Background: Neurodiversity is increasingly discussed in relation to autism research and practice. However, there is a lack of scholarship concerning the neurodevelopmental condition of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and the neurodiversity movement. While this movement may hold opportunities for the DLD community, the application of the…

This study compared the use of delivering a single instruction (e.g., Who is it?) versus varied instructions (e.g., What's their name? Who is this? What about this one?) when teaching three children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) novel expressive label targets via direct telehealth. The present investigation utilized an adapted…

According to relational frame theory (RFT), temporal relational responding is key to important repertoires, including sequencing, ordering, planning, and time understanding. Previous studies have taught several other varieties of relational responding (e.g., comparison, deictics) but relatively little work has been done in the case of temporal…

Some researchers suggest difficulties synchronising with a partner could underpin the social differences associated with Autism Spectrum Condition, potentially acting as a marker for autism. Social Motor Synchrony (SMS) is one aspect of synchrony that could augment observational diagnostic procedures. However, the full breadth of literature…

Sandplay therapy helps the person develop social skills and acts as a therapy method where they can reflect and repair their inner world. This study aims to test the feasibility of sandplay therapy method in an open area for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and investigate its effect on the development of social skills. In addition,…

This study explored the influence of the dynamic assessment of human--computer interactive games on children's language potential. Thirty-seven special children aged 3--7 years were selected to participate in the study. They were divided into three groups according to their scores on the Autism Behaviour Checklist: (1) a non-autism group, (2) a…

Sleep disturbances have been found to increase severity of core autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms such as social and communication difficulties and repetitive behaviours. However, very little is known about the impact of sleep on cognitive functioning in ASD. A systematic literature search identified fifteen original studies meeting…

Only one in every five children with autism is diagnosed before the age of 3 years. As a result, tens of thousands of children every year in the United States miss benefiting from early interventions and supports that could potentially optimize their lifetime outcomes. A major obstacle is the extremely limited access to high quality diagnosis. To…

Purpose: Feeding problems, ranging from mild to severe, are common in children with autism spectrum disorder. We conducted a 15-item online survey of community providers to gather information on service demand and current treatment approaches for this clinical population. Methods: Respondents, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists,…

Recent studies reported a differential multisensory integration (MSI) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Much of the research on MSI differences has focused on how visual stimuli influence speech processing. The present study takes a reverse perspective. We investigated if speech processing can affect the construction of low-level visual…

Background: Engagement is essential for fostering learning and development in young children with disabilities, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). Methods: This study used a non-concurrent multiple-baseline across participants design to examine the effects of embedded learning opportunities (ELOs)…

Using a cross-sectional design, this study explored attachment insecurity and disorganization (assessed using the Strange Situation Procedure) in 90 toddlers (aged 14-24 months) with and without autism traits and assessed the associations between autism traits (severity and profiles) and both developmental level and attachment classification. Our…

Atypical sensory perception and motor impairments are primary features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that indicate atypical development and predict social and non-social challenges. However, their link is poorly understood. Sensory perception is often integrated with motor processes when a sensory effect is temporally contiguous with the motor…

This longitudinal study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; n = 62; M[subscript age] = 13 years) by measuring emotional and behavioral problems before and during the pandemic, and by comparing this change to a matched sample of children without ASD (n = 213; M[subscript age] = 16 years).…

This study compared the characteristics of 'good mothers' of children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) as perceived by mothers of children with ASD in two countries--the U.S. and Japan. Grounded in the theory of culturally-influenced construal of the self, we hypothesized that U.S. mothers would prioritize fostering self-reliance and advocating…