27 septembre 2017

Les croyances et les attitudes des travailleurs de la santé de l'Éthiopie à l'égard des enfants "avec autisme": impact d'une brève intervention de formation

Aperçu: G.M.

Il existe une grave pénurie de services pour les enfants "avec autisme" en Ethiopie; l'accès aux services est encore entravé par des croyances négatives et des attitudes stigmatisantes vis-à-vis des enfants touchés et de leurs familles.
Pour accroître l'accès aux services, la prestation de soins est décentralisée grâce à des soins déployés par les agents de vulgarisation de santé communautaire. Cette étude visait à examiner l'impact d'une brève formation (éducation et formation en santé, EFS) pour les agents de vulgarisation en milieu rural de l'Ethiopie et comprenait trois groupes: 
  1. les agents de vulgarisation de la santé qui ont complété un module de formation en santé mentale de base (groupe EFS, N = 104); 
  2. les agents de vulgarisation de la santé qui ont reçu une formation améliorée, comprenant une EFS basique ainsi qu'une formation sur vidéo sur les troubles du développement et un guide de poche pour la santé mentale (groupe EFS +, N = 97); et 
  3. les agents de vulgarisation de la santé sans formation dans la santé mentale (N = 108).  
Tous les participants ont complété un questionnaire évaluant les croyances et la distance sociale à l'égard des enfants "en situation d'autisme". 
Le groupe HEAT et HEAT + a montré moins de croyances négatives et une diminution de la distance sociale pour les enfants "autistes" par rapport au groupe non formé de vulgarisateurs de santé, le groupe HEAT + étant plus performant que le groupe HEAT.  
Cependant, les agents de vulgarisation qualifiés HEAT + étaient moins susceptibles d'avoir des attentes positives à propos des enfants "avec autisme" que les agents de vulgarisation de santé non formés.

Autism. 2017 Sep 1:1362361317730298. doi: 10.1177/1362361317730298.

Ethiopian community health workers' beliefs and attitudes towards children with autism: Impact of a brief training intervention

Author information

1
1 Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
2
2 Jimma University, Ethiopia.
3
3 King's College London, UK.
4
4 The Open University, UK.

Abstract

There is a severe shortage of services for children with autism in Ethiopia; access to services is further impeded by negative beliefs and stigmatising attitudes towards affected children and their families. To increase access to services, care provision is decentralised through task-shifted care by community health extension workers. This study aimed to examine the impact of a brief training (Health Education and Training; HEAT) for Ethiopian rural health extension workers and comprised three groups: (1) health extension workers who completed a basic mental health training module (HEAT group, N = 104); (2) health extension workers who received enhanced training, comprising basic HEAT as well as video-based training on developmental disorders and a mental health pocket guide (HEAT+ group, N = 97); and (3) health extension workers untrained in mental health (N = 108). All participants completed a questionnaire assessing beliefs and social distance towards children with autism. Both the HEAT and HEAT+ group showed fewer negative beliefs and decreased social distance towards children with autism compared to the untrained health extension worker group, with the HEAT+ group outperforming the HEAT group. However, HEAT+ trained health extension workers were less likely to have positive expectations about children with autism than untrained health extension workers. These findings have relevance for task-sharing and scale up of autism services in low-resource settings worldwide.
PMID: 28945112
DOI: 10.1177/1362361317730298

L'association entre la théorie de l'esprit, la fonction exécutive et les symptômes du "trouble du spectre de l'autisme"

Aperçu: G.M.
On a fortement soutenu que les processus cognitifs atypiques dans le "trouble du spectre de l'autisme" (TSA) contribuent à l'expression de symptômes comportementaux.  
L'étude actuelle a étudié les capacités cognitives de 100 adolescents avec un diagnostic de TSA (âge moyen = 15 ans et 6 mois), en utilisant 10 tâches pour mesurer les domaines de la théorie de l'esprit (ToM) et de la fonction exécutive (EF). 
Les chercheurs ont constaté que la capacité de la Théorie de l'esprit (ToM) était associée à la fois aux symptômes de la communication sociale et aux comportements répétitifs et restreints (CRR). EF était un corrélat de ToM mais n'avait aucune association directe avec l'expression de symptôme rapportée par les parents.
Les données suggèrent qu'à l'adolescence, la capacité ToM, mais pas EF, est directement liée à l'expression du symptôme autistique.  

