In particular , there is little evidence that the identified tools would be good at detecting change in intervention studies .
The obvious gaps in available outcome measurement include well-being and participation outcomes for children , and family quality -of-life outcomes , domains particularly valued by our informants ( young people with ASD and parents ) .
This is the first systematic review of the quality and appropriateness of tools design ed to monitor progress and outcomes of young children with ASD .
BACKGROUND The needs of children with autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) are complex and this is reflected in the number and diversity of outcomes assessed and measurement tools used to collect evidence about children 's progress .
Relevant outcomes include improvement in core ASD impairments , such as communication , social awareness , sensory sensitivities and repetitiveness ; skills such as social functioning and play ; participation outcomes such as social inclusion ; and parent and family impact .
OBJECTIVES To examine the measurement properties of tools used to measure progress and outcomes in children with ASD up to the age of 6 years .
To identify outcome areas regarded as important by people with ASD and parents .
Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation in children with autism and its impact on plasma levels of arginine-vasopressin and oxytocin: a prospective single-blinded controlled study.
Acupuncture increases brain levels of arginine-vasopressin ( AVP ) and oxytocin ( OXT ) , which are known to be involved in the modulation of mammalian social behavior . Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation ( TEAS ) is often used clinical ly to produce a similar stimulation to that of acupuncture on the acupoints . In the present study , TEAS was applied to children with autism to assess its therapeutic efficacy . Seventy-six autistic children receiving rehabilitation training were divided into 2 groups : a treatment group receiving TEAS 30min per day , 5 days per week for 12 weeks ( n=37 ) and a control group without TEAS treatment ( n=39 ) . A series of rating scales was used in outcome assessment . Plasma levels of AVP and OXT were determined by enzyme immunoassay ( EIA ) before and after treatment . The TEAS group showed a significant improvement over the control in their emotional response , fear or anxiety , level/consistency of intellective relations and general impressions on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale ( CARS ) as well as improvements in the sensory and related factors in the Autism Behavior Checklist ( ABC ) . In addition , the varieties of accepted food increased after TEAS treatment . It appears that TEAS was effective in autistic children who showed passive and aloof behavior , but not in those who were active but odd . The plasma level of AVP was significantly higher in the TEAS group than in the control group after the intervention . In addition , the change in the plasma AVP level paralleled the improvement of some of the behavior factors in CARS , including adaptation to environmental change , listening response , perceptive response and fear or anxiety . It is concluded that TEAS is effective for the treatment of autistic children with a passive and aloof social interaction style . Changes in plasma levels of AVP and possibly OXT may be involved in mediating the therapeutic effect of TEAS
In particular , there is little evidence that the identified tools would be good at detecting change in intervention studies .
The obvious gaps in available outcome measurement include well-being and participation outcomes for children , and family quality -of-life outcomes , domains particularly valued by our informants ( young people with ASD and parents ) .
This is the first systematic review of the quality and appropriateness of tools design ed to monitor progress and outcomes of young children with ASD .
BACKGROUND The needs of children with autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) are complex and this is reflected in the number and diversity of outcomes assessed and measurement tools used to collect evidence about children 's progress .
Relevant outcomes include improvement in core ASD impairments , such as communication , social awareness , sensory sensitivities and repetitiveness ; skills such as social functioning and play ; participation outcomes such as social inclusion ; and parent and family impact .
OBJECTIVES To examine the measurement properties of tools used to measure progress and outcomes in children with ASD up to the age of 6 years .
To identify outcome areas regarded as important by people with ASD and parents .