Elaboração de uma cartilha informativa para familiares e cuidadores de crianças com autismo / Elaboración de un folleto informativo para familiares y cuidadores de niños con autismo / Development of an information booklet for family members and caregivers of children with autism

Objetivo: descrever a elaboração de uma cartilha informativa para familiares e cuidadores de crianças que vivem Transtorno do Espectro Autista. Método: pesquisa metodológica, realizada entre setembro de 2019 a julho de 2022 no sul do Brasil. Resultados: a elaboração envolveu a etapa teórica, validação de conteúdo e construção da cartilha denominada "Crianças autistas**: cartilha para familiares e cuidadores". Composta com seis capítulos: características do transtorno, comportamento da criança, direitos, futuro da criança com autismo e compartilhando experiências e visões. O conteúdo foi validado e para a construção da cartilha foram investigadas as preferências de dispositivos tecnológicos e layout de recursos informativos pelos familiares; após, o protótipo da cartilha passou por teste de usabilidade e navegação, hospedada no Articulate Storyline Software e está disponível para o público-alvo. Considerações finais: o processo de elaboração de recursos educativos para familiares pode auxiliar outros pesquisadores com interesse na área.

Objetivo: describir la elaboración de un folleto informativo para familiares y cuidadores de niños con Trastorno del Espectro Autista. Material y Método: investigación metodológica realizada entre septiembre de 2019 y julio de 2022 en el sur de Brasil. Resultados: la investigación incluyó una etapa teórica, la validación del contenido y la construcción de un folleto llamado "Niños autistas**: folleto para familiares y cuidadores". Consta de seis capítulos: características del trastorno, comportamiento del niño, derechos, futuro de los niños con autismo y compartir experiencias y visiones. Se validó el contenido y, para elaborar el folleto, se investigaron las preferencias de los familiares en cuanto a dispositivos tecnológicos y disposición de los recursos informativos; a continuación, el prototipo de folleto se sometió a pruebas de usabilidad y navegación, se alojó en Articulate Storyline Software y ya está a disposición del público destinatario. Consideraciones finales: el proceso de desarrollo de recursos educativos para familiares puede ayudar a otros investigadores interesados en el área.

Objective: to describe the development of an information booklet for family members and caregivers of children living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Method: methodological research carried out between September 2019 and July 2022 in southern Brazil. Results: the study involved a theoretical stage, content validation and the construction of a booklet called Autistic children**: a booklet for family members and caregivers". It consists of six chapters: characteristics of the disorder, the child's behavior, rights, the future of children with autism and sharing experiences and visions. The content was validated and to build the booklet, family members' preferences for technological devices and the layout of information resources were investigated; afterwards, the prototype of the booklet underwent usability and navigation tests, was hosted on Articulate Storyline Software and is available to the target audience. Final considerations: the process of developing educational resources for family members can help other researchers with an interest in the area.

Evidencia de la presencia e incremento de niños con diagnóstico de trastornos del espectro autista / Evidence of the presence and increase of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders

Introducción: Los Trastornos del Espectro Autista (TEA) son un grupo de complejos trastornos del desarrollo cerebral que se caracterizan por dificultades en la comunicación y la interacción social y por un repertorio de intereses y actividades restringido y repetitivo. Se está asistiendo a un incremento de los pacientes con este diagnóstico. Si bien las causas no están determinadas, se puede atribuir a una mayor concientización sobre el autismo y a la capacidad de detección de los profesionales. Material y Método: Estudio descriptivo. Investigación Cualitativa. Observación. Realizado entre enero y agosto de 2018. M-Chat: Lista de verificación para el autismo en niños pequeños. Criterios diagnósticos DSM V. Signos de alerta. Resultados: A través del trabajo interdisciplinario, de la oportuna observación y aplicación de la herramienta de pesquisa M-Chat destinada a la evaluación de factores de riesgo para autismo, se ha evidenciado la presencia de un número mayor de niños que presentaron signos acordes a un diagnostico dentro del espectro. Conclusión: La detección temprana es una variable determinante de un mejor pronóstico. Debido a la ausencia de marcadores biológicos, el principal medio de detección es la observación. Es por esto que el diagnóstico y la intervención temprana es la mejor respuesta, siendo importante la difusión sobre signos de alerta

Introduction: Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of complex disorders of brain development characterized by difficulties in communication and social interaction and by a repertoire of interests and restricted and repetitive activities. We are seeing an increase in patients with this diagnosis. Although the causes are not determined, it can be attributed to a greater awareness of autism and the detection capacity of professionals. Material and Method: Descriptive study. Qualitative research. Observation. Made between January and August 2018. M-Chat: Checklist for autism in young children. Diagnostic criteria DSM V. Warning signs. Results: Through the interdisciplinary work, the timely observation and application of the M-Chat research tool aimed at the evaluation of risk factors for autism, the presence of a greater number of children who showed signs according to a diagnostic within the spectrum. Conclusion: Early detection is a determining variable of a better prognosis. Due to the absence of biological markers, the main means of detection is observation. This is why diagnosis and early intervention is the best response, being important the diffusion on warning signs.

Underlying factors behind the low prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in Oman sociocultural perspective

Epidemiological surveys from various countries indicate an increased prevalence of autism spectrum disorders [ASD], leading researchers to debate whether there are now 'more affected' or 'more detected'. The epidemiology of ASD in developing countries, such as Oman, has generally indicated a lower prevalence compared to developed countries in the West. In Oman, the prevalence is low; however, this article highlights some of the factors that could contribute to the appearance of a low ASD rate: cross-cultural variations in the presentation of distress; a lack of reliable biological markers for diagnosing ASD, and a lack of health services for children with ASD, thus limiting the number of participants in epidemiological surveys. While the defining features of ASD have yet to be established, pilot studies in Oman indicate a substantial number of children with these disorders. Therefore, it is important that these discrepancies be addressed and the need for appropriate services for this patient population in Oman be highlighted