ASD intervention research in real world contexts: Refining single case designs

Abstract: There is a pressing need for intervention research that reflects real world practice to support evidence based decision making for families, professionals and administrators who support children with ASD. Some of the challenges confronting intervention research are explored, with solutions offered based on single case design methodology. Challenges with single case designs are also outlined and contemporary solutions that are applicable in real world contexts are illustrated in a study by the authors. Research utilizing these strategies may assist with facilitating practitioners to engage in practice-based research to bridge the research to practice gap in intervention with young children with ASD

Social and community inclusion outcomes for adults with autism with and without intellectual disability in Australia

Background: Research suggests that adults with autism tend to have poor outcomes. Outcomes have mostly been defined using summary outcome ratings, with less focus on specific outcomes such as employment, living situation, social satisfaction, loneliness, and friendships. This study aimed to explore social and community outcomes, including employment, education, living arrangements, friendships, and social satisfaction, for autistic adults with and without intellectual disability. Method: Eighty-four adults with autism (mean age 34.2 years, SD = 4.5; 67% with co-occurring intellectual disability), recruited as children and adolescents, participated in the current study. Adult social and community inclusion outcomes were explored through interview and questionnaire, both parent/carer-report and self-report. Results: Participants predominantly lived with family or in supported accommodation, did not pursue higher education, and mostly participated in day activity programmes. Most had limited friendships as reported by parents/carers; however, self-report data (n = 28) indicated that adults were largely satisfied with their social relationships. Overall outcome was poor for 57%, and good/very good for 34%. Adults with intellectual disability generally had poorer outcomes. Conclusion: Autistic adults encountered numerous difficulties in leading an independent life. Adults with co-occurring intellectual disability were most likely to experience difficulties; however, outcomes ranged from poor to very good for adults without intellectual disability. Discrepancies in parent/carer-report and self-reported experiences of friendships highlight the need to ensure individual experiences are captured in addition to parent/carer-report. Appropriate resources and programmes are crucial for adults with autism to support them to have the choice to live independently.</p

Development of parent- and teacher-reported emotional and behavioural problems in young people with intellectual disabilities: Does level of ID matter?

This study described similarities and differences in the 5-year stability and change of problem behaviour between youths attending schools for children with mild to borderline (MiID) versus moderate intellectual disabilities (MoID). A two-wave multiple-birth-cohort sample of 6 to 18-year-old was assessed twice across a 5-year interval using the Developmental Behaviour Checklist Primary Carer version (n = 718) and Teacher version (n = 313). For most types of problem behaviour youths with MiID and MoID showed similar levels of stability of individual differences, persistence and onset of psychopathology. Whenever differences were found, youths with MoID showed the highest level of stability, persistence and onset across informants. Mean levels of parent-reported, but not teacher-reported, problem behaviour, regardless of level of intellectual disability, decreased during the 5-year follow-up period. Youths with MoID and MiID are at risk for persistent psychopathology to a similar degree. Different informants showed to have a different evaluation of the level and the amount of change of problem behaviour, and should be considered complementary in the diagnostic process. © 2007 BILD Publications

Visualization of novel flux dynamics in YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films with antidots.

Using magneto-optical visualization, individual 2 μm diameter antidots (circular holes) in YB

What smells? Developing in-field methods to characterize the chemical composition of wild mammalian scent cues

Olfactory cues play an important role in mammalian biology, but have been challenging to assess in the field. Current methods pose problematic issues with sample storage and transportation, limiting our ability to connect chemical variation in scents with relevant ecological and behavioral contexts. Real-time, in-field analysis via portable gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has the potential to overcome these issues, but with trade-offs of reduced sensitivity and compound mass range. We field-tested the ability of portable GC-MS to support two representative applications of chemical ecology research with a wild arboreal primate, common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus). We developed methods to (a) evaluate the chemical composition of marmoset scent marks deposited at feeding sites and (b) characterize the scent profiles of exudates eaten by marmosets. We successfully collected marmoset scent marks across several canopy heights, with the portable GC-MS detecting known components of marmoset glandular secretions and differentiating these from in-field controls. Likewise, variation in the chemical profile of scent marks demonstrated a significant correlation with marmoset feeding behavior, indicating these scents’ biological relevance. The portable GC-MS also delineated species-specific olfactory signatures of exudates fed on by marmosets. Despite the trade-offs, portable GC-MS represents a viable option for characterizing olfactory compounds used by wild mammals, yielding biologically relevant data. While the decision to adopt portable GC-MS will likely depend on site- and project-specific needs, our ability to conduct two example applications under relatively challenging field conditions bodes well for the versatility of in-field GC-MS

Study of pinholes and nanotubes in AlInGaN films by cathodoluminescence and atomic force microscopy

