Understanding Of Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Articles

Letter to the Editor: Supporting Drivers with Autism and Police Officer Interactions-Connecticut's Blue Envelope Program.

The rising prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has led to increased efforts to support individuals with ASD across numerous aspects of life, including driving. While obtaining a driver's license substantially impacts quality of life and independence, it also creates distinct challenges for those with ASD. Challenges surrounding social communication, executive functioning, and sensory sensitivities are particularly evident when considering interactions between drivers with ASD and law enforcement personnel. Connecticut's Blue Envelope Program aims to improve interactions between drivers with and ASD law enforcement by providing instructions for officers and drivers to follow during routine traffic stops on a physical, blue colored, envelope. The instructional guidelines aim to assist officers in understanding and appropriately responding to common ASD-related behaviors which may be otherwise misinterpreted and includes accommodations officers could consider during a stop. Additionally, the envelope outlines clear steps for drivers with ASD to follow through the stop as to support predictability and expectations. The widespread acceptance, efficacy and popularity of the Blue Envelope program underscores the importance of increasing awareness and understanding of ASD among law enforcement and the need for more supports to aid in these increasing interactions. Discussion is offered on a broader implementation of this program to support individuals with ASD and officers, while improving the outcomes of interactions.

PEDAGOGICAL KNOWLEDGE OF REMEDIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS TOWARDS STUDENTS WITH AUTISM

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can impact every family and kid, regardless of color, ethnicity, or educational attainment. This study aims to assess remedial teachers' level of understanding regarding children with autism. The association between the remedial teacher's understanding of autistic students and their educational background as well as their teaching experience is also examined in this study. A descriptive cross-sectional study methodology was used to assess the remedial teachers' degree of understanding regarding kids with autism. Simple random sampling was used to pick 50 remedial instructors from 50 elementary schools in the Petaling Perdana area. Using a Google Form questionnaire based on earlier research, primary data was gathered. Statistical Packages for The Social Sciences (version 27) was utilized to process and evaluate the data. The instrument that has been produced with a Cronbach's Alpha coefficient value of α = 0.73 was examined using the Pearson Correlation test. With a mean score of 3.39, this research indicates a low degree of expertise. This demonstrates the necessity for remedial teachers to increase their understanding of ASD. Most remedial teachers expressed enthusiasm in working with students who have autism when given the right support. Additionally, remedial teachers lack expertise about students with autism. They are having trouble identifying the pupils. Thus, the researcher recommends that basic courses, training, workshops, or pertinent seminars on autistic kids be implemented in all schools going forward.

Paradigm Shift: New Approaches to Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders

A significant increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), both worldwide and in our country, dictates the need to search for modern and effective methods of prevention, diagnosis and medical care for such patients. At the same time, the results of numerous biomedical research in the field of autism are not reflected in practical healthcare. Aims of this work — substantiation of new approaches to the organization of medical care for people with ASD. The results of promising areas of autism research in the field of genetics, epigenetics, metabolomics, microbiome and multimorbidity, which marked a paradigm shift in the understanding of autism spectrum disorders, and requiring implementation in practice, are analyzed. Based on the concept of 7-p pediatrics (programming child development and health, preventive, predictive, personalized, participatory, multiprofessional, progressive), the necessity and possibility of implementing the results of scientific research into real clinical practice of managing children with autism are substantiated. The results of fundamental scientific research in the field of ASD, revealing their complex and multifaceted nature, allow us to talk about a paradigm shift in understanding this disorder Based on a new concept of medical care — 7P-pediatrics — the results of scientific research can be translated into real clinical practice, including diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive and rehabilitative effects on autism, as well ase programming of the optimal trajectory of the cognitive-behavioral phenotype of children with neurodevelopmental features, including ASD.

Understand Autism Spectrum Disorder Differences in Women for Accurate Referral, Diagnosis, and Accommodation

Understand Autism Spectrum Disorder Differences in Women for Accurate Referral, Diagnosis, and Accommodation

Understanding profound autism: implications for stigma and supports.

Societal perceptions and lack of understanding of autism spectrum disorder can be stigmatizing for autistic individuals and their families. This may be particularly the case for individuals who meet criteria for profound autism. Despite the considerable service needs of this marginalized group, there is little data on the prevalence of profound autism, nor on the experiences of those with profound autism and their families. The current study leveraged a mixed-methods approach to address these gaps. First, the prevalence of profound autism was examined in six samples-three from the United States and three from Western Europe. Second, inductive thematic analysis was used to code interviews from 20 caregivers of profoundly autistic adults. The prevalence of profound autism varied widely across the six samples-from 11% to 48%. There were also notable differences between samples in prevalence by gender, race, and ethnicity. Two overarching themes were identified via inductive thematic analysis: Community Perceptions of Autism and Family Support Needs and Advocacy Challenges. Though caregivers were not directly asked about stigmatization during interviews, 85% of caregivers reported at least one instance of perceived stigma. Future research should continue to examine the unique needs and stigmatization experiences of profoundly autistic individuals and their families across the life course.

