Pervasive Developmental Disabilities Research Articles

Hybrid model for speech emotion recognition of normal and autistic children (SERNAC)

Since the last decade, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been used as a general term to describe a wide range of conditions, including autistic syndrome, Asperger's disorder, and pervasive developmental disability. This problem emerges as a decreased ability to share emotions and a greater difficulty understanding others' feelings, leading to increased social communication difficulties. To assist patients with ASD, we proposed a concept that incorporates speech emotion detection technologies, which are widely used in the field of human-computer interaction (particularly youngsters). An algorithm based on a novel method for classifying normal and autistic children's speech emotions is implemented in this article. The training data set is treated to a new approach after all features have been extracted. The technique discussed in this study is the creation of a hybrid algorithm that serves as a classifier for normal and autistic children's speech emotions. Voice emotion recognition can be identified accurately and with a lower error rate. The data collection includes speech samples from 200 normal and 250 autistic groups in four moods (Angry, Happy, Neutral and Sad). As per research findings, the implemented hybrid algorithm for Normal and Autistic Children Speech Emotions (SERNAC) outperformed the existing classifiers by increasing accuracy.

Extra-muscular manifestations in GNE myopathy patients: A nationwide repository questionnaire survey in Japan

ObjectiveGNE myopathy is a rare autosomal recessive adult-onset distal myopathy caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in GNE. Although some extra-muscular manifestations associated with GNE myopathy have been reported, little is known about whether they are disease-specific and how often they present. This study aimed to characterize extra-muscular manifestations of GNE myopathy. MethodsWe conducted a questionnaire survey of GNE myopathy patients registered in a national registry in Japan. The questionnaire requested information regarding idiopathic thrombocytopenia, cardiac involvement, respiratory involvement, sleep apnea syndrome (SAS), and psychiatric diseases. ResultsThe response rate was 62.4% (126/198), yielding a total of 51 male and 75 female participants. Of the participants, 4.1% (5/123) had a diagnosis of idiopathic thrombocytopenia, and 16.3% (8/49) of males and 6.6% of females (5/76) had a diagnosis of SAS. In total, 0.8% (1/126) of participants had pervasive developmental disabilities and 14.7% (16/109) had a psychiatric disease. ConclusionThe frequencies of idiopathic thrombocytopenia and SAS among Japanese GNE myopathy patients were higher than those observed in the general Japanese population. Routine blood tests and evaluation of sleep-disordered breathing should be considered in order to better manage GNE myopathy patients.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Engage in Child-Directed Communication Behaviours during Mother-Child Interactions

The development of communication abilities in early children is heavily influenced by child-directed verbal and nonverbal behaviours. Autism disorder is a brain development disorder that affects how a person perceives and interacts with others, resulting in social interaction and communication issues. Limited and repetitive patterns of conduct are also part of the illness. In autism disorder, the term spectrum refers to the vast range of symptoms and severity. Autism disorder encompasses disorders such as childhood disintegrative disorder, and an unidentified form of pervasive developmental disability that were formerly regarded different. Some people still refer to autism disorder as Asperger's syndrome, which is considered to be on the milder end of the spectrum. Autism condition manifests itself in early life and leads to difficulties in social, educational, and occupational settings. Autism signs appear in youngsters as early as the first year of life. A tiny percentage of children appear to develop normally in the first year, but subsequently regress between the ages of 18 and 24 months, when they begin to show signs of autism.

