AutismPub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2024-11-05DOI: 10.1177/13623613241290072
Orla C Putnam, Jennifer E Markfeld, Sarah Towner Wright, Jacob I Feldman, Jessica Goldblum, Maia Karpinsky, Amanda J Neal, Meghan R Swanson, Clare Harrop
{"title":"The use of Language ENvironment Analysis in autism research: A systematic review.","authors":"Orla C Putnam, Jennifer E Markfeld, Sarah Towner Wright, Jacob I Feldman, Jessica Goldblum, Maia Karpinsky, Amanda J Neal, Meghan R Swanson, Clare Harrop","doi":"10.1177/13623613241290072","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613241290072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA) system has been used increasingly in research to record and evaluate the everyday speech of autistic children and their families. However, it is unclear how researchers are using LENA and whether the system is well-suited for work with autistic individuals. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the use of LENA in autism research, to highlight the strengths and limitations of the system as identified by researchers, and to provide recommendations for future research and clinical use. Forty-two studies that used LENA with samples of autistic children were identified through a systematic database search. Researchers using LENA in autism did so across a variety of ages, settings, and analytical approaches. Most studies used LENA within recommended guidelines. The most common purpose of using LENA was for exploratory research. Noted strengths of the LENA system included ecological validity, cost-effectiveness, and timely clinical feedback. Limitations included lower rates of speaker identification compared to human coders and limited information regarding speech context and language development. This systematic review provides key insights into the methods surrounding LENA use in autism research and serves to inform researchers and clinicians on best practices for future use with this technology.Lay abstractIn research, language ability has historically been measured using structured tasks in laboratory settings. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on the need to instead capture language ability in an individual's natural setting (i.e. through social interaction or in their home). Considering natural language may be particularly important for the autistic population, as an autistic child's language ability can be very different depending on the setting. One common tool for capturing natural language is the LENA recording system, which takes audio recordings over long periods of time and provides estimates of children's and caregivers' speech. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the use of LENA in autism research, to highlight the strengths and limitations of the system as identified by researchers, and to provide recommendations for future research and clinical use. We identified 42 autism studies that used LENA in a variety of ways and settings. Most studies used LENA within the guidelines put forth by its creators, and it was most commonly used to understand speech or speech development for autistic children. LENA is a useful tool for clinicians and caregivers to gain some insights into child speech, but those considering using it should be aware of concerns about its accuracy and limitations about the information it provides. In this review, we supplement the official LENA guidelines with specific suggestions for use with the autistic population.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"1095-1117"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12038073/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142581964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AutismPub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2024-12-20DOI: 10.1177/13623613241304488
Joseph Cy Lau, Emily Landau, Qingcheng Zeng, Ruichun Zhang, Stephanie Crawford, Rob Voigt, Molly Losh
{"title":"Pre-trained artificial intelligence language model represents pragmatic language variability central to autism and genetically related phenotypes.","authors":"Joseph Cy Lau, Emily Landau, Qingcheng Zeng, Ruichun Zhang, Stephanie Crawford, Rob Voigt, Molly Losh","doi":"10.1177/13623613241304488","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613241304488","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many individuals with autism experience challenges using language in social contexts (i.e., pragmatic language). Characterizing and understanding pragmatic variability is important to inform intervention strategies and the etiology of communication challenges in autism; however, current manual coding-based methods are often time and labor intensive, and not readily applied in ample sample sizes. This proof-of-concept methodological study employed an artificial intelligence pre-trained language model, Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers, as a tool to address such challenges. We applied Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers to computationally index pragmatic-related variability in autism and in genetically related phenotypes displaying pragmatic differences, namely, in parents of autistic individuals, fragile X syndrome, and <i>FMR1</i> premutation. Findings suggest that without model fine-tuning, Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers's Next Sentence Prediction module was able to derive estimates that differentiate autistic from non-autistic groups. Moreover, such computational estimates correlated with manually coded characterization of pragmatic abilities that contribute to conversational coherence, not only in autism but also in the other genetically related phenotypes. This study represents a step forward in evaluating the efficacy of artificial intelligence language models for capturing clinically important pragmatic differences and variability related to autism, showcasing the potential of artificial intelligence to provide automatized, efficient, and objective tools for pragmatic characterization to help advance the field.Lay abstractAutism is clinically defined by challenges with social language, including difficulties offering on-topic language in a conversation. Similar differences are