Measuring the stress of autistic people with the help of a smartwatch, Internet of Things Technology

This paper presents the outcomes of a research study that aimed to evaluate the anxiety levels of 10 individuals with autism using Internet of Things (IoT) technology, specifically a wireless smart watch. The incorporation of technology into daily life underscores the significance of recognizing its advantages in enhancing the well-being of individuals. The research study was carried out subsequent to an extensive review of the available literature, which explored various approaches to detecting stress utilizing sensors embedded in smart devices through IoT technology. The research was conducted on 10 adults with autism who were instructed to wear the smart watch, which provided measurements of their anxiety levels both in a calm state of mind and when exposed to loud music. The measurements were obtained during periods when the autistic individuals were relaxed, as well as when they were exposed to high volumes of music. The findings are presented in statistical charts after meticulous data analysis and are noteworthy as they validate previous studies on measuring and identifying anxiety in individuals with autism, as well as the disparities found in comparison to neurotypical individuals

Exploring the Learning Gains of Implementing Teacher Humanoid Robots in STEM Education: A Systematic Review

Εducational (or pedagogical) robotics has received increased attention over the last few years based on its effectiveness on the learning process. Humanoid robots have been recently introduced in school settings to mainly support teaching of curriculum-based subjects. However, humanoid robots’ benefits on STEM education in typical classroom settings are less examined by the research literature. Instead, most research studies take place in non-typical school or classroom settings (such as laboratories). The main goal of the current review is to sum up results of relevant research studies about the positive impact of teacher humanoid robots on STEM education. The learning benefits in STEM subjects, programming and reasoning skills are examined too. Sample subject of this review are mainstream students aged 4 to 18 years old and research studies are grouped based on their commonalities such as common learning areas and results

Intercultural Education and ADHD: Τhe Use of Virtual Reality as a Means of Intervention and Assessment

People are looking to the digital world for solutions to the challenges they face in their everyday lives, as technology continues to advance rapidly. People with impairments now have equal access to learning opportunities due to technological advancements. ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) has become more prevalent among children and teenagers from ethnic minorities in recent years. Due to challenges with cognitive and metacognitive functioning, this condition is associated with various learning and behavioral difficulties. People can only assimilate into the social environment once they have developed these functions. Children can learn alternative techniques to manage their cognitive deficiencies and adapt to various contexts by developing self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-control through internal attention. With the rapid advancement of research, numerous medical and psychological approaches have been developed for the treatment of ADHD, significantly assisting in the management of symptoms. The current study examines different therapeutic strategies aimed at improving the quality of life for children from racial and ethnic minorities who are affected by ADHD. These strategies include video games with virtual reality (VR) environments

As aplicações de TLBL podem melhorar os aspectos do TEA relacionados a distúrbios no microbioma intestinal, atividade mitocondrial e função da rede neural