Causes, Symptoms and Treatments for Autism: Literature Review

In the past few years, there has been critical advance in understanding the causes, symptoms, and medications for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This literature review aims to summarize the current understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by examining various studies and research conducted in recent years. This review will focus on the causes, effects, different symptoms, and solutions for individuals that suffer from autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The patients often experience a wide range of effects that impact their social communication, behavior, and sensory processing. Difficulties in social interaction, communication challenges, repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivities are common characteristics of ASD. These effects can vary in severity and manifestation from person to person, highlighting the heterogeneous nature of the disorder.Genetic factors play a significant part, with certain gene mutations and varieties contributing to the development of ASD. Moreover, natural components and pre-birth complications are also related with higher risks of ASD.The paper discusses the implications of these findings in refining our understanding of autism and ultimately developing improved interventions and support mechanisms for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

​​Auditory Sensitivity in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Assessment, Challenges, and Therapeutic Approaches

In recent years, our understanding of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has evolved, allowing us to better understand and treat those affected by it. ASD affects behavior, physical aspects, and social development in millions of individuals nationwide. Among ASD the challenges faced by individuals with ASD, hyperacusis (reduced sound tolerance) is commonly found. This paper examines ASD's link to auditory sensitivity, especially hyperacusis, covering symptoms, causes, and interventions. Interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and desensitization methods show promising results in alleviating symptoms of those with ASD. In conclusion, tailored approaches are needed for complex ASD challenges and treatment varies by individual. In order to better treat ASD, more research must be done to better understand the etiology and intricacies of this disorder. This paper emphasizes the significance of understanding ASD nuances and auditory aspects, promoting research for enhanced autism spectrum lives.

Screening and Bioinformatics Analysis of Differential Genes in Autism Spectrum Disorder Based on GEO Database.

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children has been increasing year by year, which has seriously affected the quality of life of children. There are many theories about the cause of ASDs, with some studies suggesting that it may be related to gene expression levels or inflammation and immune system dysfunction. But the exact mechanism is not fully understood. profile of gene expression The protein interaction network (PPI) of differentially expressed genes was created using the STRING web tool and GSE77103, which was chosen from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. Using the CytoHubba plugin of Cytoscape program, the hub genes were examined. The hub gene regulatory network for miRNA-mRNA was then built. We identified 551 differentially expressed genes(DEGs) in 8 children with ASD and normal children. In addition, we screened out 10 hub genes (MX1, ISG15, IRF7, DDX58, IFIT1, BCL2L1, HPGDS, CTSD, PTGS2 and CD68) that were most associated with the development of ASDs. Then, microRNAs (miRNAs) closely related to hub genes (such as has-miR-27a-5p) were screened, and the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed. In this study, a total of 10 hub genes were identified, including MX1, ISG15, IRF7, DDX58, IFIT1, BCL2L1, HPGDS, CTSD, PTGS2 and CD68, which are closely related to ASD. These genes may play a key role in the occurrence and progression of ASD. In addition, we also revealed some miRNAs that regulate the hub genes of ASD. These results may deepen our understanding of ASD and provide potential biomarkers and targets for future treatment of patients with ASD.

Personal Risk Factors Regarding the Presence of Autism Spectrum Disorders

<p style="text-align:justify">The current understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as an alteration of neurodevelopment requires deepening in the causes that originate it. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the presence of ASD in subjects aged 2-22 years and some related biological factors (sex/gender, age, and body mass index). A quasi-experimental study, with a cross-sectional retrospective design, was conducted on 209 subjects (n = 111 with ASD and n = 98 neurotypical) who were applied to the GARS-2 test in three areas: communication, social interaction, and stereotyped behaviours between 2016-2021. The risk factors identified are related to early age (OR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.30-3.96), being male (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.41-4.68) and having underweight (OR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.09-3.80). Differences in stereotyped behaviours (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.05-1.14), functional communication (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.08-1.17) and social interaction (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.08-1.15), were found, being at risk as soon as scores related to ASD diagnosis. In sum, rigorous and multidimensional understanding analysis among specialists regarding people with ASD allows to evaluate the development of the set of alterations and key variables to provide support and assistance to their quality of life.</p>

Autism in Africa: prevalence, diagnosis, treatment and the impact of social and cultural factors on families and caregivers: a review.

