Introduction
Autism is a neurological disorder that affects personal, as well as, social behavior of an individual. Autism affects personal and social communication skills, verbal and non-verbal communication and social interaction skills. Symptoms of autism starts showing from an early age when child is even below three years. Autism impacts functioning of the brain and processing of information by changing the organization and connection of nerve cells with their synapses. Development in children is not uniform, each children shows their own rate of development. However, there are certain milestones such as emotional, linguistic, behavioral and physical that should be achieved by the children at certain age. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder is high and out of one thousand children, around three to five children are affected with the disorder, which makes it a serious problem in the society. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and compare and contrast two articles on autism detection in early childhood.
Research Article
The Purpose:
The purpose of research article is to present a complete psychometric analysis of using autism detection in early childhood (ADEC) as an examining instrument for autism detection. The study evaluates how ADEC is helping clinicians in identifying early symptoms of autism in children between one to 3 yrs old.The study analyzed effectiveness of ADEC and how this screening instrument is helpful for health practitioners and children in dealing with autism disorder(Nah et al., 2014).
The Hypothesis:
The hypothesis formed under the research study is that ADEC (Autism Detection in Early Childhood) is an efficient and suitable screening tool for children suffering with early signs of autism. The study also assumed that ADEC is more effective tool because it is a screening tool and not a diagnostic tool, hence, capable to identify more children who are at risk of Autism.
Participants:
Participants shortlisted for the study were recruited using different sources such as advertisement in print media and mass media, university newsletters, child-care centers, and private & public developmental clinics. All participants shortlisted under the study were between ages one to three years and facing communication and development related challenges. A diagnostic of 70 children (57 boys and 13 girls) was performed by analyzing information and data on assessment results. A screening study was conducted to compare 70 children with other 57 children (37 boys and 20 girls) suffering from developmental disorders and 64 typical developing (31 boys and 33 girls) children(Nah et al., 2014).
Procedure:
Parents and clinicians whose child or client has possibility of developing autism disorder participated in the screening process. Selection of children was done by conducting different types of tests such as ADEC, ADOS Rev & Severity, nonverbal IQ, and VABC. ADEC was performed only by the psychology degree holder and trained examiners. While screening it was ensured that ADEC examiners are blind to the examination of ADEC, due to time involve in ADI-R. Children who shown some symptom of ASD or AD and autism characteristics were further followed with ADI-R in order to confirm the ASD(Nah et al., 2014).
Result:
Sample shortlisted for the study was analyzed using different tests, and differences generated in nonverbal IQ variable shown statistical significance, F(2, 65) = 2.69, and P = .08.
A subset of shortlisted children was developed based on AD & ODD results, and by matching different factors such as age, VABC, and nonverbal IQ, to compare the participants, and to ensure that differences observed in participants are not based on IQ. Study found that consistency of ADEC was good i.e. α = 0.91, and not changed significantly even after removal of few factors. Interrater reliability and reliability and test-retest reliability of ADEC was also good.
Internet Source
Summary:
The article talk about autism and how the subject gained attention of parents and media over past few years. The author says that parents raise their concern over detection of autism, because most of the time they are not aware if their child is suffering from autism. The article says that autism disorder is more common in boys (four times) as compare to girls and can be detected at very early age even before 3 years. Over past ten years number cases of autism has increased significantly due to diagnosis of the disorder. The number of autism cases increased by 273 percent since 1980. The disability is growing at good rate across the world.
The article informs about different milestones in growing children that can help parents in understanding and evaluating early symptoms of autism. According to Dr. Phil, some common expressions that parents can measure are: no excitement, joy or smile by six months means child is not engaging in communication; absence of interaction by nine months; no gabbling by twelve and no words by sixteen months. If child is not responding and interacting in communication shows the possibility of autism and require clinical help. Sometimes child respond properly at initial age but then their performance declined also show the warning signs, and parents should take expert advice (Phil).
