Shaifudin Yusof | National Institute of Education (original) (raw)
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The triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination is often used in a... more The triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination is often used in autism screening tools. In this paper, the authors have proposed an alternative by examining autistic learning and behavioural challenges in cognitive, conative, affective and sensory processes. The alternative pinpoints the specific needs and strengths for informing decisions on selecting appropriate autism treatment strategies to follow up. They trialled the use of the Autistic Learning and Behavioural Difficulties Inventory (ALBDI) on 53 participants and validated it on the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-Second Edition (GARS-2). Findings of their study suggested that ALBDI is a useful measure where its total autistic learning and behavioural difficulties scores correlated significantly with the GARS-2 total standard scores of its subtests and its Autism Index with Pearson correlation coefficients r = .800 (p<.01) and r = .801 (p<.01) respectively. ALBDI is included in the Appendix.
International Journal of Special Education, 2012
Autism is a neuro-developmental syndrome of constitutional origin and whose cause could also be e... more Autism is a neuro-developmental syndrome of constitutional origin and whose cause could also be epigenetic, and its onset is usually around first three years of birth, with empathizing deficits that result in a triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination (or presence of stereotyped behaviors), but may, on the other hand, display or hide a strong systemizing drive that accounts for a distinct triad of strengths in good attention to detail, deep narrow interests, and islets of ability. In this study, 15 children (ten boys and five girls, aged between 9 and 10 years) with high-functioning autistic disorder underwent a 12-month Dolphin Encounter for Special Children (DESC) Program conducted by the Underwater World Singapore at the Dolphin Lagoon in Sentosa. Indo-pacific humpback dolphins were used in this dolphin-assisted therapy. A pre-/post-treatment design was used to determine if the 15 subjects showed significant improvement in the reduction of their autistic symptoms after they had completed the program. The results suggested that the subjects showed a significant reduction in stereotyped behaviors and a significant improvement in communication and social interaction. With a good effect size (d), their mean AQ remained within the average range for typical individuals with autism. Autism is often associated with a triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination resulting in empathizing deficits. Empathizing deficits refer to one's failure to make connection to another individual's experience and to respond appropriately to that person. As a result, social interaction is impaired (Chia, 2008). Functional imaging studies (e.g., Cody, Pelphrey, & Piven, 2002; Di Martino, & Castellanos, 2003) implicate medial prefrontal cortex and posterior superior temporal sulcus as components of this empathizing ability. However, recent studies (e.g., Lawson, Baron-Cohen, & Wheelwright, 2004; Baron-Cohen et al., 2003) suggest that though individuals with autism display empathizing deficits, they have intact or even superior systemizing ability. Systemizing refers to that ability to analyze and build systems so as to understand and predict the functional behavior or impersonal events or inanimate or abstract entities. Myers, Baron-Cohen and Wheelwright (2004) have identified six systemizing abilities: (1) mechanical systemizing, e.g., machines and tools; (2) natural systemizing, e.g., biological processes and geographical phenomena; (3) abstract systemizing, e.g., mathematical concepts and computer programs; (4) motoric systemizing, e.g., 3D drawing, piano finger technique or a lawn tennis shot; (5) organizable systemizing, e.g., Dewey Classification System used in library cataloging of books or a stamp collection; and (6) social systemizing, e.g., business management or football team.