This paper presents a narrative review of current knowledge on autism in Africa, including prevalence, diagnosis, treatment and the impact of social and cultural factors on families and caregivers. The prevalence of autism in Africa is estimated to be similar to that in other regions. However, diagnosis and treatment access remain limited due to various challenges, such as a shortage of specialised healthcare professionals and resources, a lack of awareness and understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among healthcare providers, and cultural stigma surrounding mental health and developmental disorders. Alternative therapies are commonly used with other therapies, but their effectiveness is often unproven. The impact of ASD on families and caregivers in Africa is significant, with many facing challenges in accessing support services and coping with stigma. Efforts are being made to increase awareness and reduce the stigma around ASD in African communities, but more research is needed on effective interventions and culturally appropriate treatments. Policy recommendations include increasing resources and training for healthcare professionals, improving access to evidence-based interventions and promoting community awareness and support. With improved understanding and investment, the quality of life of individuals with ASD in Africa can be significantly improved.

Enigma of the Developmental Causes in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurobiological developmental condition that can impact communication, sensory processing, and social interaction. ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. For a long time now, the scientific community has been grappling with the enigma of what causes the developmental deficits in people on the autism spectrum, the causes of the ASD symptoms, and the timing of the manifestation of ASD in infants that occurs on or after 6 months. Several research studies show that the main cause of autism appears on account of the enlargement of the brain, specifically the amygdala, which could lead to communication and physical deficits, as well as sensory and light sensitivity. The research on the causes for ASD is still at the nascent stage as there are still many unanswered questions including about the causes of ASD. It appears that few if any ASD Research studies have a representative sampling for gender and the majority of research focuses on male individuals with ASD. This literature review reveals that more research is required to bridge the gaps in our understanding of ASD . The enigma of the developmental causes in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder continues to be of interest to the scientific community and there is potential for further research regarding factors for pre-onset of ASD.

The enteric nervous system deficits in autism spectrum disorder.

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are common comorbidities in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and abnormalities in these issues have been found to be closely related to the severity of core behavioral deficits in autism. The enteric nervous system (ENS) plays a crucial role in regulating various aspects of gut functions, including gastrointestinal motility. Dysfunctional wiring in the ENS not only results in various gastrointestinal issues, but also correlates with an increasing number of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as ASD. However, it remains unclear whether the gastrointestinal dysfunctions are a consequence of ASD or if they directly contribute to its pathogenesis. This review focuses on the deficits in the ENS associated with ASD, and highlights several high-risk genes for ASD, which are expressed widely in the gut and implicated in gastrointestinal dysfunction among both animal models and human patients with ASD. Furthermore, we provide a brief overview of environmental factors associated with gastrointestinal tract in individuals with autism. This could offer fresh perspectives on our understanding of ASD.

The Jordanian Population's Knowledge, Attitudes, and Willingness to Help People with Autism: A Cross-Sectional Study.

To assess the knowledge and attitudes of the general public in Jordan towards autism. In addition, we aimed to assess their awareness of various treatment options for autism, and their attentiveness and willingness to assist. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Jordan for the period between April and May 2022 using an online questionnaire developed based on a literature review. A total of 833 individuals in Amman city completed the questionnaires assessing participant demographics, knowledge of and attitude towards ADS, awareness of management options, perception, and ability to help. Using logistic regression, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for those who are more likely to be informed about autism were determined. The participants' overall understanding of autism spectrum disorder was poor, with a mean score of 6.2 (SD: 3.1) out of 17, or 36.5%. The participants showed a moderately positive attitude towards autism, with an average agreement of 60.9% for government support for ADS children. The items about management options auditory integration training therapy had the highest level (50.1%). Additionally, the participants showed a moderate to high level of attention and ability to help people with autism. The majority confirmed that they see the need to implement changes in public facilities to meet the needs of autistic patients (71.8%). When compared to others, females, aged below 30, single, with family income less than 500 JD, holding a bachelor's degree, and working outside the healthcare field had a higher likelihood of knowing more about the autism spectrum condition (p ≤ 0.05). Our research illustrates the lack of awareness and knowledge among the Jordanian population regarding autism. To fill this gap, educational awareness programs should be conducted to promote Jordanian knowledge regarding autism and find ways in which communities, organisations, and governments can support so as to allow for early diagnoses and an appropriate treatment plan and therapy for autistic children.