Information:
The article presents very basic information on the autism and how parents can detect early signs of autism. The information presented in the article is very basic and not current as there are various signs that help in diagnostic autism especially repetitive behavior or pattern. Children suffering from the disorder are unable to process exact information, they follow repetitive patterns and like to be isolated, they lack in social communication and shows unique interest. Different screenings and tests can also be performed by the experts to understand the disorder (Phil).
Public will read this website because it is written by Dr. Philwho is renowned expert in the field of psychology. The language used in the article is simple and can be understood by normal people who do not have any knowledge of psychology. The website informs its readers about past as well present information on the subject, and is a reliable source.
Compare and Contrast
- Two sources cover on autism talk about different aspects associated with the autism spectrum disorder. Scholarly article is based on actual research study conducted to analyze reliability and validity of Autism Detection in Early Childhood (ADEC) screening tool. This study analyzed how ASD can be diagnosed at an early age when child is between 12 to 36 months by using ADEC. The article detailed out all the processes step-by-step that were carried out while conducting the research study. On the other hand, second article taken from Dr. Phill website is based on the knowledge and experience of the author. Internet source i.e. second article is not based on any empirical research study or actual data. The information presented in internet source is basic information that can not considered as actual information because information is not supported with any evidences or sources.
- Bothe sources i.e. research article and internet source are similar because both talk about autism. Research article inform about how parents can diagnose autism by using ADEC under the guidance of experts. Whereas, internet source also inform about how parents can diagnose autism disorder by closing observing certain symptoms that are common in children suffering from ASD. Both articles are talking about autism and inform different methods that parents or experts can use to screen the children suffering from autism. Both sources helped in understanding different symptoms that can be present in the children have risk of ASD.
Critical Thinking
(a) After reading these two sources, it becomes clear that autism affects children in different ways. Autism affects learning and growth of children in a considerable manner. It has been observed in a number of cases that youngsters who suffer from autism face difficulties in leading a normal life but this is not the universal law. There are many people who are living normal life mainly because they were provided effective treatment after recognizing the symptoms at an earlier stage.
Autism has certain symptoms and there are some methods that treat children if the disorder is recognized at early stages. Though it cannot be cured completely but substantial improvements can be made in children who suffer from this disorder if symptoms are traced at appropriate stage. Various methods of recognizing autism and treatment are available. Autism Detection in Early Childhood (ADEC) has emerged as a screening tool for autism. ADEC traces the symptoms in early years of childhood and helps in effective treatment of autism. There are countless beneficiaries of ADEC who lead a normal life today.
(b) ADEC was developed in the year 2007 as an effective tool of tracing autism. ADEC traces this disorder in children who are under three years of age. ADEC functions as level II clinical administered tool to help children who suffered from autism symptoms. Autism can impact any children irrespective of race, ethnicity or education of parents. However, it is observed that the boys are four times on higher risk of ASD as compare to girls, and the disorder affect children at their early age i.e. before 36 months.
Conclusion
After analyzing two articles on early detection of autism disorder, it is good to conclude that both articles provides good information on symptoms of autism and how parents or medical practitioners can diagnose the disorder. Over the past two to three decades the number of children suffering with autism has increased significantly, and boys are more impacted from the disorder as compare to girls. Parents who have nil or limited knowledge of autism face difficulty in understanding that their children are suffering from the disorder. Autism detection in early childhood is a new tool that can help parents and clinicians both in screening children have symptoms of autism. It is important for the parents to measure their children against different milestones of development such as social smile, laugh and responding to voices at certain age. Parents should consult experts if child is not responding to different forms of communications and not interacting with people.
References
Nah, Y.H., Young, R.L., Brewer, N., and Berlingeri, G. (2014). Autism Detection in Early Childhood (ADEC): Reliability and Validity Data for a Level 2 Screening Tool for Autistic Disorder. Psychological Assessment, 26(1), 215–226.
Phil, D. (n.d.). Autism Spectrum Disorder Early Warning Signs. Retrieved from www.drphil.com: http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/545
