1. Abu-Dahab SM, Skidmore ER, Holm MB, Rogers JC, Minshew NJ. {{Motor and Tactile-Perceptual Skill Differences Between Individuals with High-Functioning Autism and Typically Developing Individuals Ages 5-21}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2012 (Feb 9)
We examined motor and tactile-perceptual skills in individuals with high-functioning autism (IHFA) and matched typically developing individuals (TDI) ages 5-21 years. Grip strength, motor speed and coordination were impaired in IHFA compared to matched TDI, and the differences between groups varied with age. Although tactile-perceptual skills of IHFA were impaired compared to TDI on several measures, impairments were significant only for stereognosis. Motor and tactile-perceptual skills should be assessed in children with IHFA and intervention should begin early because these skills are essential to school performance. Impairments in coordination and stereognosis suggest a broad though selective under-development of the circuitry for higher order abilities regardless of domain that is important in the search for the underlying disturbances in neurological development.
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2. Ahmedani BK, Hock RM. {{Health care access and treatment for children with co-morbid autism and psychiatric conditions}}. {Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol};2012 (Feb 10)
PURPOSE: To characterize the rate of comorbid psychiatric conditions (CPC) among children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), to examine their treatment utilization, and to investigate treatment delay or non-delivery. METHODS: Lifetime ASD and CPC in children, aged 2-17, were investigated using data from the 2007-2008 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). The NSCH surveyed parents and guardians regarding the health and well being, including treatment, of their child(ren) under age 18 (n = 91,642). Children with health conditions were defined by parent report that a doctor or other health professional had ever said their child had that condition. Factors related to overall health, treatment utilization, and barriers to access variables were investigated among this group. RESULTS: Children with ASD/CPC had poorer overall health outcomes than children with ASD alone. They more often were dissatisfied with their between-provider communication and less often had insurance cover needed services. Nonetheless, they did tend to use care coordination and mental health services to a greater degree. Families were more likely to report the delay or non-receipt of needed services when they perceived a lack of communication and partnership with providers, when they lacked insurance coverage, and when they felt that health care costs were unreasonable. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a CPC seems to shape the treatment utilization and health outcomes of children with ASD. Because of this, health professionals working with children with autism should give special attention to treatment of those with comorbid diagnoses.
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3. Chi DL, Momany ET, Jones MP, Kuthy R, Damiano PC. {{Timing of first dental checkup for newly medicaid-enrolled children with an intellectual or developmental disability}}. {Intellect Dev Disabil};2012 (Feb);50(1):2-15.
Abstract We compared the extent to which having an intellectual or developmental disability was associated with rates at which Iowa Medicaid-enrolled children ages 3 to 8 had first dental checkups after an initial dental examination. We hypothesized that these children would have later first dental checkups than would children without an intellectual or developmental disability. Findings suggest no significant difference in the time to first dental checkup for children by intellectual or developmental disability status. Those who took over 12 months to see a dentist for their initial dental examination were 1.68 times as likely to have an earlier first dental checkup as children whose initial dental examination occurred within 4 months of being enrolled. Results suggest that having an intellectual or developmental disability is not associated with later first dental checkups for this population.
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4. Crane L, Pring L, Jukes K, Goddard L. {{Patterns of Autobiographical Memory in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2012 (Feb 10)
Two studies are presented that explored the effects of experimental manipulations on the quality and accessibility of autobiographical memories in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), relative to a typical comparison group matched for age, gender and IQ. Both studies found that the adults with ASD generated fewer specific memories than the comparison group, and took significantly longer to do so. Despite this, experimental manipulations affected two indices of autobiographical memory (specificity and retrieval latency) similarly in both groups. These results suggest that adults with ASD experience a quantitative reduction in the speed and specificity of autobiographical memory retrieval, but that when they do retrieve these memories, they do so in a way that is qualitatively similar to that of typical adults.
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5. Kheir N, Ghoneim O, A LS, Al-Ismail M, Hayder S, Al-Rawi F. {{Quality of Life of Caregivers of Children With Autism in Qatar}}. {Autism};2012 (Feb 8)
Introduction: Caring for a child diagnosed with autism could affect the quality of life of the caregiver in various different ways. No previous research has assessed the quality of lives of caregivers of children with autism in Qatar.Methods: Caregivers of a child with autism between 3 and 17 years old were recruited from child rehabilitation clinics in Qatar. The non-autism group was represented by caregivers of a typically growing child visiting a primary health care facility for a routine medical examination. Data collected from both groups included demographic and quality of life information for caregivers.Results: A total of 98 participants consented to take part in the study. Fifty-six of these were caregivers of a child with autism and 42 were caregivers of a typically growing child. There was no significant difference between quality of life domains between the two groups of caregivers, but caregivers of autistic children rated their health as poor and likely to get worse (p < 0.05).Conclusions: This study provided some evidence for the impact of caring for a child with autism on the life of the caregiver. The findings should help health policy-makers in Qatar to provide better and more focused support to children with autism and their caregivers.