Autism Res. 2017 Sep 25. doi: 10.1002/aur.1873

The association between theory of mind, executive function, and the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder

Author information

1
School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
2
Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK.
3
Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
4
Biostatistics Department and Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK.
5
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
6
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.
7
SGDP Research Centre King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK.
8
Department of Psychology, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK.

Abstract

It has been strongly argued that atypical cognitive processes in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) contribute to the expression of behavioural symptoms. Comprehensive investigation of these claims has been limited by small and unrepresentative sample sizes and the absence of wide-ranging task batteries. The current study investigated the cognitive abilities of 100 adolescents with ASD (mean age = 15 years 6 months), using 10 tasks to measure the domains of theory of mind (ToM) and executive function (EF). We used structural equation modelling as a statistically robust way of exploring the associations between cognition and parent-reported measures of social communication and restricted and repetitive behaviours (RRBs). We found that ToM ability was associated with both social communication symptoms and RRBs. EF was a correlate of ToM but had no direct association with parent-reported symptom expression. Our data suggest that in adolescence ToM ability, but not EF, is directly related to autistic symptom expression. Autism Res 2017. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

LAY SUMMARY:

The behaviours that are common to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been linked to differences in thinking ability. We assessed autistic adolescents and found that social communication difficulties and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviours related to difficulties in understanding other peoples' minds (theory of mind). In contrast, these behaviours were not associated with the general thinking abilities involved in planning and executing tasks (executive function).

PMID:28945319
DOI:10.1002/aur.1873

12 septembre 2017

Rapport détaillé: la fonction exécutive en tant que prédicteur de la réussite scolaire chez les enfants âgés d'âge scolaire avec un diagnostic de TSA

Aperçu: G.M.
Les contributions de la fonction exécutive (EF) aux résultats scolaires chez les enfants avec un diagnostic de trouble du spectre de l'autisme (TSA) ne sont pas bien comprises. La réussite scolaire et son association avec EF sont décrits chez 32 enfants de 9 ans avec un diagnostic de TSA. EF à l'âge de 6 et 9 ans, et les résultats scolaires à l'âge de 9 ans ont été évalués dans le cadre d'une étude longitudinale plus large. 
Une meilleure performance sur une tâche d'inversion spatiale,  non A-non-B avec déplacement invisible à l'âge de 6 ans a été associée à une meilleure réussite mathématique à l'âge de 9 ans. Aucune relation n'a été trouvée entre ces mesures d'EF à l'âge de 6 ans et la réussite de la lecture ou de l'orthographe à 9 ans. 

J Autism Dev Disord. 2017 Sep 9. doi: 10.1007/s10803-017-3296-9.

Brief Report: Executive Function as a Predictor of Academic Achievement in School-Aged Children with ASD

Author information

1
Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington Autism Center, University of Washington, CHDD, Box 357920, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
2
Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Pediatrics Duke University, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
3
Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, 2608 Erwin Road, Suite 300, Durham, NC, 27705, USA.
4
Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington Autism Center, University of Washington, CHDD, Box 357920, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA. estesa@u.washington.edu.
5
Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. estesa@u.washington.edu.

Abstract

The contributions of Executive Function (EF) to academic achievement in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are not well understood. Academic achievement and its association with EF is described in 32, 9-year-old children with ASD. EF at age 6 and 9, and academic achievement at age 9 were assessed as part of a larger longitudinal study. Better performance on a Spatial Reversal task but not A-not-B with Invisible Displacement at age 6 was associated with better math achievement at age 9. No relationship was found between these EF measures at age 6 and reading or spelling achievement at age 9. Future studies are needed to explore whether improving early EF skills can increase math achievement in children with ASD.
PMID:28889315
DOI:10.1007/s10803-017-3296-9

Rapport bref: discrimination de la langue étrangère et traits autistiques dans la population non clinique

Aperçu: G.M.
Il est suggéré que les personnes avec des "états du spectre de l'autisme" (ASC) ont une discrimination perceptuelle améliorée, mais des découvertes incohérentes ont été signalées pour la discrimination de niveau.
Les résultats indiquent que la sous-échelle de compétences sociales du Quotient du spectre autistique était associée à une discrimination de la parole étrangère,, ce qui suggère que les personnes moins socialement compétentes et moins sociables ont été moins en mesure de discriminer le  niveau de la parole étrangère. 