also seen in genetically related conditions such as fragile X syndrome (FXS), and even among those carrying autism-related genes who do not have clinical diagnoses (e.g., the first-degree relatives of autistic individuals and carriers of the <i>FMR1</i> premutation), which suggests there are genetic influences on social language related to the genes involved in autism. Characterization of social language is therefore important for informing potential intervention strategies and understanding the causes of communication challenges in autism. However, current tools for characterizing social language in both clinical and research settings are very time and labor intensive. In this study, we test an automized computational method that may address this problem. We used a type of artificial intelligence known as pre-trained language model to measure aspects of social language in autistic individuals and their parents, non-autistic comparison groups, and individuals with FXS and the <i>FMR1</i> premutation. Findings suggest that these artificial intelligence approaches were able to identify differences ","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"1346-1358"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12040583/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142863117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AutismPub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2024-12-04DOI: 10.1177/13623613241301493
Marianne Day, Chantelle Wood, Elizabeth Corker, Megan Freeth
{"title":"Understanding the barriers to hiring autistic people as perceived by employers in the United Kingdom.","authors":"Marianne Day, Chantelle Wood, Elizabeth Corker, Megan Freeth","doi":"10.1177/13623613241301493","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613241301493","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Supporting more autistic people into employment is a major priority of the United Kingdom's National Autism Strategy (2021-2026). However, little is known about the barriers employers perceive to hiring autistic people. A pre-registered cross-sectional survey study was conducted on a nationally representative sample of 1212 individuals with recent hiring experience. The Capability, Opportunity, Motivation - Behaviour framework and the Theoretical Domains Framework were used to identify perceived barriers to hiring autistic people. Results indicated that intentions to hire autistic people and to make adjustments to the hiring process were high. However, barriers existed in relation to knowledge about autism and how to make adjustments, as well as perceived limited opportunities to hire autistic people. Intentions to hire autistic people were higher for younger participants, men, people with higher levels of autism knowledge and those with more experience of previously hiring autistic people. Analysis of qualitative responses revealed employer concerns about workplace relationships, productivity and the need for training and adjustments to hiring processes. This study demonstrated that important targets for intervention are improving employer knowledge of autism and building more inclusive hiring practices. Practical suggestions for implementation are provided. These findings are significant for development of policies aimed at improving employment outcomes for autistic people.Lay abstractIn the United Kingdom, autistic adults struggle more to find jobs than non-autistic adults, which is a big concern to the government. To help more autistic people get jobs, hiring processes need to be better. By understanding what employers find challenging about hiring autistic people, we can come up with solutions to improve autistic people's employment chances. A survey of 1212 employers and employees who hire people was conducted to find out what affects employers' decisions to hire autistic people. Most people said they were open to hiring autistic applicants. This was particularly true for younger employers and men. People who had hired autistic people before were more likely to intend to do so again. However, key barriers to hiring were (1) not knowing enough about autism and (2) problems with how hiring is usually done in organisations. Employers also reported worrying about whether autistic employees would fit in at work, their productivity and the need for better training and changes to hiring methods. Our results indicate that it is important to educate employers about autism and make hiring practices more inclusive.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"1263-1274"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12038075/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142766020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AutismPub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-01-25DOI: 10.1177/13623613241313403
Ty B Aller, Heather H Kelley, Audrey Juhasz, Benjamin Covington
{"title":"COVID-19 health distress among autistic adults: Does psychological flexibility explain effects of health distress on mental health concerns?","authors":"Ty B Aller, Heather H Kelley, Audrey Juhasz, Benjamin Covington","doi":"10.1177/13623613241313403","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613241313403","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant health distress among autistic adults in the United States. While there is considerable evidence that autistic adults' COVID-19 health distress was related to increases in mental health concerns (e.g. depression, anxiety, and stress), there is a less clear understanding of the possible mechanisms by which this process occurs. Accordingly, our participatory action research team assessed whether psychological flexibility, a strengths-based mechanism from acceptance and commitment therapy, mediated the association between COVID-19-related health distress and mental health concerns (e.g. depression, anxiety, and stress). We found that among 281 autistic adults the positive relationship between COVID-19 health distress and mental health concerns was partially mediated by values progress (a component of psychological flexibility) and values obstruction (a component of psychological inflexibility). Results provide preliminary support that the strengths-based mechanism of psychological flexibility might be a salient therapeutic target to improve mental health among autistic adults experiencing health distress.Lay Abstract<b><i>What is already known?