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Autism, Comorbidities, And Adaptive Functioning: A Potential Moderator, Joshua J. Montrenes
Autism, Comorbidities, And Adaptive Functioning: A Potential Moderator, Joshua J. Montrenes
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Deficits in adaptive functioning and the presence of comorbid symptomatology are both commonly associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous research has identified relationships between functional level (e.g., intellectual quotient [IQ], adaptive functioning [AF]) and comorbid symptomatology in ASD. However, further insight into the relationship between AF, comorbid psychopathology, and ASD is unclear. Specifically, how AF affects the relationship between ASD and comorbid conditions is not well understood. Whether AF moderates the relationship between autism symptom severity and comorbid symptom severity in toddlers with ASD was examined. ASD symptom severity positively correlated with comorbid symptom severity across domains and negatively …
Examining The Sex Ratio In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Maya N. Matheis
Examining The Sex Ratio In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Maya N. Matheis
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
The higher prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among males compared to females is well documented but poorly understood. The ASD sex ratio may provide valuable insight into the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of the disorder. A review of studies examining the prevalence in ASD published in the last 5 years was conducted, revealing a mean male/female (M/F) ratio of 4. Literature examining the ASD sex ratio in relation to risk factors and associated features of ASD was also summarized. The study aimed to examine the ASD sex ratio and its association to various risk factors among an early intervention sample. …
The Effect Of Demographic And Clinical Factors On The Performance Of The Abbreviated Scoring Algorithm For The Baby And Infant Screen For Children With Autism Traits, Paige Elizabeth Cervantes
The Effect Of Demographic And Clinical Factors On The Performance Of The Abbreviated Scoring Algorithm For The Baby And Infant Screen For Children With Autism Traits, Paige Elizabeth Cervantes
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction and social communication as well as the presence of restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, or activities (RRBIs; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Individuals with ASD experience lifelong and pervasive impairments across many domains of functioning. Early identification of ASD is imperative as earlier intervention is associated with greater gains in numerous areas. In regards to early identification efforts, routine screening is important. However, screening often fails to be conducted within early childhood care settings. To encourage greater rates of screening by offering a …
Perceived Barriers To Autism Spectrum Disorder Services, Lindsey Willis Williams
Perceived Barriers To Autism Spectrum Disorder Services, Lindsey Willis Williams
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder with hallmark symptoms that can be severely impairing to both the individual and the overall family dynamic. The path to diagnostic and therapy services is often lengthy and complex. Despite various state and federal efforts to improve service access, disparities remain evident across ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic lines with caregivers reporting financial, cultural, geographic, and practical (e.g., transportation, scheduling) barriers. For those able to access treatment, several interventions have been proven efficacious in addressing ASD symptoms, problem behaviors, and adaptive skills deficits. Other often-used interventions include those without established merit for …
Lag Time Between Parental First Concerns About Development And Entry Into Early Intervention: Impact Of Child/Family Factors, First Concerns, And Symptom Presentation, Jennifer S. Beighley
Lag Time Between Parental First Concerns About Development And Entry Into Early Intervention: Impact Of Child/Family Factors, First Concerns, And Symptom Presentation, Jennifer S. Beighley
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts an individual’s ability to relate to and communicate with others. Although children often do not receive a diagnosis until age 4-5 years (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014), parents typically recognize developmental problems by age 2 years (Chawarska et al., 2007), and often in the first year of life (Kishore & Basu, 2011). However, these early concerns do not always translate into appropriate or timely steps to access care. Few studies have examined factors relating to the time lag that exists between early concerns and action. Because early intervention …
Adaptive Behavior Deficits In Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder- Cutoff Scores For The Asd-D-A According To Dsm-5 Criteria., Nicole Cassandra Turygin
Adaptive Behavior Deficits In Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder- Cutoff Scores For The Asd-D-A According To Dsm-5 Criteria., Nicole Cassandra Turygin