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6. Kirchner JC, Schmitz F, Dziobek I. {{Brief Report: Stereotypes in Autism Revisited}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2012 (Feb 10)
Autism involves core impairments in social cognition. Given that social learning underlies the acquisition of stereotypes, it was hypothesized that use of stereotypes would be reduced in autism. Contrary to this prediction, previous studies found the same use of stereotypes in autistic individuals as in controls. Measurement of stereotypes, however, can be biased by effects of social desirability, which previous studies did not account for. In the current study we therefore employed an implicit approach, using the Implicit Association Test (IAT), which assesses more automatic components of stereotypes, in nineteen individuals with autism and nineteen controls. The data suggest that while both groups do show the use of stereotypes to some extent, autistic individuals have less stereotypical attitudes against the investigated minority.
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7. Masten CL, Colich NL, Rudie JD, Bookheimer SY, Eisenberger NI, Dapretto M. {{An fMRI investigation of responses to peer rejection in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders}}. {Dev Cogn Neurosci};2011 (Jul);1(3):260-270.
Peer rejection is particularly pervasive among adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, how adolescents with ASD differ from typically developing adolescents in their responses to peer rejection is poorly understood. The goal of the current investigation was to examine neural responses to peer exclusion among adolescents with ASD compared to typically developing adolescents. Nineteen adolescents with ASD and 17 typically developing controls underwent fMRI as they were ostensibly excluded by peers during an online game called Cyberball. Afterwards, participants reported their distress about the exclusion. Compared to typically developing adolescents, those with ASD displayed less activity in regions previously linked with the distressing aspect of peer exclusion, including the subgenual anterior cingulate and anterior insula, as well as less activity in regions previously linked with the regulation of distress responses during peer exclusion, including the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum. Interestingly, however, both groups self-reported equivalent levels of distress. This suggests that adolescents with ASD may engage in differential processing of social experiences at the neural level, but be equally aware of, and concerned about, peer rejection. Overall, these findings contribute new insights about how this population may differentially experience negative social events in their daily lives.
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8. Rout UK, Mungan NK, Dhossche DM. {{Presence of GAD65 autoantibodies in the serum of children with autism or ADHD}}. {Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry};2012 (Feb 10)
Antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) have been detected in the serum of patients with several neurological disorders. The presence of antibodies against GAD65 has not yet been examined in the serum of patients with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this study, GAD65 antibodies and total IgG were assayed in the serum of normal subjects and patients diagnosed with autism or ADHD. GAD65 antibodies were detected in the serum of 15% of children with autism (N = 20), 27% of children with ADHD (N = 15) and of none of the controls (N = 14). The serum of 60% of autistic and 53% of ADHD patients reacted with Purkinje neurons in mouse cerebellum. Serum from 20% of ADHD patients reacted also with the cells in the molecular and granule cell layers and cells in the vicinity of the Purkinje neurons. No association was found between the titer of GAD65 antibodies and total IgG levels, and presence of seizures or mental retardation. None of the ADHD patients were diagnosed with mental retardation. Serum anti-GAD65 antibodies may be a common marker of subgroups of patients with autism and ADHD. Reactions of serum antibodies with the cells in the cerebellum in these patients suggest direct effects on brain function. The subgroup of children with autism and ADHD that tests positive for GAD65 antibodies needs further characterization in a larger study.