</i></b>In the United States, the COVID-19 Pandemic caused many autistic adults to be fearful and worried about their health. There is a lot of research that says that when autistic adults experience health distress it can worsen their mental health. We do not know, however, what might explain how experiencing health distress negatively affects mental health. Because of this, our participatory action research team wanted to understand if there are strengths-based processes that help us understand the relationship between health distress and mental health concerns.<b><i>What does this paper add?</i></b>We examined among 281 autistic adults how a strengths-based construct from acceptance and commitment therapy called psychological flexibility might explain the relationship between health distress and mental health concerns. We found that for adults that had more values progress, doing the things that mattered to them, was associated with better mental health even while experiencing health distress. We also found that values obstruction, getting stuck on uncomfortable thoughts and feelings and trying to avoid them, explained worse mental health for autistic adults experiencing health distress.<b><i>Implications for research and practice?</i></b>The findings of this study provide initial support that psychological flexibility can explain the relationship between health distress and mental health concerns among autistic adults. Interventions that seek to improve psychological flexibility, like acceptance and commitment therapy, might be useful in improving autistic adults' mental health while they are experiencing health distress.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"1359-1363"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143036152","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AutismPub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2024-12-07DOI: 10.1177/13623613241304208
Jennifer C Bullen, Sandy L Birkeneder, Matthew C Zajic, Lindsay Swain Lerro, Nancy McIntyre, Nicole Sparapani, Peter Mundy
{"title":"Longitudinal stability and Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale-2 predictors of the Childhood Joint Attention Rating Scale.","authors":"Jennifer C Bullen, Sandy L Birkeneder, Matthew C Zajic, Lindsay Swain Lerro, Nancy McIntyre, Nicole Sparapani, Peter Mundy","doi":"10.1177/13623613241304208","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613241304208","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A recent study suggests that parent report on the Social Symptom and Prosocial scales of the Childhood Joint Attention Rating Scale provides useful information about differences in the social development of school-aged autistic children. The current study provides additional psychometric data on the Childhood Joint Attention Rating Scale regarding the longitudinal stability of its scales, its construct validity, and its sensitivity to differences in the social development of clinical samples of children. The study included 64 autistic children without co-occurring intellectual disability, 27 children with symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and 36 neurotypical children between the ages of 10 and 18 years. Results indicated that scores from parent report on the Childhood Joint Attention Rating Scale were stable across a 15-month period in middle childhood for the three groups and groups received significantly different Childhood Joint Attention Rating Scale scores. Finally, construct validity was supported by the observation of correlations between tester observations of items on Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale-2 Social Affect and subsequent parent report on the Childhood Joint Attention Rating Scale. These results provide further evidence that the Childhood Joint Attention Rating Scale provides meaningful and potentially unique information about prosocial and social symptom development of school-aged autistic children.Lay abstractThis study tested a measure designed to capture social development in childhood and adolescence called the Childhood Joint Attention Rating Scale. This is important to study as most measures of social behavior are for preschool-aged children. We asked parents of 64 autistic children, 27 children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and 36 neurotypical children to fill out a new parent questionnaire designed to assess social skills. Specifically, our measure asks about both strengths and difficulties their child has with sharing experiences, engaging in cooperative efforts with others, and more. It is important to have strengths included in measures, as many autism measures only take difficulties into account. The findings of this study show that this new measure can assess social skill strengths and difficulties in children and adolescents. This measure may be useful in future research to help us understand how strengths and challenges in social behaviors develop or change throughout childhood and adolescence in autistic people.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"1224-1235"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12038067/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142791038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AutismPub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-04-16DOI: 10.1177/13623613251333822
Kathy Leadbitter, Sheffali Gulati, Elizabeth Shephard, Rosa Hoekstra
{"title":"<i>Autism</i> as an international journal: Equity, inclusion and cultural humility for a global authorship and readership.","authors":"Kathy Leadbitter, Sheffali Gulati, Elizabeth Shephard, Rosa Hoekstra","doi":"10.1177/13623613251333822","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251333822","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":"29 5","pages":"1089-1094"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143964801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AutismPub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2024-12-20DOI: 10.1177/13623613241303550
