Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders最新文献

Background

Method

Results

Conclusions

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Objective

Method

Results

Conclusions

Background

Method

Results

Conclusions

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Background

Autistic children experience high rates of feeding challenges, negatively affecting their.health, eating patterns, and social eating experiences. The Feeding and Eating in AutiSm Together; FEAST, a caregiver-report questionnaire, was developed to characterize feeding challenges in autistic children ages 2 to 12 years. The purpose of this study is to determine the construct validity of the FEAST assessment using a large national sample of autistic children.

Method

A large national sample (N = 396) of caregivers completed the online survey. An ordinal confirmatory factor model using a robust weighted least squares approach validated the four predicted groupings of feeding challenges (sensory processing; behavior; oral.motor skills; and gastrointestinal) with generally strong loadings onto the four distinct.factors.

Results

Model fit statistics indicated good model fit (Robust Root Mean Square Error of.Approximation=.080, Robust Comparative Fit Index =.909, Robust Tucker-Lewis.Index=.901) Findings provide preliminary confirmation of the construct validity of the.FEAST assessment to characterize feeding difficulties for autistic children ages 2–12. Small to medium correlations between all factors indicate items successfully targeted.four unique areas of feeding challenge. For all factors, the largest correlation was with.behavior.

Conclusion

Assessments developed to address the complex feeding and mealtime challenges for.autistic children are essential to identify and integrate the most appropriate intervention.approaches. FEAST offers researchers and clinicians with a comprehensive and psychometrically sound assessment tool to address autistic children’s unique feeding.challenges.

Background

Many couples raising an autistic child report long-standing and thriving couple relationships, even within the context of elevated parenting stress. Little is known however, about the factors that promote or hinder adaptive couple processes or how these processes may shift over time. Drawing on the Vulnerability Stress Adaptation (VSA) model, the present study examined adaptive couple problem-solving processes across three years and the extent to which these processes were predicted by parent broader autism phenotype (BAP) and level of parenting stress in couples raising an autistic child.

Method

In total, 189 couples (378 parents) raising an autistic child (aged 5–12 years) completed questionnaires assessing parent BAP and level of parenting stress. Couples also engaged in observed problem-solving interactions at four time points spanning three years.

Results

The use of adaptive couple problem-solving behaviors (Solution Focused Reciprocity and Positive Teamwork) declined linearly across time. Father BAP predicted greater decline in these adaptive processes (Solution Focused Reciprocity and Positive Teamwork), particularly when mother-reported parenting stress was low. No main effects of parenting stress on change in adaptive couple problem-solving behaviors emerged.

Conclusions

Findings highlight the utility of the VSA Model for understanding the short-term longitudinal course of problem-solving behaviors in couples raising an autistic school-aged child. This study can inform efforts to promote healthy and long-lasting couple relationships in this population.

Background

The number of studies suggesting differences in oral microbiota in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is increasing. However, the relationship between oral microbiota and ASD has not been determined. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the oral microbiota of children with ASD compared with neurotypical controls.

Method

Nine boys with a diagnosis of ASD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, Fifth Edition who were aged 36 to 60 months (44 ± 6.34), and nine neurotypical age-matched boys were included in the study. After detailed clinical examinations, saliva samples were collected. DNA from the samples was investigated by high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale was used to assess the severity of ASD in the case group.

Results

An analysis of alpha and beta diversity indexes and principal coordinate analysis revealed no significant differences between ASD and neurotypical controls nor were there significant differences in the relative abundance of the phyla and genera between the two groups. However, the distribution of operational taxonomic units (with a relative abundance> 1 %) for Bacillales, Granulicatella elegans, Micrococcaceae, Micrococcales, Neisseria zalophi, S. anginosus SK52 = DSM 2563, S. cristatus AS 1.389, S. mitis, S. oralis subsp. dentisani and S. pneumoniae were significantly higher in the ASD group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Differences in the relative abundance of some taxa in the saliva of children with ASD compared with neurotypical controls were found. Further studies are needed to understand the relationship between oral microbiota and ASD.