Comparing the results of DAADD and ABC of children included in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

PURPOSE: To verify if there are characteristic behaviors of the different diagnosis included in the autism spectrum according to the Differential Assessment of Autism and Other Developmental Disorders (DAADD) and to the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). METHOD: Participants were 45 individuals and their respective speech-language therapists. All therapists are graduate students working with the children for at least 1 year. This time was considered sufficient to the therapists to have the information required by the DAADD questionnaire. It is comprised by 3 protocols specifically designed to children with 2 to 4 years, 4 to 6 years and 6 to 8 years, the same criteria used to separate the research groups, G1, G2 and G3, respectively. Data referring to the ABC were retrieved from the subject's files at the Laboratório de Investigação Fonoaudiológica nos Distúrbios do Espectro do Autismo (Research Laboratory on Language Disorders in the Autism Spectrum) of the School of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, where it is routinely applied during the annual assessment. RESULTS: Answers to the different areas of DAADD are similar to the different areas of ABC. These data show data the diagnosis by DAADD is easier in older children. Although there is no significant difference, the large occurrence of Rett's syndrome diagnosis according to the DAADD was associated to higher risk for autism according to the ABC in G1. With increasing age this tendency decreases and either in G2 and G3 Autism is the most frequent diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Although the results of both questionnaires tend to agree more with increasing age, the DAADD is more sensitive in the different ages while the ABC if more specific only to older children.

The options of the assessment of pragmatic communication level in children with autism spectrum disorder II. (Discussion of the main research outcomes from the percective of speech - language therapist)

“…Předvýzkum i výzkum se po kvalitní analýze pozorova-ných, komentovaných či referovaných faktorů ovlivňujících výkony dětí a věkových rozdílů vyznívajících mnohdy paradoxně ve prospěch mladších než starších dětí také shodoval s výsledky např. Schulze, Tomasello (2015) či Barbosa a Fernandes (2014), kteří rovněž prokázali paradoxně lepší výsledek u dětí mladších než starších se stejným stupněm hlubší diagnózy PAS na úrovni dětskou autismu.…”

The Role of Speech and Language Therapist in Autism Spectrum Disorders Intervention – An Inclusive Approach

“…This finding is similar to previous studies (for example [32]). Nevertheless, this "paradoxical "performance during the pragmatic level of language assessment could be partially related to the form of the evaluation process or tool used [33]. In general, the formal, standardised assessment is problematic as the performance of the child misses the advantage of the natural setting observation analysis.…”

A Experiência de Mães e Pais no Relacionamento com o Filho Diagnosticado com Autismo

“…Pesquisando a literatura científica brasileira, foram encontrados estudos que visavam primordialmente validar instrumentos para rastreamento de sinais de risco de autismo para diagnóstico precoce (Baraldi, Rojahn, Seabra, Carreiro, & Teixeira, 2013;Barbosa & Fernandes, 2014;Brentani et al, 2013;Costa, Harsányi, Martins-Reis, & Kummer, 2013;Garcia & Lampreia, 2011;Machado, Palladino, & Cunha, 2014;Zanon, Backes, & Bosa, 2014); propor intervenções e tratamentos (Amato, Santos, Barbosa, & Fernandes, 2013;Sampaio, Loureiro, & Gomes, 2015;Teixeira-Machado, 2015) e ter um olhar cuidadoso sobre a família nuclear face aos desafios vividos ao longo da vida (Andrade & Teodoro, 2012;Dester, 2015;Fernandes, Amato, Balestro, & Molini-Avejonas, 2011;Misquiatti, Brito, Ferreira, & Assumpção Jr, 2015;Segeren & Françozo, 2014;Semensato & Bosa, 2014;Smeha & Cezar, 2011;Thiengo, Fonseca, Abelha, & Lovisi, 2015;Zanatta, Menegazzo, Guimarães, Ferraz, & Motta, 2014). Nesse contexto, as mães e os pais são, na maioria das vezes, protagonistas no cuidado integral da criança.…”