Healing Thresholds info on all topics

The Impact of Children with High-Functioning Autism on Parental Stress, Sibling Adjustment, and Family Functioning

scottie — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:04:52 +0000

Title	The Impact of Children with High-Functioning Autism on Parental Stress, Sibling Adjustment, and Family Functioning
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Rao, PA, Beidel DC
Journal Title	Behavior Modification
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	33
Issue	4
Pages	437-451
URL for Abstract	http://bmo.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/33/4/437
Teaser	Family therapy may help with the stress that comes from parenting a child with high-functioning autism.
Full Text	Family therapy may help with the stress that comes from parenting a child with high-functioning autism. This study included parents of 15 children with high-functioning autism and parents of 15 matched normally-developing children (controls). The children were 8 to 15 years old. Parents of children with autism scored higher on the Parenting Stress Index scale than controls. There were more internalizing behaviors (for example, keeping feelings in) for children with autism and their siblings than in control families. The families of children with autism rated their own family members lower on a scale of independence and assertiveness than the control families. The authors said that parents of children with high-functioning autism may face more stress than parents of normally-developing children. Family functioning may also be strained. They suggested that autism interventions include family therapy designed to lower parental stress.

Advances in Autism

scottie — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Title	Advances in Autism
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Geschwind, DH
Journal Title	Annual Reviews of Medicine
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	60
Pages	367-380
URL for Abstract	http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.med.60.053107.121225
Teaser	Autism is not a single disorder but rather a range of conditions, and therapy targeted to the specific subtypes of autism may be helpful for people with autism.
Full Text	Autism is not a single disorder but rather a range of conditions, and therapy targeted to the specific subtypes of autism may be helpful for people with autism. People with autism may have a wide range of symptoms. The author believes that autism symptoms may arise for different reasons in different people. Risks for autism may include genetic factors. Gene mutations have been found in about 10 to 20% of autism cases, but there are a variety of genes involved. Behavioral and cognitive therapies may work best when they are designed to meet the needs of the child. In the future, therapies that target specific genes may also be helpful.

Mother in the Philippines Creates Therapeutic Learning Center for Children with Autism

scottie — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

The RLS Therapeutic Learning Center in the Philippines was founded by the mother of a child with autism.

Body:

The RLS Therapeutic Learning Center in the Philippines was founded by the mother of a child with autism. Rhea Lascano-Sunico decided that after the diagnosis of her son, she wanted to help him and other children like him. Currently the center has 30 children who receive occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and special education courses. She is hoping to develop the children’s social skills with play therapy.

Read origianl article: At Center, Good Things Happen to Special Kids

Functional Analysis and Treatment of Inappropriate Vocalizations Using a Speech-Generating Device for a Child with Autism

scottie — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Title	Functional Analysis and Treatment of Inappropriate Vocalizations Using a Speech-Generating Device for a Child with Autism
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Franco, JH, Lang RL, O’Reilly MF, Chan JM, Sigafoos J, Rispoli M
Journal Title	Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	24
Issue	3
Pages	146-155
URL for Abstract	http://foa.sagepub.com/cgi/content/short/24/3/146
Teaser	A speech-generating device may improve behaviors in children with autism who cannot speak.
Full Text	A speech-generating device may improve behaviors in children with autism who cannot speak. This case report describes the use of a speech-generating device by a 7-year-old boy with autism. The boy could not speak, but he did make sounds with his voice. Sometimes the sounds were not appropriate. He also had problem behaviors; for example, he would use aggression when he wanted attention or wanted to play with someone. The boy was taught how to use multiple options on the device. He used the device on the playground and during gym. When he used the device, he had problem behaviors 0 to 20% of the total time (for example, while on the playground). Without the device, he had problem behaviors 40 to 80% of the total time.

Using Visuals to Help Children with Autism Communicate

scottie — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Pamela G. Downing, a special education teacher in Brownsville, Texas, believes that children with autism are visual learners.

Body:

Pamela G. Downing, a special education teacher in Brownsville, Texas, believes that children with autism are visual learners. She thinks it is important to use pictures of emotions and body language to help children with autism communicate. For example, she told the story of a child with autism who with help from three pictures – a happy face, a frown face, and an “O” face – was able to modify his behavior.

Read original article: Communication for Autism Spectrum Disorders

One-Year Follow-Up of the Outcome of a Randomized Controlled Trials of a Home-Based Intervention Programme for Children with Autism and Developmental Delay and their Families

scottie — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:20:02 +0000

Title	One-Year Follow-Up of the Outcome of a Randomized Controlled Trials of a Home-Based Intervention Programme for Children with Autism and Developmental Delay and their Families
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Rickards, AL, Walstab JE, Wright-Rossi RA, Simpson J, Reddihough DS
Journal Title	Child: Care, Health and Development
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	35
Issue	5
Pages	593-602
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19508318
Teaser	Home-based therapy for children with autism may be most helpful for cognitive and language skills.
Full Text	Home-based therapy for children with autism may be most helpful for cognitive and language skills. Preschool children with autism in this study (59 children, 3 to 5 years old) attended special intervention centers and also received additional home-based services. There were 40 home visits over 1 year. This study asked whether improvements in cognitive skills and behaviors were still present one year after intervention was stopped. Improvements in cognitive and language skills lasted, but improvements in behavior did not. The authors said that children from more highly-stressed families benefited the most.

