• 대한감각통합치료학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.48-59
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• 2022

목적 : 본 연구는 자폐스펙트럼장애 아동을 대상으로 국내에서 제공되는 감각통합중재 방법을 체계적으로 고찰하여 중재효과를 제시하고자 하였다. 연구방법 : 연구대상은 2011년 1월부터 2020년 12월까지 최근 10년간 국내 학회지에 게재된 연구로 하였다. 검색에 사용된 데이터베이스는 학술연구정보서비스(RISS)와 디비피아(DBpia)이었다. 검색어는 '자폐', '자폐스펙트럼', '감각통합', '중재'이었다. 분석에 사용된 연구는 총 10개로, 연구 근거의 질적수준과 방법론적 질적수준으로 분석하였고, 결과는 대상자, 중재, 대조, 결과의 PICO(Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome)로 제시하였다. 결과 : 연구분석에서 근거의 질적 수준은 수준 IV가 가장 높았고, 다음으로 수준 II 이었다. 근거의 방법론적 질적 수준은 '우수'의 연구가 가장 많았고, 다음으로는 '보통'이었다. 연구대상자는 자폐스펙트럼장애아동과 부모이었고, 실험설계는 단일대상연구 빈도가 가장 높았다. 중재는 적응행동과 감각조절을 확인하는 연구가 가장 많았고, 중재측정을 위해 사용된 평가도구는 감각프로파일(Sensory Profile)과 캐나다작업수행측정(Canadian Occupational Performance Measure; COPM)의 빈도가 가장 높았다. 분석에 사용된 10개의 모든 연구에서 감각통합중재로 인해 다양한 결과 값에 긍정적인 향상 및 통계학적으로 유의한 효과를 보였다. 결론 : 최근의 임상환경에서 자폐스펙트럼장애 아동을 대상으로 감각통합중재는 지속적으로 이루어져왔다. 앞으로의 연구에서는 다양한 감각통합중재방법과 근거의 질적 수준이 높은 연구가 이루어지는 것이 필요하다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제63권9호
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• pp.368-372
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• 2020

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined by impairments in social interaction and verbal and nonverbal communication. Purpose: Determine the association between use of assisted reproduction technology (ART) and the risk of ASD among children. Methods: This case-control study included 300 participants (100 cases, 200 controls). The control group included women with a child aged 2-10 years without ASD, while the cases were women with a child aged 2-10 years with ASD. We used a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Stata ver. 14 at the 0.05 significance level. Results: In the univariate analysis, there was significant association between child sex, delivery mode, history of preterm delivery, history of using ART, and maternal age at child's birth and the risk of ASD. After the adjustment for other variables, this association was significant for male sex (2.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-4.31; P=0.001) and history of using ART (4.03; 95% CI, 1.76-9.21; P=0.001). Therefore, after the adjustment for confounder variables, there was no significant association between ART and the risk of ASD among children (4.98; 95% CI, 0.91-27.30; P=0.065). Conclusion: After the adjustment for other variables, risk factors for ASD were male sex and history preterm delivery. Thus, there was no significant association between ART and the risk of ASD among children.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.105-120
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• 2020

Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social impairments, patients with ASD frequently manifest atypical sensory behaviors. Recently, atypical sensory perception in ASD has received much attention, yet little is known about its cause or neurobiology. Herein, we review the findings from neuroimaging studies related to visual perception in ASD. Specifically, we examined the neural underpinnings of visual detection, motion perception, and face processing in ASD. Results from neuroimaging studies indicate that atypical visual perception in ASD may be influenced by attention or higher order cognitive mechanisms, and atypical face perception may be affected by disrupted social brain network. However, there is considerable evidence for atypical early visual processing in ASD. It is likely that visual perceptual abnormalities are independent of deficits of social functions or cognition. Importantly, atypical visual perception in ASD may enhance difficulties in dealing with complex and subtle social stimuli, or improve outstanding abilities in certain fields in individuals with Savant syndrome. Thus, future research is required to elucidate the characteristics and neurobiology of autistic visual perception to effectively apply these findings in the interventions of ASD.