Autism Spectrum Disorder constitutes a complex, elaborate, and diverse condition at a developmental, biological, and neurophysiological level. It is recognized primarily by the behavioral manifestations of the individual in communication, social interaction, and by extension in his cognitive development and adaptation to society as a whole. A wide range of studies have linked the pathophysiology of autism to dysfunctional elements in the development and function of mitochondria, cells, neurons, and the gastrointestinal microbiome. Low Light Laser Therapy (LLLT) is an innovative, emerging, non-invasive treatment method. It utilizes low levels of red light/near-infrared light positively affecting biological and pathological processes of the body by enhancing cellular, mitochondrial stimulation, neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and immune system development, regulating the gut microbiome's function. The retrospective literature review focuses on the possibility of effective use of the method in autism. According to the literature, LLLT does not have many applications in patients with ASD and is still in the early stages of its use in the disorder. However, the results of the studies highlight its therapeutic effect in several areas related to the disease, pointing out that it is a promising therapeutic approach for the evolution of autism in the future.El Trastorno del Espectro Autista constituye una condición compleja, elaborada y diversa a nivel del desarrollo, biológico y neurofisiológico. Se reconoce principalmente por las manifestaciones conductuales del individuo en la comunicación, la interacción social y por extensión en su desarrollo cognitivo y adaptación a la sociedad en su conjunto. Una amplia gama de estudios ha relacionado la fisiopatología del autismo con elementos disfuncionales en el desarrollo y función de las mitocondrias, las células, las neuronas y el microbioma gastrointestinal. La terapia con láser con poca luz (LLLT) es un método de tratamiento innovador, emergente y no invasivo. Utiliza niveles bajos de luz roja/luz infrarroja cercana que afectan positivamente los procesos biológicos y patológicos del cuerpo al mejorar la estimulación celular, mitocondrial, la neurogénesis, la sinaptogénesis y el desarrollo del sistema inmunológico, regulando la función del microbioma intestinal. La revisión retrospectiva de la literatura se centra en la posibilidad de un uso eficaz del método en el autismo. Según la literatura, la LLLT no tiene muchas aplicaciones en pacientes con TEA y aún se encuentra en las primeras etapas de su uso en el trastorno. Sin embargo, los resultados de los estudios destacan su efecto terapéutico en varias áreas relacionadas con la enfermedad, señalando que es un enfoque terapéutico prometedor para la evolución del autismo en el futuro.O Transtorno do Espectro Autista constitui uma condição complexa, elaborada e diversificada em nível de desenvolvimento, biológico e neurofisiológico. É reconhecida principalmente pelas manifestações comportamentais do indivíduo na comunicação, interação social e, por extensão, em seu desenvolvimento cognitivo e adaptação à sociedade como um todo. Uma ampla gama de estudos ligou a fisiopatologia do autismo a elementos disfuncionais no desenvolvimento e função das mitocôndrias, células, neurônios e do microbioma gastrointestinal. Terapia a laser de baixa luminosidade (TLBL) é um método de tratamento inovador, emergente e não invasivo. Ele utiliza baixos níveis de luz vermelha/luz quase infravermelha (NIR) afetando positivamente os processos biológicos e patológicos do corpo, melhorando a estimulação celular, mitocondrial, neurogênese, sinaptogênese e desenvolvimento do sistema imunológico, regulando a função do microbioma intestinal. A revisão retrospectiva da literatura enfoca a possibilidade de uso efetivo do método no autismo. De acordo com a literatura, a TLBL não tem muitas aplicações em pacientes com TEA e ainda está em estágios iniciais de seu uso no transtorno. No entanto, os resultados dos estudos destacam seu efeito terapêutico em diversas áreas relacionadas à doença, apontando que é uma abordagem terapêutica promissora para a evolução do autismo no futuro

Η αποτελεσματικότητα των εξ αποστάσεως ψυχοθεραπευτικών παρεμβάσεων σε παιδιά και εφήβους με συμπτώματα αγχωδών και καταθλιπτικών διαταραχών: μια συστηματική ανασκόπηση και μετα-ανάλυση ελεγχόμενων τυχαιοποιημένων μελετών

