A study conducted by researchers at the Koegel Autism Center at UC Santa Barbara has found that replacing such games in favor of those the infant prefers can actually lessen the severity of the infants’ ASD symptoms, and, perhaps, alleviate the condition altogether.
Most infants respond to a game of peek-a-boo with smiles at the very least, and, for those who find the activity particularly entertaining, gales of laughter. For infants with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), however, the game can be distressing rather than pleasant, and they’ll do their best to tune out all aspects of it –– and that includes the people playing with them.
That disengagement is a hallmark of ASD, and one of the characteristics that amplifies the disorder as infants develop into children and then adults.
A study conducted by researchers at the Koegel Autism Center at UC Santa Barbara has found that replacing such games in favor of those the infant prefers can actually lessen the severity of the infants’ ASD symptoms, and, perhaps, alleviate the condition altogether. Their work is highlighted the current issue of the Journal of Positive Behavioral Interventions.
Lynn Koegel, clinical director of the center and the study’s lead author, described the game-playing protocol as a modified Pivotal Response Treatment (PVT). Developed at UCSB, PRT is based on principles of positive motivation. The researchers identified the activities that seemed to be more enjoyable to the infants and taught the respective parents to focus on those rather than on the typical games they might otherwise choose. “We had them play with their infants for short periods, and then give them some kind of social reward,” Koegel said. “Over time, we conditioned the infants to enjoy all the activities that were presented by pairing the less desired activities with the highly desired ones.” The social reward is preferable to, say, a toy, Koegel noted, because it maintains the ever-crucial personal interaction.
“The idea is to get them more interested in people,” she continued, “to focus on their socialization. If they’re avoiding people and avoiding interacting, that creates a whole host of other issues. They don’t form friendships, and then they don’t get the social feedback that comes from interacting with friends.”
According to Koegel, by the end of the relatively short one- to three-month intervention period, which included teaching the parents how to implement the procedures, all the infants in the study had normal reactions to stimuli. “Two of the three have no disabilities at all, and the third is very social,” she said. “The third does have a language delay, but that’s more manageable than some of the other issues.”
On a large scale, Koegel hopes to establish some benchmark for identifying social deficits in infants so parents and health care providers can intervene sooner rather than later. “We have a grant from the Autism Science Foundation to look at lots of babies and try to really figure out which signs are red flags, and which aren’t,” she said. “A number of the infants who show signs of autism will turn out to be perfectly fine; but we’re saying, let’s not take the risk if we can put an intervention in play that really works. Then we don’t have to worry about whether or not these kids would develop the full-blown symptoms of autism.”
The Latest Bing News on:
Autism in Infants
- Utah family shares their experience with 3 boys who have autismon April 27, 2024 at 6:26 am
April is Autism Acceptance Month, and a Utah family wants to share their personal experience of learning to adapt and grow with the disorder.
- Early signs of autism in children and when they usually start showing symptoms explainedon April 27, 2024 at 5:23 am
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects social interaction, communication, interests and behaviour. Here are some of the early signs to look out for ...
- This Philly fashion show features haute couture and the strengths of autismon April 27, 2024 at 2:00 am
Featured designers include O’Livis Couture, HerberTT Dash Haberdashery Boutique by James Vaughan, The Dress Matters Couture Bridal Boutique, Madiare K. Design, and Kyaura Amour Couture. Tickets start ...
- New sensory clinic for children with autism, other challenges opens in Frederictonon April 27, 2024 at 2:00 am
It’s expected that over the next year more than 100 children and youth with mental health concerns will spend time using the new sensory clinic recently opened in Fredericton.
- Autism class to remain in place at Johnson Elementary Schoolon April 26, 2024 at 4:23 pm
On Friday, the Limestone County School administration met with parents of students who attended special education classes at Johnson Elementary School.
- Free, indoor autism acceptance walk happening in Rock Islandon April 26, 2024 at 1:20 pm
"The ASQC believes the world should recognize and accept the ways the autism community experiences and improves life in the Quad-Cities," the release said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and ...