• 말소리와 음성과학
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.53-59
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• 2023

Detection of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on speech has relied on predefined feature sets due to their ease of use and the capabilities of speech analysis. However, clinical impressions may not be adequately captured due to the broad range and the large number of features included. This paper demonstrates that the knowledge-driven speech features (KDSFs) specifically tailored to the speech traits of ASD are more effective and efficient for detecting speech of ASD children from that of children with typical development (TD) than a predefined feature set, extended Geneva Minimalistic Acoustic Standard Parameter Set (eGeMAPS). The KDSFs encompass various speech characteristics related to frequency, voice quality, speech rate, and spectral features, that have been identified as corresponding to certain of their distinctive attributes of them. The speech dataset used for the experiments consists of 63 ASD children and 9 TD children. To alleviate the imbalance in the number of training utterances, a data augmentation technique was applied to TD children's utterances. The support vector machine (SVM) classifier trained with the KDSFs achieved an accuracy of 91.25%, surpassing the 88.08% obtained using the predefined set. This result underscores the importance of incorporating domain knowledge in the development of speech technologies for individuals with disorders.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.57-65
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• 2024

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be associated with eating problems. However, currently, there is a lack of established guidelines for assessing and addressing eating behaviors in individuals with ASD. This gap in research exists due to the challenges associated with using traditional assessment methods, which may lead to discrepancies in responses and unintentional potential biases from caregivers. In this review, we provided a comprehensive overview of various eating behaviors commonly observed in individuals with ASD. These behaviors include 1) food neophobia, 2) selective eating, 3) binge eating, 4) food avoidance, 5) chewing and swallowing problems, 6) pica, 7) rumination, 8) rituals, and 9) problematic behaviors. Furthermore, we provide a perspective of utilizing digital tools: 1) augmentative and alternative communication; 2) ecological momentary assessment; and 3) video analysis, behavioral analysis, and facial expression analysis. This review explores existing assessment methods and suggests novel assessment aiding together.

• ETRI Journal
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.613-623
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• 2022

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder associated with cognitive and neurobehavioral disorders. It affects the person's behavior and performance. Autism affects verbal and non-verbal communication in social interactions. Early screening and diagnosis of ASD are essential and helpful for early educational planning and treatment, the provision of family support, and for providing appropriate medical support for the child on time. Thus, developing automated methods for diagnosing ASD is becoming an essential need. Herein, we investigate using various machine learning methods to build predictive models for diagnosing ASD in children using facial images. To achieve this, we used an autistic children dataset containing 2936 facial images of children with autism and typical children. In application, we used classical machine learning methods, such as support vector machine and random forest. In addition to using deep-learning methods, we used a state-of-the-art method, that is, automated machine learning (AutoML). We compared the results obtained from the existing techniques. Consequently, we obtained that AutoML achieved the highest performance of approximately 96% accuracy via the Hyperpot and tree-based pipeline optimization tool optimization. Furthermore, AutoML methods enabled us to easily find the best parameter settings without any human efforts for feature engineering.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.309-316
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• 2024

Due to rapid socio-economic development and environmental changes, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the context of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and high-functioning autism, has become a significant social issue. This issue is increasingly recognized from a societal perspective rather than just an individual or family problem. But there remains a lack of information in frontline education. Traditionally, treatment for ASD has been conducted in specialized institutions, or by professional doctors, therapists, and counselors. There are still several challenges such as 1) accessibility to hospitals and transportation for children with ASD, 2) the maturity and competence of therapists, and 3) the lack of appropriate educational content. To solve these problems, we propose a supplementary 3D educational game process for children with high-functioning autism that utilize speech recognition technology and games designed for continuous and repetitive learning. Our proposed game content can be used at home, which incorporates Speech-To-Text (STT) technology and mini-games to help children indirectly experience and learn to handle unexpected real-life situations. With this approach, we will expect that the children can develop social skills and enhance the efficiency of their treatment.