Engelli Bireylerin Kamu Hizmetlerinden Memnuniyeti: Nazilli İlçesi Örneği

Dünya Sağlık Örgütü, 2011 tarihli Dünya Engellik Raporu’nda dünyada 18 yaş üzeri nüfusun %15.6’sının engelli olduğunu belirtmektedir. OECD, AB ülkeleri ve Türkiye’de de %15’inin üzerinde engellilik durumu söz konusudur. Yaşlılık ve kronik hastalıkların giderek artması ile birlikte engelli birey sayısı da artmaktadır. Bu durum ülkelerde engelli bireylerin ihtiyaçlarının ve beklentilerinin de dikkate alındığı politikaları ve uygulamaları gerekli kılmaktadır.
 Çalışmanın amacı Nazilli ilçesindeki engellilerin kamu hizmetlerinden memnuniyetlerinin ortaya konulması, durum ve ihtiyaç analizinin yapılmasıdır. Bu konuda sosyal farkındalık düzeyinin arttırılması da amaçlanmaktadır.
 Çalışmada yerel ölçekte bir alan çalışmasıyla engellilerin kamu hizmetlerinden ve belediyecilik hizmetlerinden memnuniyet durumları belirlenerek memnuniyet düzeyinin engel türüne göre farklılaşıp farklılaşmadığı analiz edilmektedir. Ankete katılan 142 engelli bireylerin yaklaşık olarak yarısını fiziksel engelli bireyler oluşturmaktadır. Engellilerin çoğunluğu kadın, bekar, ilkokul mezunu ve 35-44 yaş aralığındaki bireylerden oluşmaktadır. Engelli bireylerin önemli bir çoğunluğu istihdama katılmamaktadır. Betimleyici istatistikler tüm kamu hizmet kalemlerinde ve genel olarak kamu hizmetlerinden memnuniyetin oldukça yüksek olduğunu göstermektedir. Ancak belediyenin altyapı, sosyal ve kültürel aktiviteler ve sportif aktivitelerinden memnuniyet genel memnuniyet düzeyinin altında kalmaktadır. ANOVA testi sonucu adli ve idari hizmetlerden memnuniyetin engel türüne göre farklılaştığını göstermektedir. Engel türüne göre hizmetlerden memnuniyet çoklu karşılaştırmalar analizi fiziksel engelliler ve birden fazla engeli bulunan bireylerin adli ve idari hizmetlerden memnuniyetleri arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark bulunduğunu göstermektedir. Çoklu karşılaştırma sonucu yaygın gelişimsel bozukluk engeli olan bireyler ile birden fazla engeli bulunan bireylerin adli ve idari hizmetlerden memnuniyetleri arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark bulunduğu saptanmıştır.

Influences of parentification and benefit finding on prosocial behavior among typically developing siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorder

BackgroundPrior research examining typically developing siblings (TDS) of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) reports both higher and lower levels of prosocial behavior among TDS. TDS’ experiences (parent-focused parentification, sibling-focused parentification) and perceptions of experiences (ASD benefit finding, role benefit finding) may interact to influence TDS prosocial behavior. Aims1) Examine influences of TDS’ experiences and perceptions of TDS experiences on prosocial behavior and 2) examine interactions between TDS’ experiences of parentification and perceptions of experiences influencing prosocial behavior while controlling for the Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP). Methods and proceduresTDS [N = 108; M(SD) age = 20.37(1.55)] were college students who reported having a sibling with ASD, defined as “Autism Spectrum Disorder”, “Autism”, “Asperger’s”, and “Pervasive Developmental Disability”. TDS completed an online survey about their experiences and perceptions of experiences. Outcomes and resultsControlling for gender and BAP, there was a significant interaction between ASD benefit finding and sibling-focused parentification such that at low levels of ASD benefit finding, sibling-focused parentification negatively predicted prosocial behavior. Lower BAP scores and female gender were associated with greater levels of prosocial behavior. Conclusions and implicationsTDS experiences and perceptions of experiences are important for understanding TDS prosocial behavior.

A Video-Enhanced Activity Schedule Reduces Food Stuffing in Child with Pervasive Developmental Disability: a Single Subject Design Case Study

This study evaluated the effects of a video-enhanced activity schedule on the dangerous food stuffing (rapid eating) of a child with pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). An iPad Mini and the software application My Pictures Talk were used to deliver the video-enhanced activity schedule intervention. A multiple baseline across meals with an embedded ABAB design was used to evaluate changes in food stuffing behavior. A reduction in food stuffing across breakfast, lunch, and snack was demonstrated with experimental control. Generalization probes with the child’s mother suggested the improvement generalized to meals without the therapist but caution in conclusions regarding generalization is limited by the small number of generalization probes. The child’s mother provided anecdotal social validity data indicating the intervention approach was acceptable, treatment goals were meaningful, and outcomes were positive. This study replicates previous research demonstrating the potential benefit of video-enhanced activity schedules and extends previous research by reducing inappropriate mealtime behavior in a child with PDD-NOS.

An Analysis of the Effect of Educational Game Training on Some Physical Parameters and Social Skills of the Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Purpose of this research is to measure the effect of educational game training on some physical parameters and social skills of the children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Five individuals (participants) diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder participated in the research. During the research, the participants were made to play 8 different educational games for 8 weeks, and 3 days a week for 1 hour; and the sessions during the research were recorded with a video camera. Research data were obtained before and after the 8-week educational game program by using flamingo test, vertical jump test, plate tapping test, sit and reach test, and by performance determination form for individuals with pervasive developmental disability. SPSS 25 package program was used in the analysis of the data. The Wilcoxon test, a nonparametric test, was used to evaluate pre- and post-test results. As a result of the study, it was found that the educational games have positive effects on some physical parameters (balance, flexibility, strength, hand-eye coordination) and social skills (matching skills, imitation skills, following instructions skills, visual support use, receptive language skills, communicative language skills, game and music skills, self-care skills, daily life skills, motor skills, socialization skills, and mathematics).