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
With the release of the DSM-5, measures of ASD must be adjusted to take into account the new diagnostic criteria. In the present study, 337 adults with varying levels of intellectual disability who reside in a residential facility were studied. The present study identified potential cutoff scores on an established measure of ASD symptoms in adults, the ASD-A, and compared adaptive behavior levels between groups identified by DSM-IV-TR and DSM-5. The sample was divided into three groups: non-ASD, ASD according to DSM-5 and ASD according to DSM-IV-TR ASD along DSM-IV-TR was determined based on previous diagnoses, while DSM-5 diagnoses were …
Caregiver Choice In Autism Intervention: Selections And Influential Factors, Hilary Lynn Adams
Caregiver Choice In Autism Intervention: Selections And Influential Factors, Hilary Lynn Adams
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Although research on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) continues to increase, there is not yet a “cure” for the disorder. There is a lack of consensus regarding most effective treatments, much less an accepted treatment plan or course. Families may feel alone and lost in the treatment decision process. In order to best assist caregivers, psychologists must understand the selections caregivers make, their sources of information, and what influences them in their decision-making process. With this knowledge, clinicians may best effect change in caregiver choice by encouraging informed decision-making and use of empirically-based interventions. Thus, the purpose of the current study …
The Baby And Infant Screen For Children With Autism Traits: A Dsm-5 Update, Matthew Jason Konst
The Baby And Infant Screen For Children With Autism Traits: A Dsm-5 Update, Matthew Jason Konst
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Interest surrounding the investigation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased exponentially since it was initially described over a half-century ago. With this passage of time our conceptualization of the ASD diagnosis has undergone multiple changes. An increasing trend in research has been an emphasis on early identification and intervention. This trend has brought about the creation and adaptation of multiple measures designed to inform early ASD diagnosis. Recently, the ASD diagnostic category underwent significant revisions. In response to revisions, it is necessary to adapt preexisting measures to reflect these significant changes in order to maintain diagnostic accuracy. The Baby …
Evaluating And Increasing The Range Of Reinforcers For Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Megan Kliebert Wiggins
Evaluating And Increasing The Range Of Reinforcers For Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Megan Kliebert Wiggins
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Prior research has demonstrated the utility of several preference-assessment methodologies to identify stimuli more likely to function as reinforcers for individuals with limited verbal repertoires. However, differing results have been obtained from studies evaluating the reinforcement effects of stimuli identified as high preference by one assessment method but low preference by another assessment method. The first focus of the project was to evaluate the reinforcing efficacy of edible and leisure items based on predictions from preference assessments. Results indicated that edible and leisure items approached frequently during a single-stimulus preference assessment but infrequently during a paired-stimulus preference assessment produced less …
Exploratory And Confirmatory Factor Analyses Of The Symptom Structure For Autism Spectrum Disorders Using The Baby And The Infant Screen For Children With Autism Traits, Megan Sipes
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Since autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were first identified, the diagnostic criteria and conceptualization of symptom structure have undergone many revisions. Currently, under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition-Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association (APA), 2000), ASD is defined by three symptom categories: impairments in socialization, deficits in communication, and repetitive/restricted behaviors. With the publication of the DSM-5 (APA, 2011), however, ASD will be defined by a two symptom cluster structure in which the main impairments are in the areas of social communication and restricted/repetitive behaviors. With these changes, many assessment measures will need to be re-examined to …
The Baby And Infant Screen For Children With Autism Traits: Age-Based Scoring Procedures, Max Horovitz
The Baby And Infant Screen For Children With Autism Traits: Age-Based Scoring Procedures, Max Horovitz
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
As increasing interest and emphasis has been placed on early intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), the need for reliable and valid early assessment techniques has grown significantly. The Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits (BISCUIT) is a three-part battery designed to comprehensively assess for ASD in infants and toddlers aged 17 to 37 months. While studies of the measure’s psychometric properties have been promising, the measure’s scoring procedures do not take the child’s age into account. Given the significant amount of development that occurs in the first three years of life, the current paper …