Marie Antoinette Hodge, Rebecca Sutherland, Kelsie A Boulton, Sarah Jane Baracz, Natalie Ong, Beverley Bennett, Adam J Guastella, Natalie Silove
{"title":"Focusing on autism symptoms masks sex-specific needs of autistic children: An example from the Sydney Child Neurodevelopment Research Registry.","authors":"Marie Antoinette Hodge, Rebecca Sutherland, Kelsie A Boulton, Sarah Jane Baracz, Natalie Ong, Beverley Bennett, Adam J Guastella, Natalie Silove","doi":"10.1177/13623613241303550","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613241303550","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Studies have shown that there are differences between the presentations of males and females diagnosed with autism. There remains a developing understanding about how the presentation of autism differs between boys (hereafter referred to as 'assigned males at birth') and girls (assigned females at birth). This study sought to investigate the presence of sex differences in autistic children. Participants (1.11-17.97 years) attended an assessment clinic and participated in measures of intelligence/development, social/communication skills and behaviour. Adaptive skills were evaluated using a range of standardised measures, and other clinical and demographic variables were collected (e.g. age, intelligence quotient, ratio of male to female). Assigned males at birth displayed more autism characteristics and greater symptom autism severity than assigned females at birth. No significant differences were found between assigned males at birth and assigned females at birth on any measure of intelligence. Children assigned males at birth received assessments 6 months earlier than children assigned females at birth on average. Externalising behaviour problems were more evident in assigned males at birth, but statistically significant differences in adaptive skills were not apparent between assigned males at birth and assigned females at birth. This study showed assigned females at birth and assigned males at birth differ in autism symptoms and severity and age at diagnosis based on a real-world sample. It highlights the importance of balancing assessments of symptoms with assessment of adaptive function.Lay abstractStudies have shown that there is a difference between biological sex at birth in autism spectrum disorder. There remains a lack of understanding about how the symptoms of autism differ between assigned males at birth and assigned females at birth. We looked at the presence of sex differences in a large group of autistic toddlers, children and adolescents, who were seen in a large diagnosis and assessment clinic. They participated in measures of intelligence/development, social/communication skills and behaviour. Their adaptive skills were evaluated and other clinical and information were collected. Assigned males at birth displayed more autism characteristics and greater symptom autism severity than assigned females at birth. There were no statistically significant differences between assigned males at birth and assigned females at birth on any measure of intellectual assessment. Assigned females at birth showed better nonverbal performance than assigned males at birth on formal developmental assessments. Children assigned males at birth received assessments 6 months earlier than children assigned females at birth. Externalising behaviour problems were more evident in assigned males at birth. This study provides evidence to show that autistic children assigned females at birth and assigned males at birth differ in terms of autism symptoms an","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"1318-1332"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142863185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Gender and family-role portrayals of autism in British newspapers: An intersectional corpus-based study.","authors":"Themis Karaminis, Costas Gabrielatos, Ursula Maden-Weinberger, Geoffrey Beattie","doi":"10.1177/13623613241303547","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613241303547","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A recent large-scale study on the portrayal of autism in British newspapers revealed a deficit-based coverage, which concentrated on children and boys in particular, typically represented from the mothers' perspective. This follow-up study refines these representations, considering how they differ by gender and family role. We analysed 2998 text samples, which discussed autism in the context of four combinations of gender and family roles, namely, BOY, GIRL, FATHER and MOTHER. These samples included sources with different publication dates, reporting style and political orientation. Autism representations remained negative regardless of gender and family role. Over time, stories about autistic girls started to emerge, identifying them as a distinct group explicitly compared to autistic boys. Newspapers, especially broadsheets, associated girls with diagnostic difficulties, camouflaging and sometimes gender dysphoria - discussed particularly for those assigned female at birth. The child's autism was more often attributed to maternal than paternal behaviours or lifestyle. Autistic mothers were mentioned more often than fathers and were portrayed negatively. We conclude that newspapers portray female autism as less significant than male autism and, in addition, place mothers under more ethical scrutiny than fathers. These disparities reflect both historical biases in autism research and gender and family-role stereotypes.