The causative variants of amyloidosis in the autism

Purpose: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) consist of a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that include autistic behavior, Asperger’s syndrome and pervasive developmental disabilities. According to the increasing observations that patients with mitochondrial disorders have symptoms associated with ASD, we have aimed to analyze the role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation in autistic patients.Material and methods: We selected children with autistic behaviors (15–60 CARS Score). The mitochondrial DNA extraction process was done by GeNet Bio DNA extraction kit. The regions of interest were amplified using independent PCR runs. After purification of PCR products, both strands were sequenced by Big Dye Termination system in a directly determined automated sequencing on an ABI 3700 capillary sequencer machine using both primers. All sequencing results were analyzed using bioinformatics’ tools sequencher software 5.Results: In this study, 31 samples were examined, which 15 unique variants were detected in genes related to COXI-III. The most frequent variant (30.76%) were related to COX1 with amino acid change A → A. The only significant pathogenic variant was C8264G, except for C8264G, all variants seemed to be homoplasmic substitution.Conclusion: In our study, among the variations we found, one variant what probably had an interesting association with possible amyloidosis, had been reported in patient with autism previously. It is hoped that with finding more definable genetic and biological markers, the autistic children diagnosis and treatment will be more effective.

広汎性発達障害児の保護者が示す子どもを叩く行動の変容 ―行動記録を用いたカウンセリングの効果の検討―

広汎性発達障害児の保護者が示す子どもを叩く行動の変容 ―行動記録を用いたカウンセリングの効果の検討―

Comparison of motor and process skills among children with different developmental disabilities.

[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to compare the motor and process skills of children with different developmental disabilities. [Subjects] Thirty-nine children with developmental disabilities participated in this study which was conducted at N hospital in South Korea. [Methods] The motor and process skills of the participants were compared among three different disabilities: pervasive developmental disorder, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disorder. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA. [Results] Significant differences in motor skills were found among the diagnoses. The cerebral palsy group showed poorer motor skills than the pervasive developmental disability and intellectual disability groups. [Conclusion] The findings have clinical implications for strategies of rehabilitation for children with developmental disabilities.

How Depressive Symptomatology of Mothers of Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders Relates to their Participation in Relationship Focused Intervention

This descriptive, exploratory study investigated whether the depressive symptoms of mothers of young children with Pervasive Developmental Disabilities (PDD) was associated with their participation in a relationship focused intervention. Nineteen parent-child dyads received weekly Responsive Teaching (RT) intervention sessions for 10 months. Results indicated significant pre- post- differences in parents’ responsivenss with their children as well as children’s development and social emotional functioning. Changes in mothers’ responsivenss accounted for between 5 to 26% of the variance in intervention changes in children’s development and social emotional functioning. While mothers’ depressive symptoms were not associated with intervention changes in responsiveness, they were negatively associated with intervention changes in children’s development and social emotional functioning. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for early intervention practice. Keywords: Early intervention, Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Relationship, Focused Intervention, Parental Responsiveness, Parenting Depression

Behavioural Management of Autistic Children through Dietary Intervention

Autism is a pervasive developmental disability increasing in epidemic proportion among the children with a male predominance characterized by impairments in socialization, communication and imagination. These children exhibit classical atypical behaviours that are difficult to manage. This study was undertaken to assess the impact of dietary intervention on behavioural change in the autistic children. A group of 60 autistic children (5-16 yrs) were divided into three groups of 20 children each. Children in the experimental group I were administered the specially developed biscuits (50g), experimental group II received the same biscuits (50g) with added probiotic for a period of six months while the control group did not receive any food supplement. All the children received behaviour therapy as a routine school programme. The impact of intervention was evaluated in terms of their specific food behaviours and changes in their general behaviour under the five domains namely, sensory, relating, body/ object use, language and self-help. A significant improvement (p<0.05) was observed in both the experimental groups at the end of the intervention. The children receiving probiotic biscuits were found to be slightly better than those in the experimental group I in certain observations. Both the experimental groups showed a greater improvement than that of the control. The results of this study stress the need for dietary intervention for the autistic children for a positive behavioural change.