Challenging Behaviors In Autism Spectrum Disorders : Differences Across Childhood And The Relationship With Autism Symptomatology, Alison Marie Kozlowski
Challenging Behaviors In Autism Spectrum Disorders : Differences Across Childhood And The Relationship With Autism Symptomatology, Alison Marie Kozlowski
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Challenging behaviors (CBs) are remarkably prevalent in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and can have a number of severe consequences. While it is believed that CBs reach their peak in childhood followed by a general abatement throughout adolescence and adulthood, the exact trend of CBs during childhood is unknown. Furthermore, the impact of changes in autism symptomatology on CBs during childhood has seldom been explored despite a positive correlation between autism symptomatology and CBs having been established. Therefore, the purpose of these studies was to determine where significant differences in both autism symptomatology and CBs occur throughout childhood, and …
How Core Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder Predict Engagement In Specific Topographies Of Challenging Behavior, Sara Mahan
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Challenging behavior, such as aggression, destructive behavior, and self-injurious behavior (SIB), are common among people of all ages with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Numerous researchers have found that greater severity of ASD or a diagnosis of ASD is significantly correlated with greater levels of challenging behavior. However, there is dearth of information on how core symptoms of ASD (i.e., socialization deficits, communication deficits, stereotypies) predict the engagement of specific topographies of challenging behavior above and beyond other variables, such as developmental functioning. The purpose of this study is to extend the current literature base through examining how core symptoms of …
Symptom Profiles And Rates Of Diagnosis In Autistic And Other Atypically Developing Infants And Toddlers, Timothy Michael Dempsey
Symptom Profiles And Rates Of Diagnosis In Autistic And Other Atypically Developing Infants And Toddlers, Timothy Michael Dempsey
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Although there are many assessment scales that aid in the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), very few instruments are designed specifically to identify the condition in the population of infants and toddlers. The primary purpose of this study is to systematically examine the differences between scores on the Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits (BISCUIT)-Part 1 in a sample of at risk atypically developing children. Participants are children enrolled in Louisiana’s EarlySteps Program, which provides support services (e.g., speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavior psychology) to infants/toddlers and their families from birth to 36 months …
Gender Differences In Core Symptomatology In Autism Spectrum Disorders Across The Lifespan, Tessa Taylor Rivet
Gender Differences In Core Symptomatology In Autism Spectrum Disorders Across The Lifespan, Tessa Taylor Rivet
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
A preponderance of males with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been evident since the initial writings on the topic. This male predominance has consistently emerged in all ASD research to date in epidemiological as well as clinical populations. Despite this long recognized gender disparity in ASD, surprisingly there is a paucity of research addressing gender as it relates to core ASD symptom presentation. Gender differences may manifest with regard to symptom domains, severity, breadth, and so forth. The present research examined gender differences in ASD symptomatology in three populations: infants and toddlers at risk for developmental disability, children and adolescents, …
The Assessment Of And Differences Among Intellectually Disabled Adults With Comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorders And Epilepsy, Kimberly Robin Michelle Smith
The Assessment Of And Differences Among Intellectually Disabled Adults With Comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorders And Epilepsy, Kimberly Robin Michelle Smith
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
The goal of this study was to systematically examine group differences among those with intellectual disabilities (ID) and comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and epilepsy in an adult population through a detailed exploration of the characteristics that these disorders present in the areas of psychopathology, behavior problems, and impaired social behavior. Previous studies indicating that individuals with ID have comorbid ASD and neurological conditions tend to stop short of addressing these disorders’ impact on the full range of psychosocial issues, particularly in adult samples. Assessments of psychopathology, behavior problems, and impaired social behavior were made with the ASD-Comorbidity-Adult Version and …
