Healing Thresholds info on all topics

Use of Peer-mediated Interventions in the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review

scottie — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:37:35 +0000

Title	Use of Peer-mediated Interventions in the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Chan, JM, R Lang, Rispoli M, O’Reilly M, Sigafoos J, Cole H
Journal Title	Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	3
Pages	876-889
URL for Abstract	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleListURL&_method=list&_ArticleListID=1448937047&_sort=r&_st=13&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=06a37a04f3ef40e955a256f6e2058fc2&searchtype=a
Teaser	Peer-mediated intervention (PMI) may be very helpful for children with autism, and a strong research base supports use of PMI.
Full Text	Peer-mediated intervention (PMI) may be very helpful for children with autism, and a strong research base supports use of PMI. This review article was designed to describe all research in which therapy for children with autism was performed by the child’s peers. The review covered 42 studies that used PMI in the treatment of people with autism. Many of the studies did not measure whether or not the studied treatment plan was followed by the peers. Some studies did ask the questions: Did the treatment occur for at least 10 minutes? Are there at least 1 or 2 peers in the treatment? Was an adult there to watch the session? The authors note that future studies should focus on what level of PMI can be performed by children at each age.

New Jersey Community About to Get New Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Center

scottie — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Drs. Ken and Sharon Reeve of Caldwell College, have been instrumental in research, service, and infant screening for autism.

Body:

Drs. Ken and Sharon Reeve of Caldwell College, have been instrumental in research, service, and infant screening for autism. The center to carry out these services, the Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis, is slated to take the first clients in January 2011. The Reeves implemented New Jersey’s first masters program in ABA in 2004 and have just recently started the state’s only ABA doctorate program. Caldwell College President, Dr. Nancy Blattner said, “The center's trained experts will provide a level of specialized intervention that enables each student with autism to make significant and ongoing improvements in behavior, communication and social skills.”

Read original article: Groundbreaking: ABA Center Construction Underway

Challenges of Service-Dog Ownership for Families with Autistic Children: Lessons for Veterinary Practitioners

scottie — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:25:34 +0000

Title	Challenges of Service-Dog Ownership for Families with Autistic Children: Lessons for Veterinary Practitioners
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Burrows, KE, Adams CL
Journal Title	JVME
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	34
Issue	4
Pages	559-566
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19228909
Teaser	Service dogs may be a friend to a child with autism and help keep the child safe, but the family with the dog needs the support of a good veterinarian.
Full Text	Service dogs may be a friend to a child with autism and help keep the child safe, but the family with the dog needs the support of a good veterinarian. The purpose of this study was to learn from families what it is like to have a service dog to support a child with autism. Each family must find its own way to bring a service dog into the family. The authors found that the troubles with service dogs may offset the good of having a service dog. The authors suggest that veterinarians look at the results of this study so that they can better help the owners of service dogs. Veterinary schools can teach veterinarians how to learn what needs to be known about families who want service dogs.

Exercise Program Designed for Children and Adults with Autism

scottie — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:48:04 +0000

Teaser:

David S. Geslak, an autism fitness specialist, founded The Exercise Connection Program designed specifically for children and adults with autism.

Body:

David S. Geslak, an autism fitness specialist, founded The Exercise Connection Program designed specifically for children and adults with autism. The program, which involves activities to support special needs, will be offered by the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association (FVSRA) in Illinois. FVSRA plans on offering this program throughout 2011. People with autism can participate in group or individual instruction and will learn “sports, lifetime fitness activities such as yoga, strength training, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness.”

Read original article: Exercise Programs Geared for Autism

Special Ed Teacher Gives Tips on Helping Children with Autism Adjust to New School

scottie — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Body:

A group of kids with autism in Brownsville, Texas got some practice navigating their new school before the school year started. Their teacher helped with social stories and videos on a Flip video camera of the new school. In the spring, the children and their parents went to the new school late in the afternoon when it was quiet and calm. The children and their parents were allowed to visit the school over the summer as well. Other ideas to help children make the transition include driving the route to the new school, making a calendar with changing activities as the summer ends, pictures of school supplies, and beginning the fall schedule of school, homework, and bedtime.

