Autism最新文献

Autistic people often face challenges in face-to-face social interactions, especially in unfamiliar or high-stakes situations. Virtual reality has been proposed as a tool to support social connection by offering a more controlled and accessible environment. While previous research has focused on virtual reality-based social skills training, little is known about how autistic people experience social interactions in virtual reality. We interviewed 22 autistic young people (aged 9-22 years, M_Age = 14.5) after they engaged in a social interaction with a stranger in immersive virtual reality. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we found that participants generally found virtual reality interactions tolerable, engaging and helpful as a low-pressure first step towards more challenging social situations. Virtual reality was valued for reducing sensory overload, increasing confidence and offering novel social opportunities. However, participants did not view virtual reality as a replacement for in-person interaction, which they saw as essential for building meaningful relationships. These findings highlight the potential of virtual reality to support autistic people by modifying the social environment rather than demanding behavioural change. They also challenge deficit-based assumptions about autistic social motivation, emphasising the importance of aligning technological supports with autistic people's lived experiences and preferences.Lay abstractAutistic young people can find social situations stressful and overwhelming, particularly if meeting strangers in high-stakes settings (e.g. first date, job interview). Virtual reality has been suggested as a tool that might help make these interactions easier. In this study, we asked 22 autistic young people, aged 9-22, to try out a social interaction in virtual reality and then tell us about their experience. We found that most participants enjoyed using virtual reality and felt it made social interactions feel safer and less intimidating. They said virtual reality helped reduce distractions and gave them more control over how they presented themselves. Some even said it made them feel more confident when talking to others. However, young people were clear that virtual reality should not replace real-life interactions. They said that in-person contact is still important for building real connections with others. While virtual reality can be a helpful first step when interacting with new people, especially in situations that feel scary or unfamiliar, it is not a substitute for face-to-face relationships. This research shows that autistic young people value social connection and want tools that support, rather than replace, real-life interaction.

Evidence is accumulating regarding an association between autism and functional neurological disorder, a common cause for a wide range of neurological symptoms affecting motor, sensory and cognitive systems. Symptoms can include paralysis, tremors, sensory disturbance, vision loss and dizziness. Functional neurological disorder exists at the complex intersection of physical and mental health, neurology and psychiatry, and body and mind. Despite a recent resurgence in clinical and scientific interest, functional neurological disorder has lagged behind other causes of neurological symptoms in research, service development and acceptance. The nature of the association between autism and functional neurological disorder remains uncertain, but several plausible mechanisms can be identified from overlapping areas of research, highlighting endogenous factors such as atypical interoception, motor function, emotional processing and sensorimotor integration, alongside exogenous influences including adversity, healthcare inequality and stigma. This review first provides an overview of functional neurological disorder through various explanatory frameworks before applying biopsychosocial, neuropsychological and computational perspectives to conceptualise its intersection with autism. It then considers how this association might be understood and explores how services could be adapted to better recognise and support autistic individuals with functional neurological disorder across the diagnostic and treatment pathway.Lay AbstractFunctional neurological disorder causes real and often disabling symptoms, such as seizures, paralysis, tremors or sensory changes, even though standard medical tests do not show physical damage to the nervous system. Research suggests that autistic people are more likely to experience functional neurological disorder than their non-autistic peers, but the reasons for this are not yet understood. This article explores why autism and functional neurological disorder might occur together. It draws on research into how the brain processes body signals (like pain or movement), handles emotions and responds to uncertainty. It also looks at life experiences that affect health, including trauma, barriers to healthcare and stigma. This article shows that both internal factors (such as differences in movement, emotional awareness and sensory processing) and external factors (such as stress, inequality and misdiagnosis) may increase the chances of functional neurological disorder in some autistic individuals. Several models are introduced to help explain how these influences might interact. Finally, this article outlines how healthcare services could better support autistic people with functional neurological disorder. It encourages functional neurological disorder services to adapt communication styles, provide appropriate adjustments and include autistic voices in research and treatment planning to improve care and outcomes.

Linguistic alignment reflects shared linguistic behaviors (e.g. syntax and lexicon) between interlocutors. Recent work has examined whether autistic children align to the same degree as their non-autistic peers, with current findings inconclusive. This study took an in-depth approach to investigating factors contributing to variation in linguistic alignment among autistic individuals. Eighteen school-age and adolescent autistic male participants, 14 males with fragile X syndrome + autism, and their mothers participated in the study. Dyads engaged in an unstructured conversation for ~12 min. Using Bayesian linear mixed-effect models, we assessed the relationships between alignment and within-individual factors of the participants. Lexical and syntactic alignment were uniquely influenced by within-participant factors. Maternal lexical and syntactic alignment were differentially associated with participant cognitive and expressive language abilities, and according to etiology (fragile X syndrome + autism vs idiopathic autism). This study highlights the complexity of alignment in autistic individuals and their mothers. Results suggest that alignment is a dynamic process that is motivated in part by within-individual traits of their children. Consequently, characterizing alignment in autism requires a highly nuanced and thoughtful approach that accounts for the heterogeneity of the population.

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the modern workplace, the implications for neurodivergent populations, particularly autistic adults, warrant attention. Autistic people remain underrepresented in the workforce, facing persistent barriers to sustained employment. In this letter, we consider whether AI may compound these barriers or offer opportunities for autistic people: With thoughtful design and implementation, could AI foster more inclusive and accessible workplaces? We call for critical reflection on AI's potential impact on autistic employment. We argue that facilitating inclusion of autistic individuals in the workforce in the age of AI will require care, collaboration, and a commitment to neurodiversity.Lay AbstractAs artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more common in workplaces, it could affect autistic people in important ways. Today, many autistic adults still face difficulties finding and keeping jobs. In this letter, we ask whether AI will make things harder for autistic people or whether it might help. Could AI be designed in a way that supports autistic workers and creates more inclusive workplaces? We believe that the answer depends on how AI is used. We call for thoughtful planning and teamwork between employers, autistic people, and designers to make sure AI is used in ways that support neurodiversity and employment inclusion.

To address the dearth of literature on outcomes for autistic individuals with significant intellectual disability, researchers require validated measures to use in research. This study examined the psychometric properties of PROMIS quality-of-life caregiver-proxy scales included in the PROMIS Autism Battery-Lifespan among autistic children who are minimally verbal and with intellectual disability (MVID). We examined basic psychometric properties of the PROMIS caregiver-proxy scales and tested the scales for measurement invariance between groups of autistic children who are minimally verbal with intellectual disability and those without signficant intellectuatl disability (N = 448). We also descriptively examined feedback from caregivers regarding the appropriateness of the questions to capture meaningful outcomes for their autistic children who are minimally verbal with intellectual disability. Results indicated that some PROMIS caregiver-proxy scales (Anger, Positive Affect, and Life Satisfaction) exhibited strong psychometric evidence and content validity, but many other scales either did not demonstrate measurement invariance between groups or included a high proportion of items endorsed by caregivers as not applicable for their minimally verbal autistic child. Our findings emphasize the need for continued work developing appropriate measures for capturing meaningful outcomes among minimally verbal autistic people with significant intellectual disability.