J Autism Dev Disord. 2017 Sep 9. doi: 10.1007/s10803-017-3298-7.

Brief Report: Discrimination of Foreign Speech Pitch and Autistic Traits in Non-Clinical Population

Author information

1
Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham, NG1 4FQ, UK. lai-sang.iao@ntu.ac.uk.
2
Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham, NG1 4FQ, UK.
3
Department of Educational and Psychological Studies, College of Education, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.

Abstract

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) are widely suggested to show enhanced perceptual discrimination but inconsistent findings have been reported for pitch discrimination. Given the high variability in ASC, this study investigated whether ASC traits were correlated with pitch discrimination in an undergraduate sample when musical and language experiences were taken into consideration. Results indicated that the social skills subscale of the Autism Spectrum Quotient was associated with foreign speech pitch discrimination, suggesting that individuals who were less sociable and socially skillful were less able to discriminate foreign speech pitch. Current findings have an implication in investigating individual differences in ASC and further investigation is needed for spelling out the relationship between the non-social and social aspects of ASC.

PMID:28889325
DOI:10.1007/s10803-017-3298-7

Exposition prénatale à l'alcool en relation avec le trouble du spectre de l'autisme: résultats de l'étude pour explorer le développement précoce (SEED).

Aperçu: G.M.
L'exposition prénatale à l'alcool peut affecter le développement neurologique, mais peu d'études ont examiné les associations avec le trouble du spectre de l'autisme (TSA).
Les chercheurs ont évalué l'association entre la consommation d'alcool maternelle et les TSA avec  l'Etude pour Explorer le Développement Précoce, une étude cas-contrôle multi-sites sur les enfants nés entre septembre 2003 et août 2006 aux États-Unis. 
Les mères d'enfants dans la population générale (POP) étaient plus susceptibles de signaler une consommation d'alcool prénatal que les mères d'enfants avec un diagnostic de TSA ou de retard de développement (DD). Au cours du trimestre, 21,2% des mères d'enfants POP ont déclaré une consommation d'alcool comparativement à 18,1% et 18,2% des mères d'enfants avec TSA ou DD, respectivement. Au cours de la préconception et du premier mois de grossesse, une à deux boissons en moyenne par semaine était inversement associée au risque de TSA. 
Ces résultats ne supportent pas une association négative entre l'exposition à l'alcool à faible niveau et la TSA, bien que ces résultats soient basés sur une consommation d'alcool rétrospective autodéclarée. Un mauvais classement ou une mauvaise classification de l'exposition peut expliquer les associations inverses avec une ou deux boissons par semaine.  
Les femmes enceintes ou potentiellement enceintes devraient continuer à suivre les recommandations pour éviter la consommation d'alcool en raison d'autres effets connus sur la santé du nourrisson et le développement neurologique. 

Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2017 Sep 7. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12404.

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure in Relation to Autism Spectrum Disorder: Findings from the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED)

Author information

1
Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
2
Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
3
Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA.
4
Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO.
5
Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
6
Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
7
The Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
8
Department of Biostatistics and Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
9
Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
10
Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities (CIDD), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
11
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
12
Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control, CA Department of Public Health, Oakland, CA.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Prenatal alcohol exposure can affect neurodevelopment, but few studies have examined associations with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

METHODS:

We assessed the association between maternal alcohol use and ASD in the Study to Explore Early Development, a multi-site case-control study of children born between September 2003 and August 2006 in the US Regression analyses included 684 children with research clinician-confirmed ASD, 869 children with non-ASD developmental delays or disorders (DDs), and 962 controls ascertained from the general population (POP). Maternal alcohol exposure during each month from 3 months prior to conception until delivery was assessed by self-report.

RESULTS:

Mothers of POP children were more likely to report any prenatal alcohol use than mothers of children with ASD or DD. In trimester one, 21.2% of mothers of POP children reported alcohol use compared with 18.1% and 18.2% of mothers of children with ASD or DD, respectively (adjusted OR for ASD vs. POP 0.8, 95% confidence interval 0.6, 1.1). During preconception and the first month of pregnancy, one to two drinks on average per week was inversely associated with ASD risk.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results do not support an adverse association between low-level alcohol exposure and ASD, although these findings were based on retrospective self-reported alcohol use. Unmeasured confounding or exposure misclassification may explain inverse associations with one to two drinks per week. Pregnant or potentially pregnant women should continue to follow recommendations to avoid alcohol use because of other known effects on infant health and neurodevelopment.
PMID:28881390
DOI:10.1111/ppe.12404

