1,721,075 research outputs found
Contributing to the early detection of Rett syndrome: The potential role of auditory Gestalt perception
No full textAbstractTo assess whether there are qualitatively deviant characteristics in the early vocalizations of children with Rett syndrome, we had 400 native Austrian–German speakers listen to audio recordings of vocalizations from typically developing girls and girls with Rett syndrome. The audio recordings were rated as (a) inconspicuous, (b) conspicuous or (c) not able to decide between (a) and (b). The results showed that participants were accurate in differentiating the vocalizations of typically developing children compared to children with Rett syndrome. However, the accuracy for rating verbal behaviors was dependent on the type of vocalization with greater accuracy for canonical babbling compared to cooing vocalizations. The results suggest a potential role for the use of rating child vocalizations for early detection of Rett syndrome. This is important because clinical criteria related to speech and language development remain important for early identification of Rett syndrome
Functional communication training for the treatment of multiply determined challenging behavior in two boys with autism
No full textFunctional communication training was used to replace multiply determined problem behavior in two boys with autism. Experiment 1 involved a functional analysis of several topographies of problem behavior using a variation of the procedures described by Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, and Richman. Results suggested that aggression, self-injury, and disruption were multiply determined (i.e., maintained by both attention and access to preferred objects). Experiment 2 involved a multiple-baseline design across subjects. The focus of intervention was to replace aggression, self-injury, and disruption with functionally equivalent communicative alternatives. Both boys were taught alternative 'mands' to recruit attention and request preferred objects. Acquisition of these alternative communication skills was associated with concurrent decreases in aggression, self-injury, and disruption. Results suggest that multiply determined challenging behavior can be decreased by teaching an alternative communication skill to replace each assessed function of the problem behavior
An Overview of Recent Technology-Aided Intervention Strategies to Help People with Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities Meet Relevant Rehabilitation Goals
No full textThe paper presents an overview of recent studies assessing technology-aided strategies aimed at helping people with intellectual and multiple disabilities reach relevant rehabilitation goals. The 16 studies included in the paper addressed four specific rehabilitation goals, that is, (a) performance of functional activities, (b) access to leisure and communication and performance of functional activities, (c) increase of adaptive responses and decrease of problem behavior or inadequate posture, and (d) increase of ambulation responses. For each study, the paper reports the participants involved, the technology and the assessment process used, and the results obtained. Following the presentation of the studies, the paper focuses on three practically relevant issues: the role of technology-aided strategies over time, the relative potential of various technology-aided strategies, and the accessibility and applicability of the strategies
A Discrete-trial approach to the functional analysis of aggressive behaviour in two boys with autism
No full textIntervention to reduce challenging behaviour may be enhanced when based on a prior functional analysis. The present study describes a discrete-trial approach for the functional analysis of aggressive behaviour in two boys with autism. Twenty brief assessment trials were conducted in the classroom by the teacher under each of three conditions (i.e., attention, task and tangible). The results showed a clear pattern to each child's aggressive behaviour and suggested logical intervention strategies, although the study is limited because it involved only two children. The discrete-trial approach would appear to represent a practical and ecologically valid technique for conducting a functional analysis of challenging behaviour in applied settings
Updated systematic-narrative review on communication intervention in Rett Syndrome: 2010–2022
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Helping a man with acquired brain injury and multiple disabilities manage television use via assistive technology
No full textThis single case study was an effort to assess a technology-based program aimed at promoting independent television use by a man with acquired brain injury and multiple disabilities. The technologygs main components were: (a) two microswitches, which allowed the man to request and confirm/trigger with small responses basic television operations (i.e., switching the television on or off and changing channels), and (b) an electronic control unit with an amplified MP3 player, which helped the man with verbal instructions and the execution of the television operations. Results showed that the technology-based program succeeded in enabling the man to manage television use independently. Different amounts of time dedicated to various television programs suggested that the man had different levels of interest for them and could choose among them. © The Author(s) 2010
The interdisciplinary quest for behavioral biomarkers pinpointing developmental disorders
No full textHighlighting the first 5 months of life: General movements in infants later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or Rett syndrome
No full textWe review literature identifying an association between motor abnormality in the first 5 months of infancy and later diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or Rett syndrome (RTT). The assessment of the quality of early spontaneous movements (also known as the assessment of general movements; GMs) is a diagnostic tool that has repeatedly proven to be valuable in detecting early markers for neurodevelopmental disorders. Even though the rate of occurrence of abnormal GMs is exceedingly high in infants later diagnosed with ASD, we endorse further studies using this method either based on family videos or its prospective implementation in high-risk sibling studies to evaluate the power of GM assessment as one potential marker for early maldevelopment in this cohort. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd
Tying the Delivery of Activity Step Instructions to Step Performance: Evaluating a Basic Technology System with People with Special Needs
No full textAbstract Objectives This study assessed a new technology system that automatically presented instructions for multistep activities to people with intellectual and sensory disabilities. The instructions were presented one at a time, and tied to the participants’ performance of the activity steps. That is, a new instruction occurred only after the participant had carried out the previous step. Methods The new system involved a Samsung Galaxy A10 with Android 10.0 operating system equipped with Amazon Alexa, MacroDroid, and Philips Hue applications and a Philips Hue indoor motion sensor. The assessment of the new system was carried out with seven participants who were exposed to two or three pairs of activities. They performed one activity of each pair with the new system and the other with a system presenting instructions at preset time intervals according to an alternating treatments design that included a cross-over phase. Results The mean percentage of correct responses tended to be higher with the new system than with the control system. Paired t -tests carried out to compare the sessions with the new system with the sessions with the control system of each participant showed that the differences in correct responses between the two sets of sessions were statistically significant for all participants. Conclusions The new system may represent a useful (advantageous) tool for supporting people like those involved in this study in the performance of multistep activities
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