The Connection Between Sleep Problems and Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties in Autistic Children: A Network Analysis
J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Mar 25. doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06298-2. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe interactions between sleep problems, autism symptoms and emotional and behavioural difficulties were explored using network analysis in 240 autistic children (mean age: 8.8 years, range 5-13 years) with moderate to severe sleep problems. Findings revealed a highly connected and interpretable network, with three separate clusters identified of the modelled variables. Depression, anxiety and behavioural difficulties were the most central variables of the network. Depression, anxiety and restricted repetitive and stereotyped p...
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - March 25, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Lucy Sommers Nicole Papadopoulos Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz Emma Sciberras Jane McGillivray Patricia Howlin Nicole Rinehart Source Type: research

The Connection Between Sleep Problems and Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties in Autistic Children: A Network Analysis
J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Mar 25. doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06298-2. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe interactions between sleep problems, autism symptoms and emotional and behavioural difficulties were explored using network analysis in 240 autistic children (mean age: 8.8 years, range 5-13 years) with moderate to severe sleep problems. Findings revealed a highly connected and interpretable network, with three separate clusters identified of the modelled variables. Depression, anxiety and behavioural difficulties were the most central variables of the network. Depression, anxiety and restricted repetitive and stereotyped p...
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - March 25, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Lucy Sommers Nicole Papadopoulos Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz Emma Sciberras Jane McGillivray Patricia Howlin Nicole Rinehart Source Type: research

Continuation of Pediatric Care after Transfer to Adult Care Among Autistic Youth Overlap of Pediatric and Adult Care
J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Mar 23. doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06314-5. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe transition from pediatric to adult health care is a vulnerable time period for autistic adolescents and young adults (AYA) and for some autistic AYA may include a period of receiving care in both the pediatric and adult health systems. We sought to assess the proportion of autistic AYA who continued to use pediatric health services after their first adult primary care appointment and to identify factors associated with continued pediatric contact. We analyzed electronic medical record (EMR) data from a cohort of autistic AY...
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - March 23, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Joseph Sirrianni Christopher Hanks Steve Rust Laura C Hart Source Type: research

Health, Wellbeing and Empowerment E-workshops for Mothers of Children with Disabilities: A Non-randomised Comparison Study
This study compared the effectiveness of HMHF e-workshops online compared to no intervention. The HMHF e-workshops were delivered to 290 mothers across the 2020-2022 Covid-19 pandemic and 172 participated in research. The HMHF e-workshops included 3 online 2- hour workshops facilitated by credentialled peer-facilitators, closed online group chat, e-workbook and online learning package. Participants in both groups completed surveys pre and post the workshops (or control) over 8-10 weeks. Mothers who participated in HMHF significantly increased health help seeking behaviours (p < .001), and improved mental health and heal...
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - March 23, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Helen M Bourke-Taylor Monica Leo Loredana Tirlea Source Type: research

Continuation of Pediatric Care after Transfer to Adult Care Among Autistic Youth Overlap of Pediatric and Adult Care
J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Mar 23. doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06314-5. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe transition from pediatric to adult health care is a vulnerable time period for autistic adolescents and young adults (AYA) and for some autistic AYA may include a period of receiving care in both the pediatric and adult health systems. We sought to assess the proportion of autistic AYA who continued to use pediatric health services after their first adult primary care appointment and to identify factors associated with continued pediatric contact. We analyzed electronic medical record (EMR) data from a cohort of autistic AY...
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - March 23, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Joseph Sirrianni Christopher Hanks Steve Rust Laura C Hart Source Type: research

Health, Wellbeing and Empowerment E-workshops for Mothers of Children with Disabilities: A Non-randomised Comparison Study
This study compared the effectiveness of HMHF e-workshops online compared to no intervention. The HMHF e-workshops were delivered to 290 mothers across the 2020-2022 Covid-19 pandemic and 172 participated in research. The HMHF e-workshops included 3 online 2- hour workshops facilitated by credentialled peer-facilitators, closed online group chat, e-workbook and online learning package. Participants in both groups completed surveys pre and post the workshops (or control) over 8-10 weeks. Mothers who participated in HMHF significantly increased health help seeking behaviours (p < .001), and improved mental health and heal...
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - March 23, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Helen M Bourke-Taylor Monica Leo Loredana Tirlea Source Type: research

Comprehension of Ditransitive Constructions in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Developmental Language Disorder and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Plus Language Impairment
This study examined and compared the comprehension of Mandarin ditransitive constructions in children with developmental language disorder (DLD) and children with autism spectrum disorder plus language impairment (ALI). Eighteen children with DLD, 17 children with ALI, and 27 age-matched typically developing (TDA) children, participated in a sentence-picture matching task on four patterns of Mandarin ditransitive constructions. Both children with DLD and children with ALI received significantly lower accuracy than TDA children in general and their most common errors were thematic role reversals. However, while children wit...
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - March 22, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Weizhe Qiu Xiaowei He Source Type: research