The use of data independent acquisition based proteomic analysis and machine learning to reveal potential biomarkers for autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurological developmental disorder in children, and is associated with social isolation and restricted interests. The etiology of this disorder is still unknown. There is neither any confirmed laboratory test nor any effective therapeutic strategy to diagnose or cure it. We performed data independent acquisition (DIA) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) analysis of plasma from children with ASD and controls. The result showed that 45 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified between autistic subjects and controls. Among these, only one DEP was down-regulated in ASD; other DEPs were up-regulated in ASD children's plasma. These proteins are found associated with complement and coagulation cascades, vitamin digestion and absorption, cholesterol metabolism, platelet degranulation, selenium micronutrient network, extracellular matrix organization and inflammatory pathway, which have been reported to be related to ASD. After MRM verification, five key proteins in complement pathway (PLG, SERPINC1, and A2M) and inflammatory pathway (CD5L, ATRN, SERPINC1, and A2M) were confirmed to be significantly up-regulated in ASD group. Through the screening of machine learning model and MRM verification, we found that two proteins (biotinidase and carbonic anhydrase 1) can be used as early diagnostic markers of ASD (AUC = 0.8, p = 0.0001). SignificanceASD is the fastest growing neurodevelopmental disorder in the world and has become a major public health problem worldwide. Its prevalence has been steadily increasing, with a global prevalence rate of 1%. Early diagnosis and intervention can achieve better prognosis. In this study, data independent acquisition (DIA) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) analysis was applied to analyze the plasma proteome of ASD patients (31 (±5) months old), and 378 proteins were quantified. 45 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified between the ASD group and the control group. They mainly were associated with platelet degranulation, ECM proteoglycar, complement and coagulation cascades, selenium micronutrient network, regulation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) transport and uptake by insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs), cholesterol metabolism, vitamin metabolism, and inflammatory pathway. Through the integrated machine learning methods and the MRM verification of independent samples, it is considered that biotinidase and carbon anhydrase 1 have the potential to become biomarkers for the early diagnosis of ASD. These results complement proteomics database of the ASD patients, broaden our understanding of ASD, and provide a panel of biomarkers for the early diagnosis of ASD.

Evaluation of the Lebanese Adults' Knowledge Regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The daily functioning and overall well-being of people with ASD depends largely on understanding how the wider public views ASD. Indeed, an increased level of ASD knowledge in the general population may result in earlier diagnosis, earlier intervention, and better overall outcomes. The present study aimed to examine the current state of ASD knowledge, beliefs, and sources of information in a Lebanese general population sample, to identify the factors that could influence this knowledge. A total of 500 participants were involved in this cross-sectional study, which was conducted in Lebanon between May 2022 and August 2022 using the Autism Spectrum Knowledge scale, General Population version (ASKSG). Overall, the participants' understanding of autism spectrum disorder was low, with a mean score of 13.8 (6.69) out of 32, or 43.1%. The highest knowledge score was found for items related to knowledge of the symptoms and associated behaviors (52%). However, the level of knowledge regarding the etiology and prevalence, assessment and diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, and prognosis of the disease was low (29%, 39.2%, 46%, and 43.4%, respectively). Moreover, age, gender, place of residence, sources of information, and ASD case were all statistically significant predictors of ASD knowledge (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.012, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). The general public in Lebanon perceive a lack of awareness and insufficient knowledge regarding ASD. This results in delayed identification and intervention, leading to unsatisfactory outcomes in patients. Raising awareness about autism among parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals should be a top priority.

Connectome-based prediction of the severity of autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social and behavioural deficits. Current diagnosis relies on behavioural criteria, but machine learning, particularly connectome-based predictive modelling (CPM), offers the potential to uncover neural biomarkers for ASD. This study aims to predict the severity of ASD traits using CPM and explores differences among ASD subtypes, seeking to enhance diagnosis and understanding of ASD. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 151 ASD patients were used in the model. CPM with leave-one-out cross-validation was conducted to identify intrinsic neural networks that predict Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) scores. After the model was constructed, it was applied to independent samples to test its replicability (172 ASD patients) and specificity (36 healthy control participants). Furthermore, we examined the predictive model across different aspects of ASD and in subtypes of ASD to understand the potential mechanisms underlying the results. The CPM successfully identified negative networks that significantly predicted ADOS total scores [r (df=150) = 0.19, P=0.008 in all patients; r (df=104) = 0.20, P=0.040 in classic autism] and communication scores [r (df=150) = 0.22, P=0.010 in all patients; r (df=104) = 0.21, P=0.020 in classic autism]. These results were reproducible across independent databases. The networks were characterized by enhanced inter- and intranetwork connectivity associated with the occipital network (OCC), and the sensorimotor network (SMN) also played important roles. A CPM based on whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity can predicted the severity of ASD. Large-scale networks, including the OCC and SMN, played important roles in the predictive model. These findings may provide new directions for the diagnosis and intervention of ASD, and maybe could be the targets in novel interventions.