Θεωρητικό Υπόβαθρο: Η ανάπτυξη της τεχνολογίας και η ευρεία χρήση του διαδικτύου έχει επιτρέψει τη δημιουργία ψυχοθεραπευτικών παρεμβάσεων που παρέχονται εξ αποστάσεως με τεχνολογικά μέσα. Έχουν σχεδιαστεί παρεμβάσεις διαφορετικών θεραπευτικών προσεγγίσεων για τη διαχείριση ποικίλων διαταραχών ψυχικής υγείας που απευθύνονται τόσο στον ενήλικο όσο και στον ανήλικο πληθυσμό. Σκοπός: Ο σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η διερεύνηση της αποτελεσματικότητας των εξ αποστάσεως ψυχοθεραπευτικών παρεμβάσεων σε παιδιά και εφήβους με συμπτώματα αγχωδών και καταθλιπτικών διαταραχών. Μεθοδολογία: Πραγματοποιήθηκε συστηματική ανασκόπηση της βιβλιογραφίας και μετα-ανάλυση μελετών. Αναζητήθηκαν ελεγχόμενες τυχαιοποιημένες δοκιμές για εξ αποστάσεως ψυχοθεραπευτικές παρεμβάσεις που απευθύνονταν σε παιδιά και εφήβους ηλικίας 6 έως 18 ετών που στόχευαν στη μείωση συμπτωμάτων αγχωδών και καταθλιπτικών συμπτωμάτων σε τρεις ηλεκτρονικές βάσεις δεδομένων. Για όλες τις συμπεριλαμβανόμενες έρευνες αξιολογήθηκε η ποιότητά τους, μετρήθηκε η ετερογένεια των αποτελεσμάτων τους και εκτιμήθηκε το σφάλμα δημοσίευσής τους. Διεξήχθησαν αναλύσεις τυχαίων επιδράσεων και μια σειρά αναλύσεων υποομάδων. Αποτελέσματα: Συνολικά 18 μελέτες πληρούσαν τα κριτήρια και εντάχθηκαν στη συστηματική ανασκόπηση και μετα-ανάλυση. Η ετερογένεια που παρατηρήθηκε για όλα τα αποτελέσματα των συμπεριλαμβανόμενων ελεγχόμενων τυχαιοποιημένων δοκιμών ήταν υψηλή. Τα μοντέλα τυχαίων επιδράσεων εντόπισαν ένα συνολικό μέτριο μέγεθος επίδρασης στα συμπτώματα άγχους και κατάθλιψης (g= 0.742, 95% CI: 0.423-1.061, p<0.001). Υψηλότερα μεγέθη επίδρασης αποκαλύφθηκαν όταν οι διαδικτυακές και μέσω ηλεκτρονικού υπολογιστή θεραπευτικές παρεμβάσεις συγκρίθηκαν με ομάδες ανενεργού ελέγχου (n=9, g=1.221, 95% CI: 0.824-1.618, p<0.001). Συμπεράσματα: Οι διαδικτυακές και μέσω Η/Υ ψυχοθεραπευτικές παρεμβάσεις θα μπορούσαν να είναι αποτελεσματικές για τα αγχώδη και καταθλιπτικά συμπτώματα στα παιδιά και τους εφήβους. Η πρόκληση για το μέλλον είναι να εξεταστεί πώς οι εξ αποστάσεως ψυχοθεραπευτικές παρεμβάσεις μπορούν να ενσωματωθούν στη καθημερινή φροντίδα της ψυχικής υγείας.Background: The development of technology and the widespread use of the internet has enabled the creation of psychotherapeutic interventions that are delivered remotely by technological means. Interventions of different therapeutic approaches have been designed for the management of a variety of mental health disorders aimed at both adult and minor populations. Aim: The purpose of this work is to investigate the effectiveness of remotely delivered psychotherapeutic interventions in children and adolescents with symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorders. Methods: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of studies was performed. We searched three online databases for randomized controlled trials of remotely delivered psychotherapeutic interventions aimed at reducing symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorders in persons aged 6 to 18 years. All included studies were quality assessed, the heterogeneity of their results was measured and their publication bias was estimated. Random effects analyses and a series of subgroup analyses were conducted. Results: A total of 18 studies met the criteria and were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The heterogeneity for all outcomes of the included randomized controlled trials was high. Random effects models identified an overall moderate effect size on anxiety and depressive symptoms (g= 0.742, 95% CI: 0.423-1.061, p<0.001). Higher effect sizes were revealed when online and computer-based psychotherapeutic interventions were compared with inactive control groups (n=9, g=1.221, 95% CI: 0.824-1.618, p<0.001). Conclusions: Online and computer-based psychotherapeutic interventions could be effective for anxiety and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. The challenge for the future is how remotely delivered psychotherapeutic interventions can be integrated into everyday mental health care

Applications for Children with Autism in Preschool and Primary Education

In this article, we decided to focus on applications for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) knowing the significant influence of them on those children. Below, we analyze the different types of applications that are available for children with ASD. The applications are presenting, have been categorized in three categories. The first category is Diagnostic Tools, the second is Intervention Tools and the third is generally Mobile Apps. This separation was made to give a clear view about the characteristics and the developmental area each application covers. Finally, the applications have been chosen based on positive reviews, in combined with how many had download and install them, whether they were easy to use and if they responded to what their description said they were providing.</p