Interests in high-functioning autism are more intense, interfering, and idiosyncratic than those in neurotypical development

Although circumscribed interests are pathognomonic with autism, much about these interests remains unknown. Using the Interests Scale (IS), this study compares interests between 76 neurotypical (NT) individuals and 109 individuals with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HF-ASD) matched groupwise on age, IQ, and gender ratio. Participants and their parents/caregivers completed diagnostic measures (the Autism Diagnostic Interview—Revised and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule; HF-ASD only), cognitive tests (Wechsler IQ Scales), and questionnaires (the Repetitive Behavior Scale—Revised, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, and the Social Responsiveness Scale), in addition to the IS. Consistent with previous research, HF-ASD and NT individuals did not differ in number of interest areas, but the types of interests and intensity of those interests differed considerably. Using only the IS intensity score, 81% of individuals were correctly classified (NT or HF-ASD) in a logistic regression analysis. Among individuals with HF-ASD, Interests Scale scores were significantly related to Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Repetitive Behavior Scale—Revised, and Social Responsiveness Scale scores, but they were not related to Autism Diagnostic Interview—Revised scores, IQ, gender, age, or psychotropic medication use. The type and intensity, but not the number, of interests distinguish high-functioning individuals with ASD from NT individuals

Early visual foraging in relationship to familial risk for autism and hyperactivity/inattention

Objective. Information foraging is atypical in both autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and ADHD; however, while ASD is associated with restricted exploration and preference for sameness, ADHD is characterized by hyperactivity and increased novelty seeking. Here, we ask whether similar biases are present in visual foraging in younger siblings of children with a diagnosis of ASD with or without additional high levels of hyperactivity and inattention. Method. Fifty-four low-risk controls (LR) and 50 high-risk siblings (HR) took part in an eye-tracking study at 8 and 14 months and at 3 years of age. Results. At 8 months, siblings of children with ASD and low levels of hyperactivity/inattention (HR/ASD-HI) were more likely to return to previously visited areas in the visual scene than were LR and siblings of children with ASD and high levels of hyperactivity/inattention (HR/ASD+HI). Conclusion. We show that visual foraging is atypical in infants at-risk for ASD. We also reveal a paradoxical effect, in that additional family risk for ADHD core symptoms mitigates the effect of ASD risk on visual information foraging

Understanding executive control in autism spectrum disorders in the lab and in the real world

In this paper, we review the most recent and often conflicting findings on conventional measures of executive control in autism spectrum disorders. We discuss the obstacles to accurate measurement of executive control, such as: its prolonged developmental trajectory; lack of consensus on its definition and if it is a unitary construct; the inherent complexity of executive control; and the difficulty measuring executive control functions in laboratory or clinical settings. We review the potential of an ecological validity framework to address some of these problems, and describe new tests claiming verisimilitude, or close resemblance to “real life” demands. We also review the concept of veridicality, which allows for the measurement of the ecological validity of any task, and discuss the few studies addressing ecological validity in individuals with autism. Our review suggests that a multi-source approach emphasizing veridicality may provide the most comprehensive assessment of executive control in autism

