Nuri Reyes - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Nuri Reyes

Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics

ABSTRACT: Objective: Understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic affected children with disabilities ... more ABSTRACT: Objective: Understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic affected children with disabilities is essential for future public health emergencies. We compared children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with those with another developmental disability (DD) and from the general population (POP) regarding (1) missed or delayed appointments for regular health/dental services, immunizations, and specialty services; (2) reasons for difficulty accessing care; and (3) use of remote learning and school supports. Method: Caregivers of children previously enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development, a case-control study of children with ASD implemented during 2017 to 2020, were recontacted during January–June 2021 to learn about services during March–December 2020. Children were classified as ASD, DD, or POP during the initial study and were aged 3.4 to 7.5 years when their caregivers were recontacted during the pandemic. Results: Over half of all children missed or delayed regular h...

Autism

There is often a large time gap between caregivers’ initial concerns and the diagnosis of autism ... more There is often a large time gap between caregivers’ initial concerns and the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. The current study aimed to identify factors associated with missed or delayed autism spectrum disorder diagnoses among children in Colorado. In a surveillance-based sample of 8-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder ( N = 572), we examined differences between children who were identified with autism spectrum disorder by a community provider and/or were eligible for special education services under an autism eligibility (documented diagnosis) and children who were first identified with autism spectrum disorder through a systematic record review (newly identified). Compared to documented diagnosis children, newly identified children were more likely to be female, aggressive, and argumentative. They were less likely to have had a developmental regression, sleep abnormalities, or an autism screener or diagnostic measure in their records. Newly identified children ...

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-aut-10.1177_13623613211065797 for Using evaluative frameworks to... more Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-aut-10.1177_13623613211065797 for Using evaluative frameworks to examine the implementation outcomes of a cognitive behavioral therapy program for autistic students with anxiety within public school settings by Katherine Pickard, Allison Meyer, Nuri Reyes, Tanea Tanda and Judy Reaven in Autism

The Journal of Pediatrics, 2021

Objectives-To explore how many preschool aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) used p... more Objectives-To explore how many preschool aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) used psychotropic medication, child and geographic factors associated with psychotropic medication use, and how many children who used psychotropic medication did or did not ever receive behavior therapy. Study design-Children 2-5 years of age were enrolled from 2012 to 2016 in a multisite casecontrol study designed to investigate the development and risk factors of ASD. Children with a positive ASD screen or ASD diagnosis upon enrollment were asked to complete a comprehensive evaluation to determine ASD status and developmental level. Caregivers completed a Services and Treatments Questionnaire and multiple self-administered questionnaires to determine child use of psychotropic medication, ever receipt of behavior therapy, and presence of co-occurring symptoms. Results-There were 763 children who were classified as ASD and had data collected on the Services and Treatments Questionnaire. Of those, 62 (8.1%) used psychotropic medication to treat behavioral symptoms and 28 (3.7%) were ≤3 years of age when medication was first started.

Supplemental material, AUT795678_Lay_Abstract for Examining the inclusion of diverse participants... more Supplemental material, AUT795678_Lay_Abstract for Examining the inclusion of diverse participants in cognitive behavior therapy research for youth with autism spectrum disorder and anxiety by Katherine Pickard, Nuri Reyes and Judy Reaven in Autism

Autism, 2021

Cognitive behavioral therapy for youth with autism spectrum disorder and anxiety is effective, bu... more Cognitive behavioral therapy for youth with autism spectrum disorder and anxiety is effective, but disparities exist in accessing these programs. Training school providers to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy may help to address these disparities. However, little is known about how cognitive behavioral therapy programs are implemented by interdisciplinary school providers and the broader impact of these programs. This study aimed to address this gap and was part of a larger trial that examined the effectiveness of Facing Your Fears–School-Based across 25 public schools. Study aims were to understand the impact of Facing Your Fears–School-Based and factors that impacted implementation. Thirty providers participated in exit interviews guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework. Primary themes included (1) the fit of Facing Your Fears–School-Based for diverse students; (2) the effects of Facing Your Fears–School-Based on students’ school ...