Read original article: Beginning a New School Year For Children with Autism

Designing Affective Video Games to Support the Social-Emotional Development of Teenagers with Autism Spectrum Disorders

scottie — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Title	Designing Affective Video Games to Support the Social-Emotional Development of Teenagers with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Khandaker, M
Journal Title	Annual Review of Cybertherapy and Telemedicine
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	144
Pages	37-39
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19592726
Teaser	Social computer games may someday be a good intervention for adolescents with autism.
Full Text	Social computer games may someday be a good intervention for adolescents with autism. Play therapy is often used to treat children with autism, but many adolescents feel themselves to be too old for play therapy. This short paper describes the use of certain types of video games as an intervention for people with autism. The author describes the field of social physics as a way of having computers see the emotions of the player. The author suggests that such video game structures could mimic the real social world.

Heart and Soul Music Therapy Uses Music for Non-Musical Cognitive Goals

scottie — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:03:29 +0000

Teaser:

Cynthia Sambrano, a classical musician, gave up the rigor of New York City to become board certified as a music therapist.

Body:

Cynthia Sambrano, a classical musician, gave up the rigors of New York City to become board certified as a music therapist. Sambrano owns Heart and Soul Music Therapy in Payson, Arizona. She uses her talent and instruments to “work on non-musical goals such as cognitive, emotional and behavioral issues, social skills and physical and speech concerns.” Sambrano works with children with autism and explains that while many cannot speak, they can sing and make sounds.

Read original article: Music Therapist Treating Disorders with Rhythm

QEEG Studies in the Assessment and Treatment of Childhood Disorders

scottie — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:09:25 +0000

Title	QEEG Studies in the Assessment and Treatment of Childhood Disorders
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Cantor, DS, Chabot R
Journal Title	Clinical EEG and Neuroscience
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	40
Issue	2
Pages	113-121
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19534303
Teaser	Quantitative electroencephalographs (QEEG) may someday be able to measure the brain waves in people with autism and show how the brain waves improve in response to therapy.
Full Text	Quantitative electroencephalographs (QEEG) may someday be able to measure the brain waves in people with autism and show how the brain waves improve in response to therapy. This paper reviewed QEEG studies to see if this way of taking pictures of the brain could be used to measure a child’s progress in therapy. While people have tried to use QEEG to study the brains of people with autism, these studies have had problems because it has been hard to define autism. Some research has shown that the area of the brain called the temporal region is slower in people with autism.

P.L.A.Y. Project Teaches Just That to Children with Autism

scottie — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:12:21 +0000

Teaser:

Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters (P.L.A.Y. Project) is a therapy tool created by Dr. Richard Solomon.

Body:

Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters (P.L.A.Y. Project) is a therapy tool created by Dr. Richard Solomon. The Reeds, parents of a son with autism, discovered the PLAY Project through their local Easter Seals. P.L.A.Y. Project Coordinator Shana Wirth, explains, “We go into the family's home, and we train the parents to be the primary teacher for their child; to do the work everyday with their child." The focus of PLAY is for parents to spend at least three hours a day with their child; it’s about connecting with the child. The Reeds’ intent is to create longer and longer periods of connection with their son.

Read original article: P.L.A.Y. Project Helps Autistic Boy

Samuel Field Y to Offer Social Skills Groups for Children with Autism

scottie — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

The Samuel Field Y in New York is offering evening social skills classes for kids with autism ages 5 to 15.

Body:

The Samuel Field Y in New York is offering evening social skills classes for kids with autism ages 5 to 15. The classes will focus on skills that include cognitive behavior therapy, non-verbal communication, problem solving, and social skills. Trained staff leads the children’s groups and in addition, there is a parent discussion group facilitated by the staff. The Y also offers an after-school program called Project Child. The focus is on kids from the ages of 5 to 15 with conditions including ADHD, Asperger’s, and learning disabilities.

Read original article: Special Needs Programs for Kids Ages 5-15