Advances in Autism – 7-2
1. Gok S, Ozturk SN, Karaca R, İlbars S, Nogay NH. Evaluation of sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems and eating behaviors in Turkish children with autistic disorder and PDD-NOS. Advances in Autism;2021;7(2):101-113.
Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal (GI) problems and eating behaviors in children who are diagnosed with autistic disorder (AD) and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Design/methodology/approach This study was conducted with 102 children who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sleeping and GI (abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing) problems in children were obtained by asking their parents using a questionnaire. The feeding assessment survey (FAS), brief autism mealtime behavior inventory (BAMBI) and food consumption frequency were used to obtain information about the children’s eating habits. Findings The BAMBI total score, food refusal and features of autism subscale scores of those with AD were higher than those in the PDD-NOS group (p < 0.05). Sleeping, GI and eating problems are seen in those with AD more commonly than in those diagnosed with PDD-NOS. Originality/value To the knowledge, this is the first study that compares GI, sleeping and eating problems in children with AD and PDD-NOS. Sleeping, GI and eating problems may be more frequent in children with AD than in those with PDD-NOS. The GI problem rate is higher in children with autism with sleeping problems than without sleeping problems.
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2. Robinson A, Galbraith I, Carrick L. Practitioner experience of the impact of humanistic methods on autism practice: a preliminary study. Advances in Autism;2021;7(2):114-128.
Purpose Autistic people are subject to having their behaviour shaped from a variety of practitioners predominantly using behaviourist methodologies. Little is known about how learning alternative humanistic methodologies impacts practitioner experiences of relational encounters with autistic people. This paper aims to develop an understanding of practitioner experiences of using person-centred counselling (PCC) skills and contact reflections (CR) when engaging with autistic people. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study used an interpretive approach to help elucidate perceptions of changing practice. It involved a framework analysis of 20 practitioner’s experiential case study accounts. Findings An overarching theme emerged: subtle transformations resulted from shifting practice paradigms. Four broad themes were identified: “A different way of being”; “Opening heightened channels of receptivity”; “Trust in self-actualising growth” and “Expanding relational ripples”. The findings suggest that PCC and CRs skills training shows promise in providing practitioners with a different way of being with autistic people that enhances their capacity towards neurotypical-neurodivergent intersubjectivity. Social implications The authors speculate on the power dynamics of care relationships and those who may identify as possessing autism expertise. The authors are curious as to whether this humanistic skills training can truly penetrate practitioner core values and see this as a fundamental issue which requires further investigation. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to provide a qualitative account of autism practitioner reflections following training in humanistic methodologies. It challenges the concept of autism expertise, guided by a pathologiSing model, focused on fixing a problem located in the person, which conceals the removal of personhood.
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3. Khara R, Kalankesh LR, Shahrokhi H, Dastgiri S, Gholipour K, Feizi-Derakhshi M-R. Dilemmas of empowering families of children with autism spectrum disorders: a qualitative case study. Advances in Autism;2021;7(2):129-140.
Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges and solutions in the empowerment of families of children with autism in Tabriz located in the North West of Iran. Design/methodology/approach In this exploratory and qualitative study, which was conducted from January to March 2019, 14 in-depth face-to-face interviews and 1 focus group (n = 5) were conducted with family empowerment experts. Data analysis was performed based on a content analysis approach via MAXQDA v 10. Findings Results revealed that empowerment challenges can be classified into six main themes including shortage of facilities and specialists, family-related problems, administrative and organizational, cultural and societal, financial and other problems. The most important empowerment solutions were divided into three main themes including informing and training skills by holding empowerment programs, governmental and insurance companies support, and organizational and administrative solutions. Research limitations/implications Limitation of this study is that families are not included; as families may also provide or challenge other solutions for empowerment based on their needs, ignoring their views may be losing part of vital information in this field. It is recommended that this research be conducted in the future from the perspective of families of people with autism and other stakeholders. Practical implications Based on the results of this study, stakeholders in the field of autism and the family empowerment can address the identified challenges and utilize solutions to improve the process of family empowerment and make more effective decisions in this regard. Originality/value Literature searches revealed a lack of any completed research in Iran specific to identifying empowerment challenges and related solutions. Efforts must be taken on root challenges which have been identified scientifically.
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4. Karmakar A, Bhattacharya M, Adhya J, Chatterjee S, Dogra AK. The trend of association between autism traits in mothers and severity of autism symptomatology in children. Advances in Autism;2021;7(2):141-151.