Interprofessional Care Coordination for Pediatric Autism Spectrum Disorder, 2020

Despite dramatic demographic changes over the past five decades specifically, culturally and ling... more Despite dramatic demographic changes over the past five decades specifically, culturally and lingustically diverse (CLD) children are more likely to receive delayed diagnosis and misidentification of ASD as well as experience significant barriers to obtaining ASD services in general. Delays in ASD identification or intervention provision can negatively impact future outcomes and may indicate that professionals are missing important cultural or linguistic considerations when providing services to CLD children and families. Strong interdisciplinary care practices can improve the outcomes of CLD children and their families with ASD. This chapter presents the challenges and successes to the facilitation of interdisciplinary care among CLD children. As services for ASD most often occur in clinical and school-based settings, the chapter will focus on both settings. Recommendations for culturally and linguistically responsive interdisciplinary care for children with ASD are provided.

Forest disturbances such as wildfire and drought-related disease often lead to declines in produc... more Forest disturbances such as wildfire and drought-related disease often lead to declines in productivity that both influence and are influenced by forest water use, particularly in the semi-arid environments of the Western US. Fuel treatments are frequently proposed to reduce vulnerability to these drought-related impacts and in some cases as an approach to increase water yield. By changing ecosystem structure, fuel treatments alter ecosystem function (including hydrologic cycling, carbon sequestration, energy partitioning, and biogeochemical cycling). Empirical studies of the impacts of changing ecosystem structure, either through active forest management or through natural disturbances, show a wide range of responses that include both increases and decreases in forest water use. Variation in climate and species, as well as the magnitude of forest density reduction, are commonly proposed as explanations for this variation. In this paper we use a coupled eco-hydrologic model to demonstrate that subsurface features are likely to be a critical, but often overlooked , factor that influences forest water use and regeneration following density reduction treatments. Using a case study site in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, we show that whether forest water use increases or decreases following density reduction, as well as the magnitude and rate of recovery of hydrologic changes, depends strongly on plant accessible water storage capacity within the rooting zone and the extent to which the root structures of neighboring trees interact and share water. We find that in some cases density reduction can increase water yield and productivity of remaining trees for the first few years following treatment. However, we also show that when soils are shallow and roots systems overlap, counter-intuitive increases in water use and related declines in productivity can occur due to water stress. Results highlight the importance of accounting for site-specific variation, such as soil water storage capacity, in assessing how fuel treatments may interact with ecosystem water use and drought vulnerability, and ultimately downslope impacts on streamflow.

School Psychology Review, 2021

This study examined child and family factors that may influence the Social Communication Question... more This study examined child and family factors that may influence the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) in English- and Spanish-speaking samples. A total of 199 English- or Spanish-speaking mo...

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Background and Aims: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are characterized by deficits in social inte... more Background and Aims: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are characterized by deficits in social interactions and communication, and the presence of stereotypic behaviors and restricted interests. Children with ASD also demonstrate difficulties in emotional competence, including poor emotion regulatory capacity. The goal of this study was to investigate the link of social skills to emotion regulation and emotionality in 3 through 7 year-old children with and without ASD. Methods: Both parental report and behavioral laboratory observations were used to examine emotion regulation and emotionality in 21 typically developing (TD) children and 12 high functioning children with ASD. Results: This study had three major findings. First, an association between enhanced reported emotion regulation and increased social skills was found in children with ASD, but not in TD children. Second, children with ASD demonstrated lower reported emotion regulation, higher reported general negative emotionalit...

Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 2021

School Mental Health, 2019

Anxiety disorders are among the most common co-occurring psychiatric conditions for youth with AS... more Anxiety disorders are among the most common co-occurring psychiatric conditions for youth with ASD (van Steensel et al. in Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 14:302-317, 2011). Although modified cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) have yielded significant reductions in anxiety, substantial disparities in access to mental health services exist for youth from diverse and low-income families. Schools represent a consistent resource for underserved communities; thus, there is a critical need to adapt and implement CBT programs in school settings. Engaging stakeholders in the initial phase of adaptation is essential to support adoption and sustainability of best practice interventions in schools. The primary purpose of the study was to adapt group CBT (Facing Your Fears (FYF); Reaven et al. in Facing your fears: group therapy for managing anxiety in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders, Paul Brookes Publishing, Baltimore, 2011) via iterative processes with key stakeholders to create a feasible, effective, and sustainable school-based program to manage anxiety in underserved students with ASD. Two rounds of parent and professional focus groups were conducted across three school districts (total 14 groups), using qualitative content analysis methodology. Details regarding the delivery of FYF, selection of students, training considerations for staff, and identifying meaningful outcomes were obtained in anticipation of an implementation trial of FYF.