09 septembre 2017

L'hypersensibilité à des visages effrayants de faible intensité dans l'autisme lorsque la fixation est contrainte aux yeux

Traduction: G.M.
Des études antérieures qui ont montré une diminution de l'activation du cerveau chez les personnes avec un diagnostic de trouble du spectre de l'autisme (TSA) regardant des visages expressifs ne contrôlaient pas si les participants regardaient bien dans les yeux.
Ceci est problématique car le TSA se caractérise par une attention anormale aux yeux. 
Cette étude a recueilli des données sur l'IRMF de 48 participants (27 TSA) regardant des images de visages neutres et de visages exprimant la colère, le bonheur et la peur à faible et haute intensité, avec une croix de fixation entre les yeux.  
Les différences de groupe dans l'activité de l'ensemble cerveau ont été examinées pour les visages expressifs à haute et faible intensité par rapport aux visages neutres.  
En réponse à des visages effrayants de faible intensité, les participants avec un diagnostic de TSA ont montré une activation accrue dans les régions du cerveau social et une diminution du couplage fonctionnel entre l'amygdale et cortex préfrontal ventromédial (vmPFC).
Cette surimpression à la peur de faible intensité associée à un manque de capacité de régulation émotionnelle pourrait indiquer un déséquilibre excitant / inhibiteur dans leur système de traitement socio-affectif. Cela peut entraîner un désengagement social et l'évitement des contacts visuels pour gérer les sentiments de forte réaction émotionnelle. 
Les résultats montrent également l'importance d'un contrôle minutieux du regard lors de l'étude du traitement émotionnel dans les TSA.

Hum Brain Mapp. 2017 Sep 7. doi: 10.1002/hbm.23800. 

Hypersensitivity to low intensity fearful faces in autism when fixation is constrained to the eyes

Author information

1
Massachusetts General Hospital, A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
2
Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
3
Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Center, Gothenburg University, Sweden.
4
Section for Speech and Language Pathology, Gothenburg University, Sweden.
5
Service de Génétique Médicale, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
6
Centre Ressource Autisme, Hopital Universitaire de Limoges, France.

Abstract

Previous studies that showed decreased brain activation in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) viewing expressive faces did not control that participants looked in the eyes. This is problematic because ASD is characterized by abnormal attention to the eyes. Here, we collected fMRI data from 48 participants (27 ASD) viewing pictures of neutral faces and faces expressing anger, happiness, and fear at low and high intensity, with a fixation cross between the eyes. Group differences in whole brain activity were examined for expressive faces at high and low intensity versus neutral faces. Group differences in neural activity were also investigated in regions of interest within the social brain, including the amygdala and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). In response to low intensity fearful faces, ASD participants showed increased activation in the social brain regions, and decreased functional coupling between the amygdala and the vmPFC. This oversensitivity to low intensity fear coupled with a lack of emotional regulation capacity could indicate an excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in their socio-affective processing system. This may result in social disengagement and avoidance of eye-contact to handle feelings of strong emotional reaction. Our results also demonstrate the importance of careful control of gaze when investigating emotional processing in ASD. Hum Brain Mapp, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID:28881454
DOI:10.1002/hbm.23800

Les champs électromagnétiques dans les incubateurs sont-ils un facteur de risque pour l'autisme?

Traduction: G.M.

Acta Paediatr. 2017 Sep 1. doi: 10.1111/apa.14055.

Re: Are electromagnetic fields in incubators a risk factor for autism?

Author information

1
Diagnostic Imaging Center, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA.

Abstract

Cette lettre concerne l'article de Bellieni et Buonocore intitulé «Les champs électromagnétiques dans les incubateurs sont-ils un facteur de risque pour l'autisme? publié dans Acta Paediatrica (1). Les auteurs de ce court article suggèrent que l'exposition des nourrissons aux champs électromagnétiques appelés «champs électromagnétiques élevés (EMF) produits par le moteur électrique de l'incubateur» peut être liée à un risque accru d'autisme. Malgré son sujet difficile, le document rédigé par Bellieni et Buonocore présente des lacunes. 
This letter is regarding the article by Bellieni and Buonocore entitled "Are electromagnetic fields in incubators a risk factor for autism?" published in Acta Paediatrica (1). The authors of this short article suggest that exposure of the infants to electromagnetic fields which are referred to as "high electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produced by the incubator's electric engine" can be linked to increased risk of autism. Despite its challenging topic, the paper authored by Bellieni and Buonocore has some shortcomings. 
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