Sowing Seeds of Compassion: The Case of a Music Therapy Integration Group

scottie — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Title	Sowing Seeds of Compassion: The Case of a Music Therapy Integration Group
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Gilboa, A, Ben-Shetrit S
Journal Title	The Arts in Psychotherapy
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	36
Issue	4
Pages	251-260
URL for Abstract	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleListURL&_method=list&_ArticleListID=1180021401&_sort=r&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=76ad9907211bcade1010d89da5d3145a
Teaser	Integrating children with autism and normally-developing children in music therapy may help foster compassion.
Full Text	Integrating children with autism and normally-developing children in music therapy may help foster compassion. This study measured kindness in 4 children who were placed together in a music therapy group. The group included two children with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) and two normally-developing children (9 and 10 years old). The children met for 14 weekly sessions for 30 minutes each. The normally-developing children showed more compassion over the 14-week period. Compassion ranged from tolerating unusual behaviors to an equal-leveled acceptance of the children with autism. Compassionate actions increased from about 2 per session to about 6 per session. The authors think that music therapy encourages compassion by encouraging togetherness and listening to other children.

People with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities Have a New Facility for Day Services in Massachusetts

scottie — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

People with autism and other developmental disabilities are sometimes unable to learn daily living skills at home.

Body:

People with autism and other developmental disabilities sometimes do not have the opportunity to learn daily living skills at home. Rehabilitative Resources Inc. (RRI) in Massachusetts has opened another "Day Hab" center in order to serve more clients. Bonita Keefe-Layden, the chief executive officer of RRI, says that people with disabilities may lack simple life skills because their parents may overcompensate for them at home and think that they are unable to do tasks such as washing dishing and grocery shopping. In addition to teaching daily skills, Day Hab has done some job training and placement. Keefe-Layden says, "We have to meet Mass Health regulations (through which the program is supported), but beyond that [the program] is as unique as people want it to be." While certain therapies are required - speech, physical, and occupational - Keefe-Layden is hoping to bring animal therapy to the center. There is a small store at the center that sells items the clients have made such as soaps and holiday gifts. When the weather becomes warmer, participants will have the opportunity to do some outdoor activities and sports.

Read original article: People with Developmental Disabilties Find Care Closer to Home

Parent-based Sleep Education Workshops in Autism

scottie — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Title	Parent-based Sleep Education Workshops in Autism
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Reed, HE, McGrew SG, Artibee K, Surdkya K
Journal Title	Journal of Child Neurology
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	24
Issue	8
Pages	936-945
URL for Abstract	http://jcn.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/24/8/936
Teaser	Educating parents about behavioral sleep strategies may improve sleep habits in their children with autism.
Full Text	Educating parents about behavioral sleep strategies may improve sleep habits in their children with autism. This study looked at whether a parent education program about sleep habits might help parents to create better habits at home. Parents of 20 children with autism (3 to 10 years old) participated in the study. Parents attended three 2-hour workshops led by 2 physicians. Parents learned about setting good daytime, bedtime, and nighttime routines. They also learned strategies for dealing with their children if they wake up in the middle of the night. One month after the last seminar, parents reported improvements in 6 out of 10 measures of their child’s sleep habits. Sleep habits improved even for children with low receptive language abilities. The authors said that a few sessions of parent education may be very helpful to parents whose children have sleep problems.

Medical Autism Clinic in Alabama Gives Parents a Guide for Dealing with Autism

scottie — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

The Medical Autism Clinic (MAC) affiliated with the University of Alabma, Birmingham, was created to be a "roadmap" for parents as they deal with the diagnosis of autism.

Body:

The Medical Autism Clinic (MAC) affiliated with the University of Alabama, Birmingham, was created to be a "roadmap" for parents as they deal with the diagnosis of autism. MAC uses the talents and skills of specialists in "genetics, nutrition, occupational therapy, speech therapy, rehabilitation, sleep disorders and audiology in one location to expedite the evaluation of some of the medical problems seen in children with ASDs." While all these areas are supported, Myriam Peralta-Carcelen, M.D., the director of MAC says the focus is on "feeding, sensory, motor, sleep, gastrointestinal and nutritional problems." MAC attempts to address these issues in a thorough and interdependent way. Parents and their children are referred to MAC by their pediatricians; first they complete a questionnaire, and then the children are evaluated by Peralta-Carcelen and her staff. Having all services under one roof allows the parents to leave the appointment at MAC with a course of action and a list of resources.

Read original aritcle: New Medical Autism Clinic Gives Parents Roadmap for Care