Research in Developmental Disabilities, 2020

This study aimed to investigate differences between emotion regulation (ER), emotionality, and ex... more This study aimed to investigate differences between emotion regulation (ER), emotionality, and expression of emotions in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their typically developing (TD) peers; and to examine the potential links between these areas of development with social skills in both groups, as well as with behavioral, emotional, and social problems in ASD. Forty-four children (40 males and 4 females, ages 3 to 7 years) with ASD (n = 22) and their TD peers (n = 22) were included in this study. Mothers reported about their children's ASD symptoms, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. As predicted, children with ASD were described as showing decreased ER, increased emotionality, and decreased expression of emotions when compared to their TD peers. Moreover, in the ASD group, increased social skills were associated with enhanced ER and increased expression of emotions; and in the TD group, increased social skills were correlated with decreased emotionality. Finally, enhanced ER was linked to decreased peer problems, and increased prosocial behaviors; and decreased emotionality was linked to decreased behavior and emotional problems in the ASD group. Implications for further research are discussed.

Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 2019

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to experience difficulties with emotion regu... more Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to experience difficulties with emotion regulation (ER). Treatments designed to address ER difficulties in individuals with ASD are emerging. The authors review cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based treatments that have focused on ER difficulties in youth and young adults with ASD. In general, these treatments addressing ER skills have included awareness of emotions/psychoeducation about emotions, frustration tolerance, and ER skills, as well as practice and use of these skills during group therapy that sometimes includes caregivers. The results from these interventions are encouraging for individuals with high-functioning ASD because ER skills tend to improve following treatment. The inclusion of ER in other ASD treatments is discussed.

Autism, 2018

Results of randomized controlled trials have demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety sympt... more Results of randomized controlled trials have demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety symptoms following cognitive behavior therapy participation. Although promising, the extent to which previous research has included families from low socioeconomic status or racially/ethnically diverse backgrounds is unknown. Aims of this study are as follows: (1) What is the race, ethnicity, and educational attainment of youth with autism spectrum disorder and their families who have participated in research examining the efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety? and (2) How do the demographics of these participants compare to that of the United States census? A total of 14 studies were reviewed that included 473 participants. Chi-square analyses indicated that there are significant differences between the race/ethnicity of youth with autism spectrum disorder participating in cognitive behavior therapy research for anxiety and that of youth in the United States. Standard residuals ...

Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 2018

This study explored whether ASD phenotypes in the child were associated with a history of anxiety... more This study explored whether ASD phenotypes in the child were associated with a history of anxiety or depression in the mother. We hypothesized that an ASD profile in children characterized by mild delays and increased rates of dysregulation would be associated with preexisting maternal anxiety or depression. Participants were 672 preschool children with ASD and their mothers. Children were classified as ASD after a comprehensive developmental evaluation. Mothers reported whether a healthcare provider ever diagnosed them with anxiety or depression before the birth of their child. Four child ASD phenotypes were derived from latent class analysis: Mild Language Delay with Cognitive Rigidity (Type 1), Significant Developmental Delay with Repetitive Motor Behaviors (Type 2), General Developmental Delay (Type 3), and Mild Language and Motor Delay with Dysregulation (i.e., aggression, anxiety, depression, emotional reactivity, inattention, somatic complaints, and sleep problems) (Type 4). Type 2 ASD served as the referent category in statistical analyses. Results showed that 22.6% of mothers reported a diagnosis of anxiety or depression before the birth of their child. Maternal anxiety or depression was associated with 2.7 times the odds (95% confidence interval: 1.4, 5.3) of Type 4 or Dysregulated ASD in the child; maternal anxiety and depression was associated with 4.4 times the odds (95% confidence interval: 1.4, 14.0) of Type 4 or Dysregulated ASD in the child. Our findings suggest an association between Dysregulated ASD in the child and anxiety and depression in the mother. These findings can enhance screening methods and inform future research efforts.