Estado da arte em revistas educacionais sobre estudos feitos com famílias de crianças com necessidades educacionais especiais no período de 2002 a 2011

http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1984686X8361 O objetivo deste artigo é mapear os estudos indexados entre os anos 2002 e 2011 na área da educação, e avaliados como A1 e A2 pelo banco de dados Qualis Capes, no triênio 2010-2012, a fim de verificar de que maneiras as pesquisas com famílias de crianças com necessidades educacionais especiais têm sido feitas. Para isso, foram analisados os seguintes elementos: evolução anual dos estudos, sujeitos analisados, temáticas adotadas e instrumentos de coleta de dados utilizados, a partir de buscas na base de dados Scielo e Periódicos Capes e utilizadas uma multiplicidade de descritores combinados entre si. O critério estabelecido para considerar família foi o de que as pesquisas deveriam conter as palavras-chaves: família, relações familiares, relações parentais, pais e irmãos intercruzadas com as: educação especial, pessoas com necessidades educacionais especiais, educação inclusiva, inclusão, autismo, autista, superdotação, altas habilidades, paralisia cerebral, baixa visão, cegueira, surdez, transtorno global do desenvolvimento, síndrome de Down, deficiência, deficiência intelectual, deficiência física, deficiência visual, surdez e deficiência múltipla. Portanto, os artigos foram obtidos pelo entrecruzamento desses descritores, mas selecionados aqueles que continham uma dessas palavras. Dessa forma, foi encontrado um total de 36 artigos nacionais indexados em revistas da área da Educação. Os dados mostraram que houve um crescimento de pesquisas empíricas nessa área. Palavras-chave: Educação Especial. Família. Necessidades educacionais especiais.

1031 – Risk of psychiatric disorders in hypospadias - a nationwide swedish cohort study

Introduction Even though 0.3-0.8% percent of the male population are born with hypospadias, it is not known if this is associated with an increased risk for psychiatric morbidity later in life. Aims The aim of this study was to assess the association between hypospadias and risk of psychiatric disorders in affected individuals. Methods The association between hypospadias and psychiatric disorders was examined in a population-based cohort study using Swedish registers. Individuals born in Sweden between 1973 and 2009 were included in the study. Among them, 11,156 patients with hypospadias were identified and matched with 1,098,714 distinct controls by year of birth and county. The following outcomes were evaluated: 1- suicide attempt, 2- psychotic, 3- mood, 4-anxiety, 5- eating, 6- personality disorders, 7- disorders due to psychoactive substance use, 8- ADHD, 9- pervasive developmental disorders, 10- intellectual disabilities, and 11- other childhood emotional disorders. Results After adjusting for socio-economic and perinatal factors, malformations and/or genetic syndromes, patients with hypospadias were more likely to be diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorders (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.1-1.6), intellectual disabilities (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.6-2.1), ADHD (OR 1.2; 95% CI 1.0-1.4) and other childhood emotional disorders (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.4) compared to the controls. No relation between other psychiatric diagnosis and hypospadias was found. Conclusion Hypospadias is associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Nosology and epidemiology in autism: Classification counts

Since its initial description by Kanner in 1943, the criteria by which a diagnosis of autism or autism-like disorders was made--and their alleged etiologies portrayed--have undergone manifold changes, from a psychiatric disorder engendered by "refridgerator" parents to a neurodevelopmental disability produced in the main by genetic abnormalities. In addition, the behavioral characterization of autism has also entered the public consciousness and professional domains increasingly in the past 30 years, the effects of which we are continually coming to terms. A diagnosis of autism that once seemed quite unusual is now considered almost epidemic. Increasing numbers of individuals diagnosed with autism and related pervasive developmental disabilities will, in turn, affect the calculated prevalence of the disorder. In this essay, I attempt to account for the increasing prevalence of autism and autism-related disorders by examining its changing criteria, the individuals and instruments used to make the diagnosis, the reliability and validity of same, and the sample sizes and other aspects of the methodology needed to make an accurate estimate of its prevalence.

Autism and epistemology III: Child development, behavioral stability, and reliability of measurement

Early diagnosis and treatment of autism increases the likelihood that symptoms associated with the disorder can be alleviated. However, the behaviors of both typically and atypically developing young infants and toddlers are quite variable and often change as these children age. Studies have shown that this is the case for same-aged children who are diagnosed with autistic disorder (AD) or other Pervasive Developmental Disabilities (PDDs). Therefore, an early accurate assessment of AD or PDD may be problematic. Moreover, instruments used to make the diagnosis may not be as reliable as desired. Statistics employed to evaluate diagnostic accuracy and behavioral stability of instruments' or clinicians' assessments suggest that their diagnoses have been only moderately successful. In addition, the statistics themselves have limitations that would suggest that the measures of diagnostic accuracy and behavioral stability implemented may not be as effective as they would seem. A resolution to these problems is proposed.