Comprehension of Ditransitive Constructions in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Developmental Language Disorder and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Plus Language Impairment
This study examined and compared the comprehension of Mandarin ditransitive constructions in children with developmental language disorder (DLD) and children with autism spectrum disorder plus language impairment (ALI). Eighteen children with DLD, 17 children with ALI, and 27 age-matched typically developing (TDA) children, participated in a sentence-picture matching task on four patterns of Mandarin ditransitive constructions. Both children with DLD and children with ALI received significantly lower accuracy than TDA children in general and their most common errors were thematic role reversals. However, while children wit...
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - March 22, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Weizhe Qiu Xiaowei He Source Type: research

Exploring Factors of Diagnostic Timing Among Black Autistic Youth
J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Mar 21. doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06283-9. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe goal of the present study was to compare profiles among Black families of autistic youth who were identified Early (≤ 2 years of age), Mid (age 3 or 4), and Delayed (≥ 5 years of age) to better identify the characteristics that contribute to early ASD identification and delayed ASD identification. Black caregivers with autistic youth (N = 101) were divided into Early (N = 34), Mid (N = 39), and Delayed (N = 28) groups and compared on (a) the age at which signs of autism signs were first noticed, (b) wait times, (c) prev...
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - March 21, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Harlee Onovbiona Lauren Quetsch Emily-Anne Del Rosario Source Type: research

Effects of a Contingent Responses Intervention on the Quantity and Quality of Vocalizations of Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Mar 21. doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06279-5. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMultiple contemporary theories emphasize the quantity and quality of child vocalizations for promoting spoken language acquisition. Yet, empirical evidence for facilitating vocal development is strikingly lacking including for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have difficulty developing language. We evaluate use of contingent responses and vocal enhancement strategies to increase the quantity and quality of child vocalizations to which adults can respond with language-facilitating input for children with ASD. Thr...
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - March 21, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jena McDaniel Source Type: research

Exploring Factors of Diagnostic Timing Among Black Autistic Youth
J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Mar 21. doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06283-9. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe goal of the present study was to compare profiles among Black families of autistic youth who were identified Early (≤ 2 years of age), Mid (age 3 or 4), and Delayed (≥ 5 years of age) to better identify the characteristics that contribute to early ASD identification and delayed ASD identification. Black caregivers with autistic youth (N = 101) were divided into Early (N = 34), Mid (N = 39), and Delayed (N = 28) groups and compared on (a) the age at which signs of autism signs were first noticed, (b) wait times, (c) prev...
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - March 21, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Harlee Onovbiona Lauren Quetsch Emily-Anne Del Rosario Source Type: research

Effects of a Contingent Responses Intervention on the Quantity and Quality of Vocalizations of Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Mar 21. doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06279-5. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMultiple contemporary theories emphasize the quantity and quality of child vocalizations for promoting spoken language acquisition. Yet, empirical evidence for facilitating vocal development is strikingly lacking including for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have difficulty developing language. We evaluate use of contingent responses and vocal enhancement strategies to increase the quantity and quality of child vocalizations to which adults can respond with language-facilitating input for children with ASD. Thr...
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - March 21, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jena McDaniel Source Type: research

Autistic People's Perspectives on Functioning Labels and Associated Reasons, and Community Connectedness
CONCLUSION: The proposed best option for language preferences is not to find consensus but instead, opt for the optimal choice that people find the least offensive or disagreeable. This means using identity-first language and not using functioning labels.PMID:38507152 | DOI:10.1007/s10803-024-06316-3 (Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders)
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - March 20, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Nathan Keates Farradeh Martin Krysia Emily Waldock Source Type: research

Letter to the Editor: Supporting Drivers with Autism and Police Officer Interactions-Connecticut's Blue Envelope Program
Discussion is offered on a broader implementation of this program to support individuals with ASD and officers, while improving the outcomes of interactions.PMID:38502422 | DOI:10.1007/s10803-024-06315-4 (Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders)
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - March 19, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Meghan Brahm Gleeson Harry Grindle Mark M Gleeson Source Type: research

Letter to the Editor: Supporting Drivers with Autism and Police Officer Interactions-Connecticut's Blue Envelope Program
Discussion is offered on a broader implementation of this program to support individuals with ASD and officers, while improving the outcomes of interactions.PMID:38502422 | DOI:10.1007/s10803-024-06315-4 (Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders)
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - March 19, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Meghan Brahm Gleeson Harry Grindle Mark M Gleeson Source Type: research