International Journal of Special Education, 2012
Autism is a neuro-developmental syndrome of constitutional origin and whose cause could also be e... more Autism is a neuro-developmental syndrome of constitutional origin and whose cause could also be epigenetic, and its onset is usually around first three years of birth, with empathizing deficits that result in a triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination (or presence of stereotyped behaviors), but may, on the other hand, display or hide a strong systemizing drive that accounts for a distinct triad of strengths in good attention to detail, deep narrow interests, and islets of ability. In this study, 15 children (ten boys and five girls, aged between 9 and 10 years) with high-functioning autistic disorder underwent a 12-month Dolphin Encounter for Special Children (DESC) Program conducted by the Underwater World Singapore at the Dolphin Lagoon in Sentosa. Indo-pacific humpback dolphins were used in this dolphin-assisted therapy. A pre-/post-treatment design was used to determine if the 15 subjects showed significant improvement in the reduction of their autistic symptoms after they had completed the program. The results suggested that the subjects showed a significant reduction in stereotyped behaviors and a significant improvement in communication and social interaction. With a good effect size (d), their mean AQ remained within the average range for typical individuals with autism. Autism is often associated with a triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination resulting in empathizing deficits. Empathizing deficits refer to one's failure to make connection to another individual's experience and to respond appropriately to that person. As a result, social interaction is impaired (Chia, 2008). Functional imaging studies (e.g., Cody, Pelphrey, & Piven, 2002; Di Martino, & Castellanos, 2003) implicate medial prefrontal cortex and posterior superior temporal sulcus as components of this empathizing ability. However, recent studies (e.g., Lawson, Baron-Cohen, & Wheelwright, 2004; Baron-Cohen et al., 2003) suggest that though individuals with autism display empathizing deficits, they have intact or even superior systemizing ability. Systemizing refers to that ability to analyze and build systems so as to understand and predict the functional behavior or impersonal events or inanimate or abstract entities. Myers, Baron-Cohen and Wheelwright (2004) have identified six systemizing abilities: (1) mechanical systemizing, e.g., machines and tools; (2) natural systemizing, e.g., biological processes and geographical phenomena; (3) abstract systemizing, e.g., mathematical concepts and computer programs; (4) motoric systemizing, e.g., 3D drawing, piano finger technique or a lawn tennis shot; (5) organizable systemizing, e.g., Dewey Classification System used in library cataloging of books or a stamp collection; and (6) social systemizing, e.g., business management or football team.
The triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination is often used in a... more The triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination is often used in autism screening tools. In this paper, the authors have proposed an alternative by examining autistic learning and behavioural challenges in cognitive, conative, affective and sensory processes. The alternative pinpoints the specific needs and strengths for informing decisions on selecting appropriate autism treatment strategies to follow up. They trialled the use of the Autistic Learning and Behavioural Difficulties Inventory (ALBDI) on 53 participants and validated it on the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-Second Edition (GARS-2). Findings of their study suggested that ALBDI is a useful measure where its total autistic learning and behavioural difficulties scores correlated significantly with the GARS-2 total standard scores of its subtests and its Autism Index with Pearson correlation coefficients r = .800 (p<.01) and r = .801 (p<.01) respectively. ALBDI is included in the Appendix.
The triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination is often used in a... more The triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination is often used in autism screening tools. In this paper, the authors have proposed an alternative by examining autistic learning and behavioural challenges in cognitive, conative, affective and sensory processes. The alternative pinpoints the specific needs and strengths for informing decisions on selecting appropriate autism treatment strategies to follow up. They trialled the use of the Autistic Learning and Behavioural Difficulties Inventory (ALBDI) on 53 participants and validated it on the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-Second Edition (GARS-2). Findings of their study suggested that ALBDI is a useful measure where its total autistic learning and behavioural difficulties scores correlated significantly with the GARS-2 total standard scores of its subtests and its Autism Index with Pearson correlation coefficients r = .800 (p<.01) and r = .801 (p<.01) respectively. ALBDI is included in the Appendix.
International Journal of Special Education, 2012
Autism is a neuro-developmental syndrome of constitutional origin and whose cause could also be e... more Autism is a neuro-developmental syndrome of constitutional origin and whose cause could also be epigenetic, and its onset is usually around first three years of birth, with empathizing deficits that result in a triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination (or presence of stereotyped behaviors), but may, on the other hand, display or hide a strong systemizing drive that accounts for a distinct triad of strengths in good attention to detail, deep narrow interests, and islets of ability. In this study, 15 children (ten boys and five girls, aged between 9 and 10 years) with high-functioning autistic disorder underwent a 12-month Dolphin Encounter for Special Children (DESC) Program conducted by the Underwater World Singapore at the Dolphin Lagoon in Sentosa. Indo-pacific humpback dolphins were used in this dolphin-assisted therapy. A pre-/post-treatment design was used to determine if the 15 subjects showed significant improvement in the reduction of their autistic symptoms after they had completed the program. The results suggested that the subjects showed a significant reduction in stereotyped behaviors and a significant improvement in communication and social interaction. With a good effect size (d), their mean AQ remained within the average range for typical individuals with autism. Autism is often associated with a triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination resulting in empathizing deficits. Empathizing deficits refer to one's failure to make connection to another individual's experience and to respond appropriately to that person. As a result, social interaction is impaired (Chia, 2008). Functional imaging studies (e.g., Cody, Pelphrey, & Piven, 2002; Di Martino, & Castellanos, 2003) implicate medial prefrontal cortex and posterior superior temporal sulcus as components of this empathizing ability. However, recent studies (e.g., Lawson, Baron-Cohen, & Wheelwright, 2004; Baron-Cohen et al., 2003) suggest that though individuals with autism display empathizing deficits, they have intact or even superior systemizing ability. Systemizing refers to that ability to analyze and build systems so as to understand and predict the functional behavior or impersonal events or inanimate or abstract entities. Myers, Baron-Cohen and Wheelwright (2004) have identified six systemizing abilities: (1) mechanical systemizing, e.g., machines and tools; (2) natural systemizing, e.g., biological processes and geographical phenomena; (3) abstract systemizing, e.g., mathematical concepts and computer programs; (4) motoric systemizing, e.g., 3D drawing, piano finger technique or a lawn tennis shot; (5) organizable systemizing, e.g., Dewey Classification System used in library cataloging of books or a stamp collection; and (6) social systemizing, e.g., business management or football team.
