ABSTRACT
Lack of eye contact and imitation deficits are frequently targeted in behavioral interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this study, we examined the effects of prompting and modeling on the imitation skills and eye contact of three Arabic-speaking young children with ASD in Syria. A multiple baseline design with a withdrawal component was used to evaluate the effects of the intervention in a clinical setting, at a center for children with special needs, and in follow-up sessions conducted in the participants' homes. All participants' imitative responses and eye contact increased when prompting and modeling were used. Our findings support the effectiveness of prompting and modeling on imitation skills.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder , Imitative Behavior , Humans , Autism Spectrum Disorder/rehabilitation , Autism Spectrum Disorder/physiopathology , Syria , Male , Child, Preschool , Female , Behavior Therapy/methods , ChildABSTRACT
We examined the sustained effects of early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) on 66 children with autism spectrum disorder who participated in the Future Center's EIBI program. Children were assessed using the childhood autism rating scale (CARS), autism behavior checklist (ABC), and adaptive behavior scale (ABS-Arabic) 3 years after leaving the program. Continued positive effects were observed in several areas, including adaptive behavior and autism symptoms. However, participants' social skills might have declined on the ABS-Arabic after service withdrawal. Additionally, a significant negative association (p < .001) was found between participants' performance on the CARS and the number of weekly trials. This is encouraging, given the lack of EIBI services and regional instability. Future research should increase the sample size and use a more rigorous design.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder , Autistic Disorder , Humans , Child , Autistic Disorder/therapy , Follow-Up Studies , Autism Spectrum Disorder/therapy , Autism Spectrum Disorder/diagnosis , Syria , Behavior TherapyABSTRACT
Background: Having a child with autism spectrum disorder can have significant psychological effects on parents. This systematic review summarizes the current state of literature underscoring the impact of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on parents in Arab countries. Methods: A systematic search of seven databases (PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Google Scholar, ERIC, Academic Search Complete, and PsycINFO) was performed, which identified 24 studies (20 quantitative studies and four qualitative studies) that included 3,299 parents or caregivers of children with ASD. These studies were conducted in 10 Arab countries (Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Emirates, Palestine, Qatar, and Lebanon). Results: The majority of the included studies found that ASD has a significant negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of Arab parents. It was found that parents of children with ASD have a poor quality of life (QoL) and an increased risk of psychological disorders. These findings were in contrast to findings of parents of typically developing children and children with other developmental disorders. Challenges faced by parents of children with ASD were associated with several child- and parent-related factors. The most common coping strategy used by parents was religious coping. Conclusion: The impact of ASD on parents has only recently gained traction among researchers in Arab countries. Despite several knowledge gaps, published studies have provided useful information outlining the impact of ASD on parents in some of these countries. Further research comprising larger random samples and using varied research and data-collection methods is required to understand the multifaceted challenges experienced by parents raising children with ASD in Arab countries.
