| 1. |
- Dahlgren Sandberg, Annika, 1946, et al.
(författare)
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The Rett Syndrome Complex Communicative Functions in Relation to Developmental Level and Autistic Features
- 2000
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Ingår i: Autism. - : SAGE Publications. - 1362-3613 .- 1461-7005. ; 4:3, s. 249-267
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Communicative functions and their relationship with overall developmental level and autistic features were studied in eight young women with disorders in the Rett syndrome complex, three with the classical variant and five with variants with partially preserved/ regained speech. The Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales, individual structured observation, and a specially designed structured interview covering early pre-linguistic and linguistic development, current receptive and expressive language and non-verbal communication skills, were used. Autistic features were evaluated in accordance with the DSM-IV. Low levels of communicative abilities and overall functioning were demonstrated. In most cases, the communicative abilities did not reach the level expected on the basis of overall development. Joint attention behaviours and expressions of communicative intent were rare. However, six of the eight subjects showed clear examples of social interaction abilities. ‘Eye pointing’, as distinct from ‘eye communication’, was demonstrated only in a minority of the cases. The level of communicative function at developmental arrest did not predict later language ability. It is suggested that intervention should focus on developing further the joint attention behaviours, intentional communications and communicative functions spontaneously used by individuals with disorders in the Rett syndrome complex.
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| 2. |
- Leekam, Susan, et al.
(författare)
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Comparison of ICD-10 and Gillberg's criteria for Asperger syndrome
- 2000
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Ingår i: Autism. - : SAGE Publications. - 1362-3613 .- 1461-7005. ; 4:1, s. 11-28
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this study, algorithms designed for the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO) were used to compare the ICD-10 criteria for Asperger syndrome with those suggested by Gillberg. Two hundred children and adults were studied, all of whom met the ICD-10 criteria for childhood autism or atypical autism. Only three (1 percent) met criteria for ICD-10 Asperger syndrome. In contrast, 91 (45 percent) met criteria for Asperger syndrome defined by Gillberg, which more closely resemble Asperger’s own descriptions. Results showed that the discrepancy in diagnosis was due to the ICD-10 requirement for ‘normal’ development of cognitive skills, language, curiosity and self-help skills. When comparisons were based on Gillberg’s criteria only, results showed the participants diagnosed as having Asperger syndrome differed significantly from the rest on all but two of Gillberg’s criteria. However, all of these criteria could be found in some of those not diagnosed as having Asperger syndrome. The results emphasize the differences between the two diagnostic systems. They also question the value of defining a separate subgroup and suggest that a dimensional view of the autistic spectrum is more appropriate than a categorical approach.
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| 3. |
- Sivberg, Bengt
(författare)
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Family system and coping behaviors: a comparison between parents of children with autistic spectrum disorders and parents with non-autistic children.
- 2002
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Ingår i: Autism. - : SAGE Publications. - 1362-3613 .- 1461-7005. ; 6:4, s. 397-409
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The study deals with strain on the family system, as well as the level of coping and types of coping behavior of the parents, in families with a child diagnosed as having an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) as compared to families in a control group. Thirty-seven families and 66 parents were involved in each case, and four psychological tests were used. It was found that lower levels of coping were associated with higher levels of strain on the family system, that the level of strain on the family system was greater in the families with a child with an ASD, and that the two groups differed in their pattern of coping behavior. It is argued that limited contact between the child with an ASD and its parents, claimed earlier to be a cause of autism, can be explained in terms of strain on the family system and the resulting pattern of coping.
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| 4. |
- Tjus, Tomas, 1954, et al.
(författare)
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Interaction patterns between children and their teachers when using a specific multimedia and communication strategy: observations from children with autism and mixed intellectual disabilities.
- 2001
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Ingår i: Autism : the international journal of research and practice. - : SAGE Publications. - 1362-3613 .- 1461-7005. ; 5:2, s. 175-87
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study reports on observed interaction patterns between 20 children with autism and mixed intellectual disabilities (mean chronological age = 11:4 years; language age = 4:7 years) and their nine teachers working with a specially developed multimedia program aiming to increase literacy skills. An increase in verbal expression was found over time for the total group. Children with autism also showed increased enjoyment and willingness to seek help from their teachers. Teachers for both diagnostic groups reduced their instructions on how to handle the computer during the program but the decrease was greater in the teachers for children with autism. When the total group of children was subdivided according to language age (high versus low), it appears that those with a low language age showed an increase in verbal expressiveness from start to end of training. Those with a high language age showed increased enjoyment. It is concluded that more detailed studies of the interaction patterns between teachers and children are needed, and these should be related to children's language level as well as to diagnostic group.
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