ABSTRACT
Objective To improve the prognosis of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a model of structure-based outpatient training course was conducted to explore the intervention effect for children with ASD. Methods 154 children with ASD were included in the present study (aged 1.6-5.5 years). All children were received the inpatient training course. The training course included individual coaching, game, motor, music courses etc. The training course lasted 1 month, 8 hours per day. All children were also received the Psycho-educational Profile-3rd Edition(PEP-3) assessment at the beginning and ending of training. Results Children with ASD scored significant raw scores in cognitive verbal/preverbal (29.08 ± 13.23 vs. 43.27 ± 11.62), expressive language (13.33 ± 10.55 vs. 25.38 ± 11.82), receptive language (15.77 ± 10.64 vs. 27.48 ± 8.42), fine motor (25.97 ± 6.10 vs. 32.64 ± 5.07), gross motor (23.03 ± 5.52 vs. 27.72 ± 2.95), visual-motor imitation (10.65 ± 5.31 vs. 15.44 ± 3.76), affective expression (14.34 ± 4.31 vs. 16.36 ± 3.85), social reciprocity (11.90 ± 4.01 vs. 16.08 ± 4.13), personal self-care (13.39 ± 4.70 vs. 16.98 ± 4.30) and adaptive behaviors (17.8 ± 4.95 vs. 20.33 ± 5.37) (t=5.43-20.70, all P<0.05). Conclusions The model of structure-based inpatient training course is effective program to improve the prognosis of children with ASD .
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore sex differences in cognitive and behavioral characteristics in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in different age.Methods The study involved 621 children(503 boys,118 girls) diagnosed with ASD from June 2013 to June 2015.Using raw scores to examine cognitive and behavioral characteristics in children with ASD based on the Psycho-Educational Profile-3rd Edition (PEP-3).The subjects were divided into two groups according age:＜4Y group and ≥ 4Y group.The sex differences of cognitive and behavioral characteristics were analyzed in different age groups.Results No sex differences were found in characteristic motor behaviors (CMB) and characteristic verbal behaviors (CVB) raw scores in ＜4Y group(P＞0.05),while girls with ASD had lower raw scores on CMB and CVB raw scores in ＞4Y group((21.56±7.33) vs (24.09±4.80),(9.79±7.05) vs (13.27±5.75) ; P＜0.05)).Girls with ASD had lower raw scores on cognitive verbal/preverbal (CVP),CMB and CVB in ～ 4Y,～5Y,and ～6Y group (P＜0.05).However,there was no sex difference on CVP,CMB and CVB in ～ 3Y and ～ 7Y group (P＞0.05).Conclusions Characteristic verbal and motor behaviors may not be obvious in girls with ASD in early childhood,which may increase the difficulties of early clinical identification.The development of cognitive ability in girls with ASD is far behind that in boys in the crucial 3-5 years old,as well as social reciprocity and characteristic behaviors.It suggests that the behavior characteristics are closely related to cognitive development.