Publications by authors named "Alena Clark"
Natural Language Sampling (NLS) offers clear potential for communication and language assessment, where other data might be difficult to interpret. We leveraged existing primary data for 18-month-olds showing early signs of autism, to examine the reliability and concurrent construct validity of NLS-derived measures coded from video-of child language, parent linguistic input, and dyadic balance of communicative interaction-against standardised assessment scores. Using Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT) software and coding conventions, masked coders achieved good-to-excellent inter-rater agreement across all measures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: Intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) typically commences after diagnosis. No trial of an intervention administered to infants before diagnosis has shown an effect on diagnostic outcomes to date.
Objective: To determine the efficacy of a preemptive intervention for ASD beginning during the prodromal period.
Background & Aims: Maternal gestational infection is a well-characterized risk factor for offsprings' development of mental disorders including schizophrenia, autism, and attention deficit disorder. The inflammatory response elicited by the infection is partly directed against the placenta and fetus and is the putative pathogenic mechanism for fetal brain developmental abnormalities. Fetal brain abnormalities are generally irreversible after birth and increase risk for later mental disorders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCholine, folic acid, and Vitamin D are essential for fetal brain development that may be the first steps in the pathogenesis of the psychotic spectrum. Micronutrient deficiencies have been associated with changes in fetal brain development, manifest as early problems in childhood behavior, and cognition, and later as increased incidence of psychotic and autism spectrum disorders. Micronutrient supplements may not only prevent deficiency, but they may also positively affect brain development in the context of other maternal risk factors, including maternal infection, stress, inflammation, and substance abuse.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Great interest exists in the potential efficacy of prediagnostic interventions within the autism spectrum disorder prodrome, but available evidence relates to children at high familial risk. We aimed to test the efficacy of a pre-emptive intervention designed for infants showing early behavioural signs of autism spectrum disorder.
Methods: In this single-blind, randomised controlled trial done at two specialist centres in Australia, infants aged 9-14 months were enrolled if they were showing at least three early behavioural signs of autism spectrum disorder on the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance-Revised (SACS-R) 12-month checklist.
Background: Research has shown that women with low socioeconomic status and lack of breastfeeding support often breastfeed for shorter durations. Little research has been done on the effects of a breastfeeding peer support program for women from middle- to high-socioeconomic status.
Objective: The objective of this project was to determine whether a breastfeeding peer support program would increase breastfeeding duration rates among middle- to high-socioeconomic status women.
Objective: This study assessed current meal planning/cooking behaviors and dietary intake of individuals with severe mental illnesses and determined differences after a 6-week nutrition education cooking class.
Method: Eighteen individuals with severe mental illnesses participated in a 6-week nutrition education cooking class and completed pre- and posttest 24-hr recalls and a postretrospective survey. Paired samples t tests were used.
Objective: This project describes the development of a protocol that compared issuing multi-user electric breast pumps to single-user breast pumps for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) participants.
Methods: Forty breastfeeding mothers participating in WIC who were separated from their infants ≥30 hours a week, planned to offer breastmilk until their infants turned 1 year, and used a WIC-loaned electric breast pump for at least 1 month were enrolled in the project.
Results: Results of this project indicate that an appropriate protocol to administer single-user electric breast pumps was developed and may provide some benefits to both WIC and WIC mothers.
Objective: Determine child care providers' infant feeding knowledge, attitude and behavior changes after viewing the infant feeding Web site and determine the effectiveness of the Web site and bilingual educational materials.
Design: Intervention and control groups completed an on-line pretest survey, viewed a Web site for 3 months, and completed an on-line posttest survey; follow-up data were also assessed.
Setting: Colorado child care centers.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and training needs of child care providers on infant feeding practices, specifically breastfeeding.
Methods: Needs assessment surveys for child care directors and infant room teachers were developed, tested and mailed to the 277 Colorado child care centers licensed to care for infants (< or = 12 months); 1,385 surveys were mailed.
Results: A total of 267 surveys were received for an overall response rate of 20%.