Comorbid Deafblindness and Autism Spectrum Disorder—Characteristics, Differential Diagnosis, and Possible Interventions

The Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of Interventions for Children with Visual Impairments, Their Parents/Guardians or Educators: A Systematic Scoping Review

“…A lack of knowledge about visual impairment, the complicating features of a child's disability and the challenges parents/guardians face in accessing information are identified as barriers to the implementation of successful interventions. Similar issues are highlighted in other studies where the subjects are children (VI) (Gal, Dyck, & Passmore, 2010;Kappen, 2017;Probst & Borders, 2017;Stearns, 2017;van den Broek, Janssen, van Ramshorst, & Deen, 2006). Within this review, half of the studies involve children (VI) and additional disabilities.…”

OASID, an Instrument for Assessing Autism Spectrum Disorders in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Combined with Visual Impairments or Deafblindness

“…Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by impairments in social communication, interaction, and restricted and repetitive behavior patterns or stereotyped behavior (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Behavioral characteristics that are typical for autism are also prevalent in individuals with combined intellectual disabilities and visual impairment or deafblindness (Belote & Maier, 2014; Dammeyer, 2014; de Vaan et al, 2013; Evenhuis et al, 2009; Hoevenaars-van den Boom et al, 2009; Probst & Borders, 2017). Both autism and deafblindness affect the way sensory information is accessed and processed.…”

“…Examples of such behaviors are fidgeting with hands and fingers, rocking the body, and moving the head. In persons with visual impairment and deafblindness, specific stereotyped behaviors are also frequent, such as eye poking or pressing and echolalia (Tröster et al, 1991), notwithstanding that these behaviors may serve a completely different purpose in individuals who are blind than in persons with autism (Andrews & Wyver, 2005; Probst & Borders, 2017). A comprehensive overview of overlapping characteristics is given by Belote and Maier (2014).…”

OASID, un instrumento para evaluar los trastornos del espectro autista en personas con discapacidad intelectual combinada con discapacidades visuales o sordoceguera

“…El autismo es un trastorno del desarrollo que se caracteriza por una insuficiencia de la comunicación social y la interacción, y patrones de comportamiento repetitivo o un comportamiento estereotipado (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Las características del comportamiento típicas del autismo también se encuentran con frecuencia en personas con discapacidad intelectual combinada con discapacidad visual o sordoceguera (Belote y Maier, 2014;Dammeyer, 2014;De Vaan et al, 2013;Evenhuis et al, 2009;Hoevenaars-van den Boom et al, 2009;Probst y Borders, 2017). Tanto el autismo como la sordoceguera afectan a la forma en la que se procesa y se accede a la información sensorial.…”