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9. Sandhya T, Sowjanya J, Veeresh B. {{Bacopa monniera (L.) Wettst Ameliorates Behavioral Alterations and Oxidative Markers in Sodium Valproate Induced Autism in Rats}}. {Neurochem Res};2012 (Feb 10)
Early prenatal or post natal exposure to environmental insults such as valproic acid (VPA), thalidomide and ethanol could induce behavioral alterations similar to autistic symptoms. Bacopa monniera, a renowned plant in ayurvedic medicine is useful in several neurological disorders. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of B. monniera on VPA induced autism. On 12.5 day of gestation the female pregnant rats were divided into control and VPA treated groups. They were administered saline/VPA (600 mg/kg, i.p.) respectively and allowed to raise their own litters. Group I-male pups of saline treated mothers. On postnatal day (PND) 21 VPA induced autistic male pups were divided into two groups (n = 6); Group II-received saline and Group III-received B. monniera (300 mg/kg/p.o.) from PND 21-35. Behavioral tests (nociception, locomotor activity, exploratory activity, anxiety and social behavior) were performed in both adolescence (PND 30-40) and adulthood (PND 90-110) period. At the end of behavioral testing animals were sacrificed, brain was isolated for biochemical estimations (serotonin, glutathione, catalase and nitric oxide) and histopathological examination. Induction of autism significantly affected normal behavior, increased oxidative stress and serotonin level, altered histoarchitecture of cerebellum (decreased number of purkinje cells, neuronal degeneration and chromatolysis) when compared with normal control group. Treatment with B. monniera significantly (p < 0.05) improved behavioral alterations, decreased oxidative stress markers and restored histoarchitecture of cerebellum. In conclusion, the present study suggests that B. monniera ameliorates the autistic symptoms possibly due to its anti-anxiety, antioxidant and neuro-protective activity.
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10. Schaaf RC, Benevides TW, Kelly D, Mailloux Z. {{Occupational Therapy and Sensory Integration for Children With Autism: a Feasibility, Safety, Acceptability and Fidelity Study}}. {Autism};2012 (Feb 8)
Objective: To examine the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of a manualized protocol of occupational therapy using sensory integration principles for children with autism.Methods: Ten children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder ages 4-8 years received intensive occupational therapy intervention using sensory integration principles following a manualized protocol. Measures of feasibility, acceptability and safety were collected from parents and interveners, and fidelity was measured using a valid and reliable fidelity instrument.Results: The intervention is safe and feasible to implement, acceptable to parents and therapist, and therapists were able to implement protocol with adequate fidelity. These data provide support for implementation of a randomized control trial of this intervention and identify specific procedural enhancements to improve study implementation.
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11. Shogren KA, Plotner AJ. {{Transition planning for students with intellectual disability, autism, or other disabilities: data from the national longitudinal transition study-2}}. {Intellect Dev Disabil};2012 (Feb);50(1):16-30.
Abstract To compare the status of transition planning for students with intellectual disability, autism, or other disabilities, we used data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2, a federally funded, national study of the secondary and postschool experiences of students with disabilities. Results show that although transition planning had been conducted for the majority of students, few of them took a leadership role in their transition planning. Students with autism or intellectual disability were significantly less likely than students with other disabilities to take a leadership role. The majority of the active participants in transition planning were school-based personnel. We also found limited participation from other agencies/support persons (e.g., vocational rehabilitation). Students with autism or intellectual disability had more identified needs for support after school than did students with other disabilities.
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12. Tanis ES, Palmer S, Wehmeyer M, Davies DK, Stock SE, Lobb K, Bishop B. {{Self-report computer-based survey of technology use by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities}}. {Intellect Dev Disabil};2012 (Feb);50(1):53-68.
Abstract Advancements of technologies in the areas of mobility, hearing and vision, communication, and daily living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities has the potential to greatly enhance independence and self-determination. Previous research, however, suggests that there is a technological divide with regard to the use of such technologies by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities when compared with the use reported by the general public. To provide current information with regard to technology use by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by examining the technology needs, use, and barriers to such use experienced by 180 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we used QuestNet, a self-directed computer survey program. Results suggest that although there has been progress in technology acquisition and use by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, an underutilization of technologies across the population remains.
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13. Tanoue K, Matsui K, Takamasu T. {{Fried-Potato Diet Causes Vitamin A Deficiency in an Autistic Child}}. {JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr};2012 (Feb 7)
A 5-year-old boy with autism developed dry eye and xerophthalmia. Serum vitamin A was undetectable. Dietary history revealed a markedly altered intake consisting of only fried potatoes and rice balls for 2 years. Fried potatoes contain no vitamin A. Autism is a multifaceted developmental disorder infrequently accompanied by abnormal eating practices. To the authors’ knowledge, most children with autism who develop dietary vitamin A deficiency have consumed an excess of fried potatoes. Attention to possible vitamin A deficiency is essential when fried potatoes are consumed exclusively. (JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. XXXX;xx:xx-xx).