Cathodoluminescence (CL) in the scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscopy (AFM) have been used to study the formation of pinholes in tensile and compressively strained AlInGaN films grown on Al2O3 substrates by plasma-induced molecular beam epitaxy. Nanotubes, pits, and V-shaped pinholes are observed in a tensile strained sample. CL images show an enhanced emission around the pits and a lower intensity at the V-shaped pinholes. Rounded pinholes appear in compressively strained samples in island-like regions with higher In concentration. The grain structure near the pinholes is resolved by AFM. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics

Psychometric properties of the revised Developmental Behaviour Checklist scales in Dutch children with intellectual disability

The present study assessed the reliability and validity of the revised scales of the Developmental Behaviour Checklist (DBC) in a Dutch sample of children with intellectual disability (ID). The psychometric properties of the parent and teacher versions of the DBC were assessed in various subsamples derived from a sample of 1057 Dutch children (age range = 6-18 years) with ID or borderline intellectual functioning. Good test-retest reliability was shown both for the parent and teacher versions. Moderate inter-parent agreement and high one-year stability was found for the scale scores. Construct validity was satisfactory, although limited by high informant variance. The DBC scales showed good criterion-related validity, as indicated by significant mean differences between referred and non-referred children, and between children with and without a corresponding DSM-IV diagnosis. The reliability and validity of the revised DBC scales are satisfactory, and the checklist is recommended for clinical and research purposes

Day occupation is associated with psychopathology for adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome

Background: Young adults with Down syndrome experience increased rates of emotional and behavioural problems compared with the general population. Most adolescents with Down syndrome living in Western Australia participate in sheltered employment as their main day occupation. Relationship between day occupation and changes in behaviour has not been examined. Therefore, the aim of this research was to explore any relationship between post school day occupations and changes in the young person’s behaviour. Methods: The Down syndrome Needs Opinion Wishes database was used for case ascertainment of young adults aged 15 to 32 years with Down syndrome. Families of 118 young people in this population-based database completed questionnaires in 2004, 2009 and 2011. The questionnaires addressed both young person characteristics such as age, gender, presence of impairments, behaviour, functioning in activities of daily living, and family characteristics such as income and family functioning. Post-school day occupations in which the young people were participating included open and sheltered employment, training and day recreation programs. Change in behaviour of young adults who remained in the same post-school day occupation from 2009 to 2011 (n = 103) were examined in a linear regression model adjusting for confounding variables including age, gender, prior functioning and behaviour in 2004 and family income.Results: In comparison to those young adults attending open employment from 2009 to 2011, those attending day recreation programs were reported to experience worsening in behaviour both in the unadjusted (effect size -0.14, 95% CI -0.24, -0.05) and adjusted models (effect size -0.15, 95% CI -0.29, -0.01). Conclusions: We found that the behaviour of those participating in open employment improved compared to those attending other day occupations. Further examination of the direction of this association is required

Psychopathology in Young People With Intellectual Disability

Context Comorbid severe mental health problems complicating intellectual disability are a common and costly public health problem. Although these problems are known to begin in early childhood, little is known of how they evolve over time or whether they continue into adulthood. Objective To study the course of psychopathology in a representative population of children and adolescents with intellectual disability. Design, Setting, and Participants The participants of the Australian Child to Adult Development Study, an epidemiological cohort of 578 children and adolescents recruited in 1991 from health, education, and family agencies that provided services to children with intellectual disability aged 5 to 19.5 years in 6 rural and urban census regions in Australia, were followed up for 14 years with 4 time waves of data collection. Data were obtained from 507 participants, with 84% of wave 1 (1991-1992) participants being followed up at wave 4 (2002-2003). Main Outcome Measures The Developmental Behaviour Checklist (DBC), a validated measure of psychopathology in young people with intellectual disability, completed by parents or other caregivers. Changes over time in the Total Behaviour Problem Score and 5 subscale scores of the DBC scores were modeled using growth curve analysis. Results High initial levels of behavioral and emotional disturbance decreased only slowly over time, remaining high into young adulthood, declining by 1.05 per year on the DBC Total Behaviour Problem Score. Overall severity of psychopathology was similar across mild to severe ranges of intellectual disability (with mean Total Behavior Problem Scores of approximately 44). Psychopathology decreased more in boys than girls over time (boys starting with scores 2.61 points higher at baseline and ending with scores 2.57 points lower at wave 4), and more so in participants with mild intellectual disability compared with those with severe or profound intellectual disability who diverged from having scores 0.53 points lower at study commencement increasing to a difference of 6.98 points below severely affected children by wave 4. This trend was observed in each of the subscales, except the social-relating disturbance subscale, which increased over time. Prevalence of participants meeting criteria for major psychopathology or definite psychiatric disorder decreased from 41% at wave 1 to 31% at wave 4. Few of the participants (10%) with psychopathology received mental health interventions during the study period. Conclusion These results provide evidence that the problem of psychopathology comorbid with intellectual disability is both substantial and persistent and suggest the need for effective mental health interventions