Everyday Executive Function in Preschoolers with Autism and Links with Intellectual Functioning, Adaptive Behavior, and Autism Symptoms.

Impairments in executive function (EF) among individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their association with negative academic, adaptive, and social functioning outcomes have been widely reported over the past 20 years. However, there remains a lack of understanding of EF in autism during the preschool period, an age at which several crucial abilities (including EF) emerge. The present study therefore sought to document everyday EF in preschool-aged children with autism and its associations with other clinical characteristics. Parents rated the EF of their preschool-aged child with autism (M = 30-65 months, N = 288) using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version (BRIEF-P; Gioia, G. A., Espy, K. A., & Isquith, P. K. (2003). Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version. Psychological Assessment Resources.). Intellectual quotient, adaptive behavior, and autism symptom severity were also assessed. Preschoolers with ASD displayed impairments in everyday EF, particularly in relation with inhibition and working memory. Greater challenges in EF were strongly associated with lower levels of adaptive behavior and a higher severity of autistic symptoms. To a lesser extent, EF challenges were also associated with lower levels of intellectual functioning. The early assessment and detection of EF difficulties in preschoolers with ASD may assist in developing and integrating specific intervention targets to improve these essential abilities within existing early intervention programs for ASD. This could help to maximize their effectiveness and limit the extent of difficulties these children may face growing up.

Using Prevent Teach Reinforce for Young Children to Manage Challenging Behaviors in Public Specialized Early Intervention Services for Autism.

This proof-of-concept study assessed the feasibility of implementing Prevent-Teach-Reinforce-for-Young-Children (PTR-YC) program to address challenging behaviors in children with autism within the context of public, specialized early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) services offered in community settings. Following a 2-day training and with brief weekly supervision meetings, children's EIBI educators acted as facilitators in 35 families' home environments. Small and moderate effect sizes were observed for children's behavioral outcomes and parenting stress. Recruitment and retention rates, implementation fidelity, as well as treatment acceptability from the perspective of participating parents and the organization attested to the feasibility and relevance of implementing and evaluating this program on a larger scale as part of a multi-center randomized controlled trial.

Quality of Life in Families of Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The present study investigated family quality of life (FQOL) as experienced by 493 mothers and fathers (295 families) of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prior to receiving early intervention services in the province of Québec. These families were most satisfied with their physical and material well-being and least satisfied with their family interactions. Children's level of functioning across various standardized and subjective measures were positively associated with parents' FQOL. In both parents, family characteristics associated with financial and personal resources were also linked to FQOL. The child's age and the number of children were associated with mothers' FQOL. Overall, these findings provide a portrait of ASD-related stressors and resources relevant to both parents during the early childhood period.

Follow-Up of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder 1 Year After Early Behavioral Intervention.

The effectiveness of early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has been demonstrated by many studies and meta-analyses. Although it is considered an exemplary practice in several countries, few studies have investigated the maintenance of gains made in EIBI over time. Thirty-two children were assessed at posttreatment and 1-year follow-up after they attended a low-to-moderate-intensity (10 to 20 hr per week) EIBI program delivered by a public rehabilitation center. Between baseline and posttreatment, children showed significant gains in most areas of intellectual functioning and a significant decrease of autism symptom severity, but no change in adaptive behavior. Gains in intellectual functioning were maintained over a 1-year period after treatment termination, but autism symptom severity had increased to approximately pretreatment levels during that interval. Considerable individual variability was noted in the evolution of outcomes.

Psychometric Properties of the Beach Center Family Quality of Life in French-Speaking Families With a Preschool-Aged Child Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale (Beach Center FQOL) is used to evaluate and develop family-centered intervention services. However, its use with families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and in non-English speaking populations requires further investigation. The present study sought to assess the psychometric properties of a French translation of this scale on 452 parents of children aged 5 and under who were recently diagnosed with ASD. The resulting Satisfaction and Importance scales presented excellent internal consistency at the scale level and acceptable internal consistency at the subscale level. Theoretical model positing 5 dimensions of FQOL generally fit the data acceptably. Satisfaction ratings were found to be sensitive to changes and were negatively correlated with parenting stress.

Indicators of intellectual disabilities in young children with autism spectrum disorders.

No agreement has been reached yet on the co-occurrence of Intellectual Disability (ID) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in young children. This study describes the clinical profiles of 253 children with ASD between 30 and 65 months old, on IQ and adaptive behaviors, prior to their entry in an early behavioral intervention program. Results showed that 36.8% of the children met the criteria for ID, with 60.2% of these in the mild range (IQ 50-69) and 39.8% in the moderate range (IQ 35-49). ID profiles were similar for boys and girls. Intellectual and adaptive behavior profiles are described as well as their links to various socioeconomic factors.

Determinants of stress in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders.

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder are known to experience more stress than parents of children with any other conditions. The current study describes the parental stress of 118 fathers and 118 mothers at the onset of their children's Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention program. The objectives of the study were to compare and analyze each parent's stress and to identify factors that might predict their stress. Results indicated that fathers reported higher levels of stress than mothers. Correlations indicated that the stress levels of both parents were associated with their child's age, intellectual quotient, severity of autistic symptoms, and adaptive behaviors. Paternal stress, but not maternal stress, was predicted by severity of autistic symptoms and child's gender. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for services and early interventions.