06 septembre 2017

Pareil ou différent: le chevauchement entre les enfants avec des troubles du traitement auditif et des enfants avec d'autres troubles du développement: une revue systématique

Aperçu: G.M.
Les enfants diagnostiqués avec des troubles du traitement auditif (APD) éprouvent des difficultés dans le fonctionnement auditif et avec des tâches de mémoire, d'attention, de langage et de lecture. Cependant, on ne sait pas si les caractéristiques comportementales de ces enfants sont distinctes des caractéristiques comportementales des enfants diagnostiqués avec un trouble du développement différent, comme une déficience spécifique du langage (SLI), une dyslexie, un trouble de l'hyperactivité à déficit de l'attention (TDAH), un trouble de l'apprentissage (LD) ou un trouble du spectre de l'autisme (TSA).
L'objectif de cette étude était de déterminer 
  1. quelles caractéristiques de l'APD se chevauchent avec les caractéristiques des enfants avec un diagnostic de SLI, dyslexie, TDAH, LD ou TSA; et 
  2. s'il existe des caractéristiques qui distinguent les enfants diagnostiqués avec APD d'enfants diagnostiqués avec d'autres troubles du développement. 
Au total, 13 études dont la qualité méthodologique était modérée ont été incluses dans cette revue systématique. Dans cinq études, la performance des enfants diagnostiqués avec APD a été comparée à la performance des enfants diagnostiqués avec SLI: chez deux avec des enfants diagnostiqués avec dyslexie, un avec des enfants diagnostiqués avec du TDAH et un autre avec des enfants ayant un diagnostic de LD. Dix des études comprenaient des enfants qui satisfaisaient aux critères pour plus d'un diagnostic. Dans quatre études, il y a eu une comparaison entre les performances des enfants atteints de troubles comorbides. Il n'y a pas eu d'études dans lesquelles la performance des enfants diagnostiqués avec APD a été comparée à la performance des enfants diagnostiqués avec un trouble du spectre de l'autisme.
Les enfants diagnostiqués avec APD ont des performances identiques à celles des enfants avec SLI, dyslexie, TDAH et LD dans les tests d'intelligence, de mémoire ou d'attention et des tests de langage.
Seules de petites différences entre les groupes ont été trouvées pour les tâches sensorielles et fonctionnelles perceptives (auditives et visuelles). En outre, les enfants diagnostiqués avec dyslexie ont été plus pauvres dans les tâches de lecture par rapport aux enfants diagnostiqués avec APD. 
Le résultat est peut-être biaisé par la mauvaise qualité des études de recherche et la faible qualité des mesures de résultat utilisées.

Ear Hear. 2017 Aug 31. doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000000479.

Same or Different: The Overlap Between Children With Auditory Processing Disorders and Children With Other Developmental Disorders: A Systematic Review

Author information

1
1Research Group Healthy Ageing, Allied Health Care and Nursing, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands; 2Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; 3Laboratory for Experimental Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. 4Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 5Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia; and 6Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Children diagnosed with auditory processing disorders (APD) experience difficulties in auditory functioning and with memory, attention, language, and reading tasks. However, it is not clear whether the behavioral characteristics of these children are distinctive from the behavioral characteristics of children diagnosed with a different developmental disorder, such as specific language impairment (SLI), dyslexia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disorder (LD), or autism spectrum disorder. This study describes the performance of children diagnosed with APD, SLI, dyslexia, ADHD, and LD to different outcome measurements. The aim of this study was to determine (1) which characteristics of APD overlap with the characteristics of children with SLI, dyslexia, ADHD, LD, or autism spectrum disorder; and (2) if there are characteristics that distinguish children diagnosed with APD from children diagnosed with other developmental disorders.

DESIGN:

A systematic review. Six electronic databases (Pubmed, CINAHL, Eric, PsychINFO, Communication & Mass Media Complete, and EMBASE) were searched to find peer-reviewed studies from 1954 to May 2015. The authors included studies reporting behaviors and performance of children with (suspected) APD and children diagnosed with a different developmental disorder (SLI, Dyslexia, ADHD, and LD). Two researchers identified and screened the studies independently. Methodological quality of the included studies was assessed with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's levels-of-evidence scheme.