• 대한감각통합치료학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.30-42
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• 2019

목적 : 본 연구는 자해행동을 보이는 자폐스펙트럼장애의 비약물적 치료 중심으로 실시한 연구를 대상으로 체계적으로 분석하여 작업치료 임상현장에서 동일한 문제를 보이는 자폐스펙트럼장애 아동에게 적절한 서비스를 제공하기 위한 근거를 마련하고자 한다. 연구방법 : 전자데이터 베이스인 PubMed, Medline, DBpia, RISS, KISS, NDSL을 사용하여 2008년 10월부터 2018년 11월까지 국내외 학회지에 게재된 연구를 대상으로 검색하였다. 주요 용어는"(Autism OR Autism Spectrum Disorder) AND (Therapy OR Treatment OR Intervention) AND (Self Injurious Behavior)"으로 검색하였고, PICO형식과 근거수준을 사용해 분석하였다. 연구결과 : 총 12편의 논문이 선정되었고, 근거의 질적 수준은 대상연구 논문 12편 중 수준 IV와 수준 V가 가장 많았으며, 실험설계는 단일대상연구가 많았다. 중재의 종류는 행동치료가 가장 많았다. 분석결과 자폐스펙트럼장애의 자해행동은 행동치료와 뇌자극 및 조절기법, 행동치료와 병행한 감각통합치료로 자해행동을 감소시켰으며 통계적으로도 유의한 결과를 보였다. 결론 : 자해행동을 보이는 자폐스펙트럼 장애 아동에게 적용한 비약물적 중재에 대한 근거자료를 제시하였다. 앞으로 자폐스펙트럼 장애 아동의 자해행동에 대한 중재효과성을 증명하기 위하여 근거수준이 높은 연구 설계와 다양한 비약물적 중재간의 차이점을 밝히는 연구가 지속적으로 이루어져야 할 것이다.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.117-124
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• 2023

Savant syndrome was described before autism. However, they soon became closely associated, as many of their symptoms (intellectual disability, repetitive behaviors, alterations in social communication, and islets of abilities) overlap. Only a few women with autism have been diagnosed with savant syndrome. The theories or hypotheses that attempt to explain savant syndrome, which are common in autism, present differential treatment according to sex. We postulate that savant syndrome associated with autism as well as autism in general is underdiagnosed in women.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.213-219
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• 2017

Objectives: Early intensive interventions are very important for children with autism spectrum disorder. We examined the actual conditions of hospital-based early intensive interventions for autism spectrum disorder in Seoul, in order to help develop and implement an evidence-based early intensive intervention model for use in Korea. Methods: Nine hospital-based institutes running an early intensive intervention program for children with autism spectrum disorder responded to a questionnaire in September 2014. They provided a brief introduction to their program, explained its theoretical bases, and reported the number of children, their age, intervention time, duration and so on. Results: In the majority of the institutions, the intervention was provided for over 20 hours every week, and the theoretical bases included various applied behavioral analysis (ABA) methods and other therapies (language and occupational therapy). The therapist-child ratio ranged from 1:1 to 5:3. Various types of therapists were involved, including behavioral analysts, special education teachers and (or) language pathologists. There was only one clinic where the behavioral analyst was the main therapist. Usually, the intervention was terminated just before the child entered elementary school. The main merit of the hospital-based intervention in our survey was the effectiveness of the multi-disciplinary intervention plan and its other merits were the accuracy of the diagnosis, its ability to be combined with medicine, and so on. Conclusion: The current hospital-based early intensive intervention programs provide interventions for over 20 hours per week and employ multidisciplinary approaches. However, there are very few institutes for children with autism and very few intervention specialists and specialist education courses in the country. We need more educational programs for intervention therapists and have to try to develop policies which encourage the implementation of an evidence-based early intensive intervention program nationwide.