The Initial Reliability And Construct Validity Of The Autism Spectrum Disorder-Diagnostic (Asd-Dc) In Children, Melissa Luke Gonzalez
The Initial Reliability And Construct Validity Of The Autism Spectrum Disorder-Diagnostic (Asd-Dc) In Children, Melissa Luke Gonzalez
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
The aim of the present study was to examine the reliability and construct validity of a newly developed assessment scale designed to identify autism spectrum disorders in children: Autism Spectrum Disorder-Diagnostic for Children (ASD-DC). Participants were parents and caregivers of children between ages 2 and 16 years, who are typically developing or developmentally delayed. Participants were asked to complete several rating scales including the ASD-DC, a DSM-IV-TR/ICD-10 checklist, the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills in Youngsters (MESSY), and the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, Version 2 (BASC-2). In Study 1, the test-retest, inter-rater, and inter-item reliabilities of the ASD-DC was …
Digital Storytelling As A Literacy-Based Intervention For A Sixth Grade Student With Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Case Study, Brent A. Daigle
Digital Storytelling As A Literacy-Based Intervention For A Sixth Grade Student With Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Case Study, Brent A. Daigle
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
This study investigates the use of Digital Storytelling as an intervention to improve the academic performance and social interactions of a sixth grade student with High-Functioning Autism. Qualitative methodology, using an inductive approach informed by grounded theory, was employed throughout this exploratory case study. Three separate data sources, consisting of document analysis, interviews, and participant observation, contributed to the findings of this study. Triangulation of inquiry methods enhanced the validity and rigor of this investigation. The findings from this inquiry indicate that Digital Storytelling was beneficial to the participant in this exploratory case study. Engaged student processes and critical analysis …
An Applied Evaluation Of Resurgence: Functional Communication Training (Fct) And Treatment Relapse, Valerie Marie Volkert
An Applied Evaluation Of Resurgence: Functional Communication Training (Fct) And Treatment Relapse, Valerie Marie Volkert
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Extinction is a very important component of functional communication training (FCT). Thus, the potential undesirable effects of extinction must be considered before this type of treatment is implemented. Resurgence, the recurrence of previously reinforced behavior when another behavior is placed on extinction, is a possible undesirable effect of extinction. Resurgence may account for some instances of treatment relapse in situations where problem behavior recovers following implementation of extinction-based treatments such as FCT. Despite the potential relevance of resurgence to understanding why problem behavior may re-emerge, few applied studies have examined resurgence effects. The current study attempted to determine whether resurgence …
An Examination Of The Differential Outcomes Effect When Teaching Discriminations To Children With Autism And Other Developmental Disabilities, Laura Addison
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
The differential outcomes effect (DOE) refers to the finding that performance in discrimination training improves when different behaviors produce different reinforcers. In the current study, the effects of two DOE procedures on the acquisition of receptive language skills were compared. Participants were four children with autism and/or developmental delay/speech and language impairment. The children were presented with two toy or food items and asked to give the experimenter the item named. The names consisted of three-letter nonsense syllables. Correct responses were followed by one of the following consequences: (a) The opportunity to manipulate or consume the item to which the …
Evaluating Preference For Reinforcers Under Varying Schedule Requirements In Children With Developmental Disabilities, Tiffany Michelle Kodak
Evaluating Preference For Reinforcers Under Varying Schedule Requirements In Children With Developmental Disabilities, Tiffany Michelle Kodak
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Previous research has shown that preference for concurrently available reinforcers can be influenced by the reinforcement schedule (DeLeon, Neidert, Anders, & Rodriguez-Catter, 2001; Tustin, 1994). However, limited research has been conducted on specific variables that may influence preference under various schedule requirements. The present study evaluated the influence of task preference, schedule, and quality of reinforcement on choice between either an arbitrary reinforcer or a functional reinforcer. Five participants diagnosed with Autism participated in the study. In the first phase, we evaluated the effects of task preference and schedule of reinforcement on choice between a 30-s break and a high …