The aim of this study was to compare bibliometric indicators of scientific productivity in physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Down syndrome (DS) in the PubMed database. A bibliometric study was conducted for the last 5 years (2017 to 2021). The data collected for each article were: year of…

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of WhatsApp-delivered physical activities on the physical activity level of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Method: This study used the mixed-method sequential exploratory design that consisted of the quantitative stage and the qualitative stage. The 42 family (parent and…

Objectives: To examine and analyse the intervention effects of the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Objectives: Methods: This meta-analysis evaluated the effect sizes in four major domains of measurement (autism symptoms, language, cognition, and social communication). A total of 624 participants…

Arizona Autism Charter School (AZACS), a public charter school for K-12 students, opened in 2014 to provide individualized education for students with autism and other disabilities alongside typically developing peers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders moved quickly to adapt instruction to online and hybrid models, coordinate comprehensive…

Laboratory research on sex differences in response to maternal immune activation: We investigated sex differences in molecular and behavioral responses to maternal immune activation during pregnancy. Epidemiological evidence indicates that immune activation during pregnancy impacts brain development, leading to increased incidence of…

Grounded in the biopsychosocial models of expressive language in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and fragile X syndrome (FXS), this dissertation included two novel studies that examined the role of biological (i.e., physiology), psychological (i.e., autistic traits, anxiety symptoms, and child affect) and social (i.e., communication partner…

This project critically evaluates the existing research conducted on the effectiveness of evidence-based interventions designed to promote the social and emotional development in preschool children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The purpose of this study is to identify evidence-based interventions for children ages three to six…

Young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are likely to sit on lengthy waitlists for applied behavior analytic (ABA) services, especially when living in rural areas. Early intervention is critical for desired outcomes for young children with ASD. Telehealth caregiver training in ABA skills is one avenue to begin intervention while…

Social communication deficits present in some neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), create challenges in social, academic, and adaptive functioning throughout the lifespan. Since the number of people diagnosed with ASD with comorbid ADHD is rising, it is…

This systematic review was conducted to identify the literature examining the prevalence of problematic internet use (PIU) in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the difference in prevalence of PIU between those with and without ASD, and the correlates of PIU in ASD. Ten studies were identified. The eight studies with comparison…

Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a higher probability of developing co-occurring mental or physical health conditions. However, little is known about how these health conditions develop and impact the lives of the adult ASD population. This paper reviewed existing studies concerning factors affecting the health status…

Objective: To determine whether functional self-care skills and presence of behavior problems in youth with developmental disabilities are associated with parents planning for the youth's transition to adulthood. Methods: This multi-site study consisted of 167 parents of youth aged 10-22 years with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and/or other…

Impairments in empathic responding are related to decreased social interactions and fewer friendships for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Teaching adolescents to respond empathetically during conversation may promote the development of healthy social relationships. The current study examined the effectiveness of an affective…

Understanding typical preschoolers' perceptions of communication modes could help guide augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention for preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study explored the perceptions of 16 typically developing preschoolers toward an (a) AAC application (app) on a tablet, (b) picture exchange…

Background and aims: Prior work has examined how children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder who are minimally verbal use their spoken language abilities during interactions with others. However, social communication includes other aspects beyond speech. To our knowledge, no studies have examined how minimally verbal children and…