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"1285-1302"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142806100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Parental expectations and perceptions of augmentative and alternative communication: A Sri Lankan perspective.","authors":"Shyamani Hettiarachchi, Shamra Nizar, Gopi Kitnasamy, Dilani Gopi","doi":"10.1177/13623613241298061","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613241298061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>From a critical disability rights lens, everyone has a right to communicate using any means available, which includes augmentative and alternative communication. The uptake of augmentative and alternative communication beyond the therapy room may be influenced by awareness, perceptions and acceptance of augmentative and alternative communication by caregivers, family members and the wider society. This study aimed to uncover parental perceptions of augmentative and alternative communication in a Global South context. Ten mothers and six fathers (16 participants) of children with complex communication needs were invited to be part of the study. A focus-group discussion and semi-structured interviews were undertaken using an interview guide. The participant data were analysed using Framework Analysis and through the lens of gender and critical disability theory. The key theme expressed was fear of augmentative and alternative communication deterring speech development. In addition, there was also concern that siblings might adopt the alternative communication method and stop talking. The participants questioned whether the visibility of a communication device could highlight their child's disability, thereby fearing societal stigma and negativity. Overall, parents' attitudes towards perspectives of and openness to use augmentative and alternative communication impact its uptake. The results suggest the need to consider the preparedness of parents prior to introducing augmentative and alternative communication and the need to offer on-going parental training.Lay abstractEverybody has a right to communicate in any way they can, which includes augmentative and alternative communication. The uptake of augmentative and alternative communication in everyday life may be influenced by awareness, perceptions and acceptance of augmentative and alternative communication by caregivers, family members and the wider society. This study aimed to uncover what parents thought about augmentative and alternative communication in a Global South context. Eleven mothers and five fathers (16 participants) of children with complex communication needs were included. Data were collected using an interview guide from a focus-group discussion and semi-structured interviews. The data were analysed using Framework Analysis and from a gender and critical disability theory viewpoint. The key theme found was fear of augmentative and alternative communication stopping the child from learning to speak. The parents wondered if siblings might also use the alternative communication method and stop talking. They worried whether the communication device will negatively highlight their child in society. As parents' views on augmentative and alternative communication influence whether they use it with their child, informing and preparing parents before introducing augmentative and alternative communication to a child and on-going parent training should be considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"1157-1170"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142715158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AutismPub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-01-08DOI: 10.1177/13623613241302533
Ru Ying Cai, Andrea C Samson
{"title":"A non-systematic overview review of self-focused emotion regulation in autistic individuals through the lens of the extended process model.","authors":"Ru Ying Cai, Andrea C Samson","doi":"10.1177/13623613241302533","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613241302533","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Difficulties regulating emotions have been coined as inherent to autism, possibly even presenting a core difficulty of autism. While several models of emotion regulation have been proposed in the past, in this targeted review article, we aim to map emotion regulation difficulties in autistic individuals within the framework of the extended process model of emotion regulation. This model can be considered the most comprehensive one currently incorporating not only different emotion regulation strategy groups but also different stages and processes involved in successful self-focused emotion regulation. Within this model, we will identify areas and domains as specifically impacted by autistic individuals. We will also outline gaps in the literature and provide suggestions for future research that can help deepen our understanding of the emotion regulation processes of autistic individuals. The ultimate goal is to develop specific support programs that address specific emotion regulation mechanisms, providing a much more individualized support approach.Lay abstract<b><i>What do we already know about emotion regulation in autism?</i></b>We know that many autistic children, youth, and adults experience difficulties regulating emotions. Existing research has focused mainly on the differences in emotion regulation capabilities between autistic and non-autistic individuals, the relationships between autistic traits and emotion regulation, and how emotion regulation relates to other outcomes, such as social skills and mental health.<b><i>What does this paper add?</i></b>We want to take a new approach to review the existing emotion regulation research through the lens of a specific theoretical model: the extended process model of emotion regulation. Professor James Gross developed this model. It consists of four emotion regulation phases: identification, selection, implementation, and monitoring.Our review revealed specific areas within these emotion regulation phases that could significantly impact the emotion regulation experiences of autistic individuals. We also outline the gaps in the research and propose avenues for future investigation.<b><i>Implications for practice</i></b>By deepening our understanding of emotion regulation in autistic individuals through the proposed future research, researchers and clinicians can pave the way for the development of tailored support programs. These programs will directly target specific emotion regulation mechanisms, offering a much-needed individualized support approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"1118-1128"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12038066/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142943483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}