COMPARATIVE ASPECTS OF MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES FOR THE FRAME OF AN ARCH PROSTHESIS

The technologies of manufacturing the arch of the arch prosthesis are constantly being refined and updated. The introduction of digital technologies, in particular CAD/CAM, into orthopedic dentistry has led to a qualitatively new level of precision in the planning, modeling and direct fabrication of the arch of the arc prosthesis. The purpose and tasks of this work was a comparative analysis of the laboratory stages of the production of the arc prosthetic framework on the classical and CAD/CAM technology. The object and methods of research. The object of the study was the technology of manufacturing arch arches prosthesis by the method of comparative analysis. To achieve the goal and to solve the tasks on the models of the same patient M., 42 years old, the laboratory stages of the manufacture of arch arches have been carried out: the first - on the classical technology, and the second - using CAD/CAM. Classical construction technology arch prosthesis well described in the literature and does not require detailed exposition. Making frame for CAD/CAM technology is as follows: 1) receiving an anatomical imprint and making a personal spoon; 2) obtaining a functional imprint using special matte imprint materials;3) scanning of a functional imprint after its spraying with a special light reflecting spray; 4) converting the received scanning results into digital format, obtaining a virtual model and installing it in a virtual articulator; 5) studying the computer model of the jaw in the visual parallelogram and determining the optimal way of applying the prosthesis. The program analyzes the inclination and location of the supporting teeth by the method of selection, while showing the size of the retention zone; 6) the next step is to prepare the model for duplication; 7) virtual duplication of the model; 8) simulation of the framework of the future bell-proof prosthesis on the virtual model. One of the peculiarities of this stage is the primary virtual arrangement of artificial teeth in a virtual articulator, and then the automatic modeling of the frame, taking into account the density of interdental contacts; 9) the simulated virtual skeleton is printed from ashless plastics on a 3D printer; 10) a frame made of ash-free plastic is packed in a cuvette and casting is carried out. Results of the research and their discussion. Planning and designing an arc prosthetic design with the help of specially designed computer programs avoids the subjective factor. The study of the model in a virtual parallelogram helps to choose the most optimal way of introducing an arc prosthesis, makes it possible to visually see the volume of the retention zone. If the crown of the reference tooth has an imperfect shape or an insufficiently expressed equator, the program itself will prompt in which direction it should be corrected by making a crochet, which is a significant advantage over classical technology. Proponents of common technology may be sceptical of the fact that the same manipulation can be performed without the use of digital technologies. But, this will be pretty rough and rough, without specifying the required amount of polishing the hard tooth tissues and visualizing the desired shape of the future crown design. In order to maximize the restoration of chewing efficacy and achieve a high aesthetic effect, an artificial teeth are first arranged in a virtual articulator, and then the automatic modeling of the frame. The patient has the opportunity to pre-see the appearance of the future prosthesis and to assess the aesthetic location of the fixation elements. Using for casting a printed on a 3D printer with a frame made of ashless plastic increases the accuracy of the boarding of the frame on the support teeth, which is better than casting on the ceramic model. Conclusions. By comparing the results of each stage of planning, designing and fabricating the arch of the arc prosthesis, it is safe to assert that the CAD / CAM technologies have a number of advantages and are promising for use in arc prosthetics

AUT699586_Lay_Abstract – Supplemental material for Longitudinal study of driver licensing rates among adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder

<p> Supplemental material, AUT699586_Lay_Abstract for Longitudinal study of driver licensing rates among adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder by Allison E Curry, Benjamin E Yerys, Patty Huang and Kristi B Metzger in Autism </p

Impaired Consonant Trigrams Test (CTT) performance relates to everyday working memory difficulties in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

BACKGROUND: Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often struggle with complex tasks, such as those requiring divided attention (simultaneously completing two independent tasks) which also place high demands on working memory. Prior research shows that divided attention is impaired in adults and children with ASD, and is related to ASD and co-morbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder ADHD symptoms, but the impact on everyday functioning is unclear. Because ADHD symptoms are associated with poor divided attention and working memory performance in children with ASD, we also examined ADHD symptoms as moderators of divided attention performance. METHOD: We examined performance on the Consonant Trigrams Test (CTT) between high-functioning 8–13-year-olds with ASD (n=28) and typically developing controls (n=18) matched on age and IQ. In the ASD group, we also correlated performance with ADHD symptoms and behavior ratings of everyday working memory. RESULTS: CTT performance in children with ASD was significantly worse than in matched controls. A significant correlation between CTT performance and everyday working memory was observed, but CTT performance was not related to co-morbid ADHD symptoms, in the ASD group. CONCLUSION: Divided attention with high working memory demands is a relative weakness in children with high-functioning ASD, this weakness relates to everyday functioning, and it is independent from ADHD symptoms. That ADHD symptoms are not associated with divided attention performance is inconsistent with one prior investigation, which likely results from using different divided attention tasks in the two studies