Multiple Stimulus Without Replacement Preference Assessments: An Examination of the Relation Between Session Number and Effectiveness

Multiple stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference assessments have been demonstrated to effectively identify reinforcers for individuals with severe to profound disabilities, but it may be possible to make the procedures more efficient by decreasing the number of array presentations. This investigation presents one case study that compared single-, three-, and five-session MSWO formats to determine if reinforcers could be reliably identified with all three formats for one student with pervasive developmental disability not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Using a concurrent-operants design embedded in a reversal design, subsequent reinforcer assessments indicated that a reinforcer was identified with each assessment format. Directions for future research and procedural limitations will be discussed.

Abnormal Language Pathway in Children With Angelman Syndrome

Angelman syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by pervasive developmental disability with failure to develop speech. We examined the basis for severe language delay in patients with Angelman syndrome by diffusion tensor imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging/diffusion tensor imaging was performed in 7 children with genetically confirmed Angelman syndrome (age 70 ± 26 months, 5 boys) and 4 age-matched control children to investigate the microstructural integrity of arcuate fasciculus and other major association tracts. Six of 7 children with Angelman syndrome had unidentifiable left arcuate fasciculus, while all control children had identifiable arcuate fasciculus. The right arcuate fasciculus was absent in 6 of 7 children with Angelman syndrome and 1 of 4 control children. Diffusion tensor imaging color mapping suggested aberrant morphology of the arcuate fasciculus region. Other association tracts, including uncinate fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, and corticospinal tract, were identifiable but manifested decreased fractional anisotropy in children with Angelman syndrome. Increased apparent diffusion coefficient was seen in all tracts except uncinate fasciculus when compared to control children. Patients with Angelman syndrome have global impairment of white matter integrity in association tracts, particularly the arcuate fasciculus, which reveals severe morphologic changes. This finding could be the result of a potential problem with axon guidance during brain development, possibly due to loss of UBE3A gene expression.

Associative learning in ADHD: improved expression under methylphenidate

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterised by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. As might be expected of a disorder in which inhibitory deficits form part of the diagnostic criteria, deficits in response inhibition in ADHD have been evidenced in a number of studies. To date, the tasks used in such studies have required participants to inhibit the learned stimulus-response associations that result in unwanted behavior. However, no research has examined the inhibition of stimulus-stimulus associations, formally ‘conditioned inhibition’. The present study used video game style conditioned inhibition procedures, developed for children and adolescents with a clinical diagnosis of ADHD and suitable for typically developing matched controls. Two computer-based tasks (‘Mission to Mars’ and ‘Weapon-X’) required participants to predict the occurrence of an outcome based on the stimuli presented. We selected 12 male participants with ADHD on medication (methylphenidate), but without comorbid Tourette Syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder, learning disability or psychosis. This group showed overall normal inhibition of stimulus-stimulus associations, measured repeatedly over trials and with two task variants. There was no correlation between inhibitory learning and symptom severity ratings. However, participants with ADHD on higher dosages of methylphenidate, or longer duration of treatment with methylphenidate, showed improved ability to anticipate outcomes following the different stimulus presentations on non-inhibited versus inhibited trials. This effect was most clearly demonstrated on the Weapon-X task. Thus, methylphenidate dose-relatedly improved the expression of associative learning. This action may contribute to its therapeutic effects in improving cognitive function in ADHD.

Effects of Picture Exchange Communication System on Communication and Behavioral Anomalies in Autism

Communication skills deficits and stereotyped behaviors are frequently found among people with pervasive developmental disabilities like autism. These communication and behavioral oddities of autism are often considered to be difficult to treat and are challenging. Picture exchange communication system (PECS) is a six-phase picture system based on applied behavior analysis and is specially designed to overcome these communication difficulties in children with autism by encouraging the child to be the communication initiator. The present paper throws light on the process of using PECS along with other traditional behavioral approaches in managing communication deficits and behavioral stereotypies in a seven-year-old male child diagnosed as having childhood autism. The identified target behaviors of repeated head turning, flapping his hands, poor communication skills were assessed using various rating scales including visual analogue scale as per clinician observation and parental reports and managed using PECS as an adjunct to traditional behavioral techniques of contingency management, differential reinforcement, task direction and reprimand. Outcome was assessed using same tools after thirty-two sessions of interventions spread over three months. Significant improvements of around 60% were observed in the target behaviors.