International Journal of Special Education, 2012
Autism is a neuro-developmental syndrome of constitutional origin and whose cause could also be e... more Autism is a neuro-developmental syndrome of constitutional origin and whose cause could also be epigenetic, and its onset is usually around first three years of birth, with empathizing deficits that result in a triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination (or presence of stereotyped behaviors), but may, on the other hand, display or hide a strong systemizing drive that accounts for a distinct triad of strengths in good attention to detail, deep narrow interests, and islets of ability. In this study, 15 children (ten boys and five girls, aged between 9 and 10 years) with high-functioning autistic disorder underwent a 12-month Dolphin Encounter for Special Children (DESC) Program conducted by the Underwater World Singapore at the Dolphin Lagoon in Sentosa. Indo-pacific humpback dolphins were used in this dolphin-assisted therapy. A pre-/post-treatment design was used to determine if the 15 subjects showed significant improvement in the reduction of their autistic symptoms after they had completed the program. The results suggested that the subjects showed a significant reduction in stereotyped behaviors and a significant improvement in communication and social interaction. With a good effect size (d), their mean AQ remained within the average range for typical individuals with autism. Autism is often associated with a triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination resulting in empathizing deficits. Empathizing deficits refer to one's failure to make connection to another individual's experience and to respond appropriately to that person. As a result, social interaction is impaired (Chia, 2008). Functional imaging studies (e.g., Cody, Pelphrey, & Piven, 2002; Di Martino, & Castellanos, 2003) implicate medial prefrontal cortex and posterior superior temporal sulcus as components of this empathizing ability. However, recent studies (e.g., Lawson, Baron-Cohen, & Wheelwright, 2004; Baron-Cohen et al., 2003) suggest that though individuals with autism display empathizing deficits, they have intact or even superior systemizing ability. Systemizing refers to that ability to analyze and build systems so as to understand and predict the functional behavior or impersonal events or inanimate or abstract entities. Myers, Baron-Cohen and Wheelwright (2004) have identified six systemizing abilities: (1) mechanical systemizing, e.g., machines and tools; (2) natural systemizing, e.g., biological processes and geographical phenomena; (3) abstract systemizing, e.g., mathematical concepts and computer programs; (4) motoric systemizing, e.g., 3D drawing, piano finger technique or a lawn tennis shot; (5) organizable systemizing, e.g., Dewey Classification System used in library cataloging of books or a stamp collection; and (6) social systemizing, e.g., business management or football team.
The triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination is often used in a... more The triad of impairments in communication, social interaction, and imagination is often used in autism screening tools. In this paper, the authors have proposed an alternative by examining autistic learning and behavioural challenges in cognitive, conative, affective and sensory processes. The alternative pinpoints the specific needs and strengths for informing decisions on selecting appropriate autism treatment strategies to follow up. They trialled the use of the Autistic Learning and Behavioural Difficulties Inventory (ALBDI) on 53 participants and validated it on the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-Second Edition (GARS-2). Findings of their study suggested that ALBDI is a useful measure where its total autistic learning and behavioural difficulties scores correlated significantly with the GARS-2 total standard scores of its subtests and its Autism Index with Pearson correlation coefficients r = .800 (p<.01) and r = .801 (p<.01) respectively. ALBDI is included in the Appendix.