- Golisano Children's Hospital gains autism certification for improving compassion and careon April 26, 2024 at 9:00 am
They also welcomed a “sensory-friendly ambulance” for transporting children with autism that has unique features to minimize sounds, lights and other things that can trigger a sensory overload for ...
- Are parental psychiatric disorders related to the risk of autism spectrum disorder in the offspring?on April 26, 2024 at 4:31 am
The potential association between psychiatric disorders in parents and the risk of the offspring developing autism spectrum disorder.
- New children's book discusses a mother-son experience when caring for children with autismon April 25, 2024 at 10:16 am
Sheletta and Andrew Brundidge discuss their book about Andrew caring for his younger siblings who have autism, and also how to parent children with special needs.
- Autism symptoms in children: Early signs and when they start showingon April 23, 2024 at 9:50 pm
However, children on the autism spectrum may appear to ignore the parent, which can cause parents to worry about their child's hearing. By the tender age of nine months, most infants will display ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Autism in Infants
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Autism in Infants” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Autism spectrum disorders
- Amanda Seales Claps Back at Reactions to Her Autism Diagnosis Reveal on "Club Shay Shay"on April 26, 2024 at 9:00 pm
Activist and comedian Amanda Seales recently sat down with football star Shannon Sharpe for his podcast “Club Shay Shay. ” The three-hour long conversation hit on a myriad of topics — including one ...
- ‘Autism’ and the complex spectrum of possibilitieson April 26, 2024 at 7:47 pm
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Autism diagnoses are much more common now than they were 25 years ago. The latest reports from the CDC show 1 in 36 children have been identified to have Autism Spectrum ...
- Shannon Sharpe under fire for ‘invalidating’ Amanda Seales’ experiences with autism, racismon April 26, 2024 at 3:50 pm
Shannon Sharpe hosted actor and comedian Amanda Seales on "Club Shay Shay.” The episode has now gone viral, with some criticizing Sharpe's interview tactics.
- Deciphering the Complexities of an Autism & Seizure-Linked Geneon April 26, 2024 at 3:06 pm
Mutations in a gene called SCN2A are known to cause seizures in infants, and have been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ... | Genetics And Genomics ...
- Gene linked to epilepsy and autism decoded in new studyon April 26, 2024 at 11:04 am
A genetic change or variant in a gene called SCN2A is a known cause of infantile seizures, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability, as well as a wide range of other moderate-to-profound ...
- Exhibition by a Hong Kong artist who’s on the autism spectrum an example of how art can unlock creative potentialon April 26, 2024 at 9:15 am
Wong Sai-kit has an intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. He is also an artist whose bold, colourful work – much of it created using spoons – is on show at a Hong Kong hotel.
- Golisano Children's Hospital gains autism certification for improving compassion and careon April 26, 2024 at 9:00 am
They also welcomed a “sensory-friendly ambulance” for transporting children with autism that has unique features to minimize sounds, lights and other things that can trigger a sensory overload for ...
- Amanda Seales Felt “Interrogated” During ‘Club Shay Shay’ Interview, Clarifies Autism Spectrum Claimson April 26, 2024 at 8:21 am
Following Amanda Seales ’ viral Club Shay Shay interview with Shannon Sharpe, the cultural commentator has now voiced her disdain for how the sit-down was conducted. Seales took to Instagram a day ...
- Are parental psychiatric disorders related to the risk of autism spectrum disorder in the offspring?on April 26, 2024 at 4:31 am
The potential association between psychiatric disorders in parents and the risk of the offspring developing autism spectrum disorder.
- Celebrating strengths during Autism Acceptance Monthon April 25, 2024 at 12:44 pm
Bridgett Ellison talked to certified behavior analyst Shaun Lalime, who is also the center director for Florida Autism Center’s Kissimmee location.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Autism spectrum disorders
[google_news title=”” keyword=”autism spectrum disorders” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
1 Comments
Katherine Reyes
wow this is a great news! i hope it will help all parents how to cure ASD.