Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders最新文献

Reading is an essential life skill that can lead to independence. However, many individuals with autism and/or intellectual disabilities find this skill difficult to acquire. Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) is one approach that combines recommended reading elements (e.g., phonics, fluency, and comprehension) with evidence-based teaching strategies to support the development of reading skills. The first aim of this systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42021253686) was to identify CAI reading programs and their effectiveness for individuals with autism and/or intellectual disability. A second aim was to evaluate the views and experiences of those with autism and/or intellectual disability, their teachers, and other stakeholders about CAI reading programs. Electronic searches of 7 databases identified a total of 3539 records for review, with 262 full-text articles evaluated, and 47 papers included in the review for data extraction and quality appraisal. The review identified both single-component and multicomponent CAI reading programs that were commercially available interventions (e.g., Headsprout^©, ABRACADABRA) and bespoke interventions (e.g., personalized e-books). Thirty-four of the 47 studies reported positive outcomes in terms of effectiveness. However, the quality of these studies was often poor, and the description of the interventions was often limited (e.g., rationale for the intervention, who delivered it and how), leading to concerns about the rigor of the evidence base. Stakeholders’ views and experiences were reported in half of the evaluated studies. CAI reading programs were reported as enjoyable and easy to use. They were considered effective by the stakeholders. Further research is needed to develop and explore the effectiveness of CAI reading interventions using rigorous study designs, so that individuals with autism and/or intellectual disability can be provided with access to a wider range of evidence-based reading programs.

Studies have reported high prevalence rates of sleep problems in Angelman Syndrome (AS), relating to abnormal sleep–wake cycles and reduced sleep duration. This systematic review aimed to characterise sleep problems in AS, investigate how they are assessed and identify the treatments/interventions prescribed. A systematic search of PsycINFO, PubMed and Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection was conducted using pre-determined search terms. Relevant studies published between 2016 and mid-2020 were included to expand on earlier reviews. Seven articles quantifying sleep problems, assessment and treatment/intervention in children and adults with AS were reviewed (N = 266). Findings demonstrated reduced total sleep duration (M = 538 min), longer night-awakenings (M = 67 min) and reduced sleep efficiency (78%) in AS compared with typically developing peers. Medication was highly prescribed historically/currently (n = 176, 66.2%). This review highlights the clinically significant presence of sleep problems with the majority of individuals requiring medical intervention. Decreased sleep duration, sleep efficiency and increased night-awakenings represent the most significant sleep problems across studies. Findings suggest sleep problems begin in infancy but improve in adulthood. This finding should be considered with caution as only two studies included an adult sample. Priorities for future research should focus on longitudinal studies to determine whether sleep problems improve with age in AS.

Play-based interventions are gaining popularity amongst autistic children. Parents are uniquely placed to deliver these interventions as they are most familiar with their child’s strengths and challenges. Accordingly, reporting the effectiveness of play-based interventions and/or parent-delivered or mediated early-year interventions have been popular topics in the literature in the last decade. Despite this, little is known about the efficacy of parent-mediated play-based interventions on the developmental outcomes of autistic children. To close this gap in knowledge, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and quasi-experiments focusing on social communication skills, language skills, and autistic characteristics of preschool autistic children (0–6-year-old) in non-educational settings. Overall, 26 studies met the inclusion criteria 21 of which were included in the synthesis. Of the included studies, 20 studies reported social communication skills, 15 studies reported language skills, and 12 studies reported autistic characteristics. Pooling effect sizes across the included studies showed that parent-mediated play-based interventions were effective on social communication (d = .63) and language skills (d = .40) as well as autistic characteristics (d = − .19) of preschool autistic children. Our findings suggest that parent-mediated play-based interventions hold promise for improving social functioning and related autistic characteristics for preschool autistic children.

The perinatal period has challenges for autistic women. This review synthesises evidence on the experiences of autistic women during the perinatal period. This mixed methods evidence synthesis followed JBI guidance for mixed methods systematic reviews. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool assessed study quality. Thematic analysis was used to synthesise findings. Thirteen studies were included. Themes identified included sensory demands of the perinatal period are frequently overwhelming; experiencing healthcare as an autistic person is challenging; parenting as an autistic mother has difficulties but also rewards; predictability and control are important in labour and birth. Individualised care with reasonable adjustments can make a difference to the perinatal experiences of autistic women. Despite challenges, autistic women also have many strengths as mothers.

The global prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasing, leading to long-term challenges for both individuals with ASD and their parents. To address these issues, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has emerged as a promising approach. This scoping review aimed to examine the existing literature on the application of ACT in the field of ASD. A systematic search of databases including PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus yielded 18 articles that met the inclusion criteria. In conclusion, ACT holds promise as a therapeutic intervention for individuals with ASD and their parents. Nonetheless, further research is necessary to explore its effectiveness and determine the most suitable strategies for adapting the intervention to meet the unique needs of this population.

Attentional deficits are common in autism spectrum disorder. This project aimed to assess three attentional networks (alerting, orienting, and executive control). We conducted a Bayesian hierarchical meta-analysis of studies that implemented the Attention Network Test or its variants to explore whether autistic individuals exhibited differences in the networks of attention when compared to typically developing controls. Ten studies were included in our analysis, comprising 421 children and adults with the age ranging from 4 to 58 years (M = 16.79). Through a Bayesian analysis, we find weak evidence that autistic participants are overall slower to respond than controls. Further between group comparisons suggest differences in the orienting and executive control networks.

Outcomes in adulthood for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are poor in every area assessed (e.g., postsecondary education, employment, living arrangements, health and safety). As such, it is critical that interventions target the best outcomes across the lifespan and improve the overall quality of life. Given that targeting meaningful skill-acquisition goals can help affect positive changes in these outcomes, the intention of this paper was to conduct a systematic literature review of the research examining what has been done to improve the quality of goals written by educational and behavior analytic practitioners. However, the literature review yielded so few references that the focus of this paper shifted to an examination of available assessment and curriculum tools that help practitioners to write meaningful goals. Implications and recommendations for guiding clinical practice and research questions are discussed.T