer-reviewed journal, conference proceedings, or dissertation.
Results: Of the 6964 studies identified, 15 articles—involving 293 participants, aged 5–16 (mean age 8.7 years), across five countries—met the inclusion criteria. Although the outcomes of the LEGO® therapy varied across the studies, 14 studies reported at least one improvement in social and communication skills (e.g., building friendships, improved social interactions and social competence), ASD-specific behaviors, belonging, family relationships, coping, and reductions in playing alone.
Conclusions: Although LEGO® therapy shows promise as an intervention for children and youth with ASD, more rigorously designed studies are needed to fully understand its impact.
This study investigated the developmental sequence of theory of mind (ToM) of 76 typical preschool children and 34 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using the five-task scale of ToM. Results showed that the developmental sequence of typical children in the five ToM tasks differed from that of children with ASD. Specifically, typical children had the following sequence for the five tasks from the easiest to the hardest: diverse desire, knowledge access, diverse belief, content false belief, and hidden emotion tasks. Children with ASD had a significantly poorer performance on ToM tasks than typical children and had a varied sequence for diverse belief and knowledge. The developmental sequence of ToM of both Chinese typical children and children with ASD is different from those of children from other countries as presented by previous studies. The present study provides substantial evidence supporting the cultural and atypical developmental influence on ToM development.
Social skills are important for both social development and integration. However, few studies have looked at these behaviors in the context of severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms and comorbid psychopathology in young children. Three hundred twenty eight infants and toddlers between 18 and 36 months of age diagnosed with ASD were studied. More severe symptoms of ASD and various forms of emotional distress such as tantrums and inattention/impulsivity were associated with greater difficulties in social behavior.
Abstract Few research studies have explored how the level of a child's behavior problems leads to psychological distress in parents of children with autism. The authors explored whether psychological acceptance and mindfulness mediated this relationship between child behavior and parental distress. Seventy-one mothers and 39 fathers of children with autism participated, by reporting on their own positive and negative psychological well-being and their child's behavior problems. Psychological acceptance was found to act as a mediator variable for maternal anxiety, depression, and stress, and for paternal depression. General mindfulness and mindful parenting had significant mediation effects for maternal anxiety, depression, and stress. These results contribute to evidence that mindfulness and acceptance may be important parental psychological processes, with implications for parent support.
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