RESULTS:

In total, 13 studies of which the methodological quality was moderate were included in this systematic review. In five studies, the performance of children diagnosed with APD was compared with the performance of children diagnosed with SLI: in two with children diagnosed with dyslexia, one with children diagnosed with ADHD, and in another one with children diagnosed with LD. Ten of the studies included children who met the criteria for more than one diagnosis. In four studies, there was a comparison made between the performances of children with comorbid disorders. There were no studies found in which the performance of children diagnosed with APD was compared with the performance of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Children diagnosed with APD broadly share the same characteristics as children diagnosed with other developmental disorders, with only minor differences between them. Differences were determined with the auditory and visual Duration Pattern Test, the Children's Auditory Processing Performance Scale questionnaire, and the subtests of the Listening in Spatialized Noise-Sentences test, in which noise is spatially separated from target sentences. However, these differences are not consistent between studies and are not found in comparison to all groups of children with other developmental disorders.

CONCLUSIONS:

Children diagnosed with APD perform equally to children diagnosed with SLI, dyslexia, ADHD, and LD on tests of intelligence, memory or attention, and language tests. Only small differences between groups were found for sensory and perceptual functioning tasks (auditory and visual). In addition, children diagnosed with dyslexia performed poorer in reading tasks compared with children diagnosed with APD. The result is possibly confounded by poor quality of the research studies and the low quality of the used outcome measures. More research with higher scientific rigor is required to better understand the differences and similarities in children with various neurodevelopmental disorders.
PMID:
28863035
DOI:
10.1097/AUD.0000000000000479
Ear Hear. 2017 Aug 31. doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000000479. [Epub ahead of print]

Same or Different: The Overlap Between Children With Auditory Processing Disorders and Children With Other Developmental Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Author information

1
1Research Group Healthy Ageing, Allied Health Care and Nursing, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands; 2Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; 3Laboratory for Experimental Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. 4Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 5Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia; and 6Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Children diagnosed with auditory processing disorders (APD) experience difficulties in auditory functioning and with memory, attention, language, and reading tasks. However, it is not clear whether the behavioral characteristics of these children are distinctive from the behavioral characteristics of children diagnosed with a different developmental disorder, such as specific language impairment (SLI), dyslexia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disorder (LD), or autism spectrum disorder. This study describes the performance of children diagnosed with APD, SLI, dyslexia, ADHD, and LD to different outcome measurements. The aim of this study was to determine (1) which characteristics of APD overlap with the characteristics of children with SLI, dyslexia, ADHD, LD, or autism spectrum disorder; and (2) if there are characteristics that distinguish children diagnosed with APD from children diagnosed with other developmental disorders.

DESIGN:

A systematic review. Six electronic databases (Pubmed, CINAHL, Eric, PsychINFO, Communication & Mass Media Complete, and EMBASE) were searched to find peer-reviewed studies from 1954 to May 2015. The authors included studies reporting behaviors and performance of children with (suspected) APD and children diagnosed with a different developmental disorder (SLI, Dyslexia, ADHD, and LD). Two researchers identified and screened the studies independently. Methodological quality of the included studies was assessed with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's levels-of-evidence scheme.

RESULTS:

In total, 13 studies of which the methodological quality was moderate were included in this systematic review. In five studies, the performance of children diagnosed with APD was compared with the performance of children diagnosed with SLI: in two with children diagnosed with dyslexia, one with children diagnosed with ADHD, and in another one with children diagnosed with LD. Ten of the studies included children who met the criteria for more than one diagnosis. In four studies, there was a comparison made between the performances of children with comorbid disorders. There were no studies found in which the performance of children diagnosed with APD was compared with the performance of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Children diagnosed with APD broadly share the same characteristics as children diagnosed with other developmental disorders, with only minor differences between them. Differences were determined with the auditory and visual Duration Pattern Test, the Children's Auditory Processing Performance Scale questionnaire, and the subtests of the Listening in Spatialized Noise-Sentences test, in which noise is spatially separated from target sentences. However, these differences are not consistent between studies and are not found in comparison to all groups of children with other developmental disorders.