“I've grown”: Parent's reflections and familial support

AbstractObjectiveWe examined the perceived familial support of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to better understand the assistance and gaps they experienced.BackgroundPrevious literature indicated various forms of support, including spousal, extended family members, and siblings. However, limited research considered the support parents experienced from their child with ASD.MethodUsing a qualitative methodology involving semistructured interviews, the team interviewed nine parents who had children with ASD.ResultsAlthough most extended family members were seen as supportive, some held a lack of understanding of ASD, posed questions, or made comments that the children were “spoiled.” Mothers often took on the role of “educator.” The sibling(s) helped with caregiving, but also had their own life experiences to deal with. Regarding the support that the child with ASD provided, parents explained that they had grown into a better person. They were more aware of the challenges other parents faced and held less judgements of others.ConclusionOverall, parents noted differing familial support needs based on their families' understanding of ASD. They valued the support the child with ASD provided and recognized how they had grown as a person.ImplicationsPractitioners must continue to learn how to better understand families' experiences and recognize that each family member has differing support roles.

‘Bodies that never grow’: How psychiatric understanding of autism spectrum disorders affects autistic people's bodily experience of gender, ageing, and sexual desire

This paper investigates the intersections of gender, sexuality, ageing in the way autism spectrum disorder is medically described as a discrete category. On one hand, the construction of autism as a male-centric phenomenon results in a significant gender gap in autism diagnosis, with girls diagnosed with autism significantly less and later than boys. On the other hand, the focus on depicting autism as a pediatric condition exposes adult autistics to discriminatory practices such as infantilization and contributes to the disregard of their sexual desires or to the misconception of their sexual behaviors as dangerous or inappropriate. Both infantilization and the supposed inability of autistic people to “fit” into adulthood have a significant impact on both sexuality's expressions and ageing experiences. My study suggests how fostering knowledge and further learning on the infantilization of autism can bring important insight into understanding disability from a critical angle. By challenging normative notions of gender, ageing, and sexuality, autistic people's different bodily experiences question medical authority and social politics and criticize the public representation of autism in the broader social space.

Structural variants identified using non-Mendelian inheritance patterns advance the mechanistic understanding of autism spectrum disorder.

The heritability of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), based on 680,000 families and five countries, is estimated to be nearly 80%, yet heritability reported from SNP-based studies are consistently lower, and few significant loci have been identified with genome-wide association studies. This gap in genomic information may reside in rare variants, interaction among variants (epistasis), or cryptic structural variation (SV) and may provide mechanisms that underlie ASD. Here we use a method to identify potential SVs based on non-Mendelian inheritance patterns in pedigrees using parent-child genotypes from ASD families and demonstrate that they are enriched in ASD-risk genes. Most are in non-coding genic space and are over-represented in expression quantitative trait loci, suggesting that they affect gene regulation, which we confirm with their overlap of differentially expressed genes in postmortem brain tissue of ASD individuals. We then identify an SV in the GRIK2 gene that alters RNA splicing and a regulatory region of the ACMSD gene in the kynurenine pathway as significantly associated with a non-verbal ASD phenotype, supporting our hypothesis that these currently excluded loci can provide a clearer mechanistic understanding of ASD. Finally, we use an explainable artificial intelligence approach to define subgroups demonstrating their use in the context of precision medicine.

Teaching English to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Challenges and Teaching Strategies

The current study aims at shedding light on the challenges that might be confronted while teaching English to students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and providing remedial teaching strategies that can facilitate teaching English to these special learners. Helping students to achieve their highest potential requires both an understanding of ASD and its characteristics, and the elements of successful program planning required addressing them. Students with ASD are individuals who each has unique strengths and needs. Thus, via analysing the previous literature about the topic and administering a structured questionnaire to twelve (12) English teachers at the University of El-Oued, Algeria investigating the challenges and the teaching strategies that can be used to remedy these challenges, this study attempts to provide a broad lines for a special English syllabus that best meet the needs of students with ASD.