Publications by authors named "Julie A Hess"

Individuals diagnosed with an intellectual disability (ID) share overlapping traits with those diagnosed with both ID and an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if caregivers' reports of symptoms of ASD are of value (i.e.

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Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are life-long developmental disorders characterized by impairments in the development of reciprocal social and communication skills, abnormal language development, and a restricted repertoire of behaviors and interests. While it has been known for some time that children with ASD can evince elevated rates of anxiety symptoms, little research has been conducted on whether deficits in communication skills affect the range of anxiety symptoms in infants and toddlers with ASD. This study represents a first attempt to determine whether deficits in communication skills have an effect on the expression of anxiety in infants and toddlers with autistic disorder and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified.

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Objective: Best assessment practices for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) incorporate both multimodal and multi-informant assessments. However, differences in symptoms reports from multiple informants can lead to diagnostic decision-making problems.

Methods: Thus, the purpose of this paper was to examine differences in the reports of symptoms of ASD between parents (i.

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A lack of toileting skills is one of many impairments that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience. Unfortunately, little research has focused on problems in this area including assessment, function, and treatment. A newly developed checklist, the Profile of Toileting Issues (POTI), is being considered for use to screen for toileting issues in this population, and to identify potential functions to target in treatment.

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Social skills are an important part of development, and deficits in this area have long-term impacts on a child. As a result, clinicians should include a measure of social skills as part of a comprehensive assessment. There are a few well-researched measures of social skills that are currently used, including the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters (MESSY).

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Purpose: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and seizures are highly comorbid conditions. However, little research has been done to examine this relationship. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effect that seizure disorder has on symptom presentation in children with autism spectrum disorders as compared to atypically developing children.

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Objective: Developmental profiles and milestone attainment have been examined for children suffering from various developmental disabilities. However, research comparing the same across numerous developmental disabilities is scant.

Method: Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine the developmental profiles of toddlers (i.

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This study examined whether the number of psychotropic medications an individual is taking across classes influences side effects among adults with Intellectual Disability (ID). Participants were 80 adults diagnosed with ID. Dependent variables were the composite score and domain scores of the Matson Evaluation of Drug Side-effects (MEDS), which is an instrument used to assess side effects.

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Purpose: Challenging behaviours are a commonly co-occuring problem in children with ASD and are often present during the toddler years. The relationship that these challenging behaviours have with core features of ASD, specifically social behaviours, was examined in this study.

Method: This study analysed the relationship between socialization and challenging behaviours among 153 toddlers with autism spectrum disorder.

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Objective: Due to the effectiveness of early intervention on the outcome of individuals with ASD, there is a race to identify children with ASD at younger ages. The Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits-Part 1 (BISCUIT-Part 1) is a new assessment tool designed to assess symptoms of ASD in children between the ages of 17-37 months. The aim of this study was to identify the factor structure of BISCUIT-Part 1 and investigate group differences with regards to these factors.

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Atypical antipsychotic medications are commonly used in large-scale residential care facilities for adults with developmental disabilities. While the benefits of this class of psychotropics are noted, debate exists whether the side effect profile of these medications outweigh their therapeutic benefit, especially in those who use them long-term. Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) is a movement disorder often caused by a history of neuroleptic use which can cause deleterious effects.

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The effect of developmental quotient on symptoms of inattention and impulsivity was examined among 198 toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorders. There were two levels of developmental quotient: (1) low (less than or equal to 70; n=80), and (2) typical (greater than 70; n=118). Symptoms of inattention and impulsivity were assessed using 14 items that comprise the BISCIUT-Part 2 inattention/impulsivity subscale.

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