Purpose Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are heterogeneous disorders, and heterogeneity lies both at genetic and phenotypic levels. To better understand the etiology and pathway that may contribute to autism symptomatology, it is important to study milder expressions of autism characteristics – autistic traits or milder expressions of autism phenotype, especially in intergenerational context. This study aims to see the trend of association, if any, between child autism symptom and mothers’ autism phenotype as well as mothers’ theory of mind and to see if mothers’ theory of mind was associated with their own autistic traits. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 96 mothers of children with varying symptom severity of autism (mild, moderate and severe) using Autism Spectrum Quotient and faux pas recognition test. Analysis of variance, trend analysis and t-test were done. Findings Results showed a linear trend of relationship between mothers’ autism phenotype and child symptom severity. However, the groups did not have significant differences in theory of mind. Only a few components of theory of mind were found to be associated with autistic traits. These findings question the prevailing idea that theory of mind can be a reliable endophenotype of autism. Research limitations/implications There has been a lack of research assessing the possible link between parents’ autism phenotype and symptom severity of ASD children. This study is a preliminary step towards that direction. This study indicates a probability of shared genetic liability between mothers and offspring, which would have important consequences for understanding the mechanisms that lead to autism. Practical implications This study offers implications for treatment planning of those with clinical ASD. An awareness of parental factors is critical for any holistic intervention plan when a family seeks treatment for their child. This study suggests that while individualising interventions, clinicians may consider possible presence of high levels of autistic traits and related cognitive features present in the probands’ parents. Originality/value There has been lack of research assessing the possible link between parents’ autism phenotype and symptom severity of ASD children. This study, even though preliminary, is a step towards that direction. This study suggests that autism traits might be influenced by common genetic variation and indicates a probability of shared genetic liability between mothers and offspring, which would have important consequences for understanding the mechanisms that lead to autism.
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5. Hemati Alamdarloo G, Mradi H. The effectiveness of sensory integration intervention on the emotional-behavioral problems of children with autism spectrum disorder. Advances in Autism;2021;7(2):152-166.
Purpose Autism spectrum disorder is a kind of neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction across multiple contexts, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities. The purpose of this paper is to determine the effectiveness of sensory integration intervention on emotional-behavioral problems in children with autism spectrum disorder. Design/methodology/approach This research was conducted in a pretest-posttest design with control group. The participants were 30 children with autism spectrum disorder (6–11 years old) who were selected through convenience sampling from among children with autism spectrum disorder in Zeinab center of Isfahan and were randomly divided into two groups of 15 subjects. The children of the experimental group received 14 sessions of sensory integration intervention while the control group did not receive this intervention. To measure emotional-behavioral problems, the Behavior Assessment System for Children-Second Edition was used. To analyze the data, ANCOVA and MANCOVA tests were used. Findings The results showed that sensory integration intervention improves emotional-behavioral problems and its subscales (hyperactivity, aggression, behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, somatization, attention problems, learning difficulties, atypicality and withdrawal) in children with autism spectrum disorder. Research limitations/implications Therefore, it can be concluded that sensory integration intervention can be a suitable treatment for reducing sensory problems and improving emotional-behavioral problems in children with autism spectrum disorder. Originality/value The study of the effect of sensory integration on emotional-behavioral problems in children with autism spectrum disorder is necessary as a simple and non-side-effect educational and therapeutic method, both as a step to fill the research gap in this field, besides being a cheap and affordable way for improving the various skills of children with autism spectrum disorder for professionals, teachers, parents and educators.
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6. Pesonen H, Itkonen T, Saha M, Nordahl-Hansen A. Framing autism in newspaper media: an example from Finland. Advances in Autism;2021;7(2):167-177.
Purpose Media play a significant role in the process of raising public awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite an increase in ASD media coverage, there is scarcity of research that examines how the actual frame is constructed and how the news stories are narrated. This study aims to examine the extent to which Finnish print media papers extend medical and societal narration of ASD to other issue domains and the extent to which newspaper stories use a positive, negative or neutral narrative. Design/methodology/approach The authors analyzed 210 full newspaper reports from the largest daily appearing newspaper by circulation in Finland from 1990 to 2016. The authors used the newspaper’s electronic database to conduct a systematic papers search. The authors then used coding scheme about news story framing, which was followed by a detailed content analysis of the papers. Findings Approximately two-thirds of the papers consisted of a straightforward informational or clinical lens to educate the public (n = 110). This is in line with international studies. However, the authors’ analysis revealed four additional themes of medical and societal ASD reporting. Social implications The study increases understanding about how the media can shape the public perception of ASD, which in turn might influence how autistic individuals are accepted in the society, as well as how they feel that they belong. Originality/value While ASD itself is at the center of neutral news reporting, this study’s results imply how to construct ASD from new paradigms. Linking ASD to a culture, and thus extending it to the more commonly accepted notion of deafness as a culture, might shape the public’s perceptions about ASD.
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7. Wee C, Mottershead T, Wright S, Jaydeokar S, Odiyoor M. Developing a model for mental health services for children and young people with intellectual disability and/or autism in North West England. Advances in Autism;2021;7(2):178-190.
Purpose This paper aims to improve community care for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and/or autism. Lack of coordination between agencies leads to children and young people with the most complex needs falling between services. The North West Operational Delivery Network (ODN) for learning disability and autism set out to develop a model of care for mental health services for children and young people with ID and/or autism in North West England that would improve coordination between services and lead to better community care. Design/methodology/approach The ODN held a series of good practice events and consultations with stakeholders in North West England to look at gaps in service provision, national guidelines and agree on a pathway for services. Findings The ODN decided to use the THRIVE framework as the basis for a specific model of care. Interventions were mapped against the THRIVE groupings, including pathways and team specifications for assessment and support for children with autism, and models for child and adolescent mental health service support for ID and/or autism, for keeping children and young people with behaviour that challenges in the community and transition. Originality/value This model aims to provide the North West England region with a clear multi-agency approach for supporting the needs of this population and supports multi-agency commissioning, gap analysis, earlier intervention and improving health outcomes for this population.