CONCLUSIONS:

Children diagnosed with APD perform equally to children diagnosed with SLI, dyslexia, ADHD, and LD on tests of intelligence, memory or attention, and language tests. Only small differences between groups were found for sensory and perceptual functioning tasks (auditory and visual). In addition, children diagnosed with dyslexia performed poorer in reading tasks compared with children diagnosed with APD. The result is possibly confounded by poor quality of the research studies and the low quality of the used outcome measures. More research with higher scientific rigor is required to better understand the differences and similarities in children with various neurodevelopmental disorders.
PMID:28863035
DOI:10.1097/AUD.0000000000000479

L'association entre l'histopathologie placentaire et le "trouble du spectre de l'autisme"

Aperçu: G.M.
La recherche suggère que le trouble du spectre de l'autisme (TSA) a son origine dans l'utérus. Cette étude examine l'association entre la preuve de l'histopathologie placentaire et le TSA.
Une inflammation placentaire aiguë, quel que soit le type, a été associée à un risque accru de TSA (odds ratio [OR] = 3,14, IC 95% = 1,39, 6,95). 
Dans les sous-analyses parmi l'ensemble des inflammations aiguës des placentas masculins, la réponse inflammatoire fœtale dans les vaisseaux de la cororie et la pathologie de la malpérité vasculaire maternelle est restée significativement associée à un risque accru de TSA alors que l'œdème de villosité placentaire est resté associé à une diminution du risque de TSA.  

Placenta. 2017 Sep;57:183-188. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.07.006. Epub 2017 Jul 8.

The association between placental histopathology and autism spectrum disorder

Author information

1
Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, 1 Ford Place, Suite 3E, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. Electronic address: jstraug1@hfhs.org.
2
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 6135 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. Electronic address: dmisra@med.wayne.edu.
3
Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, 1 Ford Place, Suite 3E, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. Electronic address: gdivine1@hfhs.org.
4
Placental Modulation Laboratory, Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1550 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA. Electronic address: ruchit.shah27@gmail.com.
5
Placental Analytics LLC, 187 Overlook Circle, New Rochelle, NY 10804, USA. Electronic address: gaby15785@gmail.com.
6
Placental Analytics LLC, 187 Overlook Circle, New Rochelle, NY 10804, USA; Department of Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies & Bioethics, Emory University, 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Electronic address: samantha.vanhorn@emory.edu.
7
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, 550 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA. Electronic address: vonbreyt@gmail.com.
8
Department of Pediatrics, New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, 550 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA. Electronic address: bdygulska@outlook.com.
9
Department of Pediatrics, New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, 550 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA. Electronic address: rebeccaschmitt427@gmail.com.
10
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, 550 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA. Electronic address: sal9047@nyp.org.
11
Department of Pediatrics, New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, 550 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA. Electronic address: prn9001@nyp.org.
12
Placental Modulation Laboratory, Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1550 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA; Placental Analytics LLC, 187 Overlook Circle, New Rochelle, NY 10804, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, 550 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA; Department of Pediatrics, New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, 550 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA. Electronic address: carolyn.salafia@gmail.com.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Research suggests that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has its origins in utero. This study examines the association between evidence of placental histopathology and ASD.

METHODS:

Administrative claims data and medical records data were used to identify ASD cases (N = 55) and matched controls (N = 199) born at New York Methodist Hospital between 2007 and 2014 and subsequently seen in affiliated pediatrics clinics. Placentas from all births during this time period were reviewed as part of routine care. Data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression to account for the matched (gender, gestational age, and birth weight) design.

RESULTS:

Acute placental inflammation, regardless of type was associated with an increased risk of ASD (odds ratio [OR] = 3.14, 95% CI = 1.39, 6.95). Chronic uteroplacental vasculitis (OR = 7.13; 95% CI = 1.17, 43.38), the fetal inflammatory response in the chorionic plate vessels (OR = 5.12; 95% CI = 2.02, 12.96), and maternal vascular malperfusion pathology (OR = 12.29; 95% CI = 1.37, 110.69) were associated with an increased risk of ASD. Placental villous edema was associated with a decreased risk of ASD (OR = 0.05; 95% CI = 0.0005, 0.42). In subanalyses among male placentas acute inflammation overall, fetal inflammatory response in the chorionic plate vessels, and maternal vascular malperfusion pathology remained significantly associated with an increased risk of ASD whereas placental villous edema remained associated with a decreased risk of ASD.

DISCUSSION:

Histologic evidence of placental inflammation and maternal vascular malperfusion pathology are associated with ASD.
PMID:28864010
DOI:10.1016/j.placenta.2017.07.006