The heterogeneity of ASD poses both challenges and opportunities to researchers: challenges, because there are likely to be many different causal factors and trajectories for ASD subtypes, and opportunities, because recognition of the variety of ASD phenotypes can lead to more appropriate diagnosis, more precisely targeted treatments and supports, and can increase public awareness about the diversity inherent in ASD.
We know that not all cases of ASD are the same. Researchers have learned that there are many factors that vary amongst the symptoms and the severity of the symptoms associated with ASDs. Other factors such as the age-of-onset, as well as the strengths and weaknesses that individuals with an ASD possess, also vary a great deal. ASD-CARC researchers believe that by identifying and studying these variable characteristics, also called “profiling”, we will be able to classify distinct subgroups of ASDs – subgroups that will have similar etiologies and respond to the same therapies or have the same support needs.
By studying Autism Profiles, we hope to identify different subgroups of ASD. These subgroups will provide clues that will help us understand some of the very earliest signs of developmental differences or anomalies.
We believe that the distinctive subgroups of ASDs may respond differently to a variety of treatments (e.g., dietary, ABA, educational strategies). Very careful clinical assessments will hopefully lead to our separating families into different subgroups based on subtle differences in the behaviour/symptoms and/or physical features of the affected individuals (i.e. through the creation of Autism Profiles).
It is important to learn whether genetic or environmental differences exist that could account for subgroups of ASDs, and the different responses to the variety of treatments and supports used with individuals with an ASD.
Since some characteristics are familial, rather than specific to an ASD, we encourage all family members to take part in all of our studies. This includes the individuals with ASD, parents and typically developing siblings or other family members.
In terms of physical features, researchers have found that abnormalities of ears are common in autism, but we know that not all children with autism have abnormal ears. If we study a subgroup of children with these ear anomalies, will these children have other characteristics in common that, together, might constitute a clinical subgroup or "Autism Profile"? Studying groups of children with ASD who share physical or behavioural features is more likely to give us a clearer picture of ASD "subgroups" than if we combine our findings on all children with ASD.
In order to identify physical differences that are not evident to the naked eye, we are using 3D-facial imaging to study the faces of individuals with ASDs and their family members. These cameras are located at some of our sites, as well as within the Mobile Labs. We have identified some differences in the faces of individuals with ASDs that are not detectable except through this technology and believe that this will lead us to better understanding early developmental differences that occur in the formation of the brain and facial features of persons with ASDs and related disorders.
It is also true that there are marked differences in the behavioural or neurophysiological characteristics in children and adults with ASDs. One subgroup of children may have, for example, gastrointestinal problems or sleep disorders. Ultimately, we want to compare each "subgroup" (defined on behavioural or physical features) using genetic studies, to determine whether there is a common clinical/behavioural profile associated with each set of genetic differences ("genotype") or environmental exposures.
Some of the behavioural characteristics we are interested in measuring in children with ASD are those being assessed through our on-line questionnaire studies (sleep problems, gastrointestinal and diet problems). All families are encouraged to participate in these on-line studies!
|SITE MAP STUDIES
|Q–GLO LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?
"Heterogeneity ya ASD inaweka changamoto na fursa kwa watafiti: changamoto, kwa sababu kuna uwezekano wa kuwa na sababu nyingi tofauti na trajectories kwa aina ndogo za ASD, na fursa, kwa sababu utambuzi wa aina mbalimbali za ASD za phenotypes inaweza kusababisha utambuzi sahihi zaidi, matibabu na msaada wa kulenga zaidi, na inaweza kuongeza ufahamu wa umma kuhusu utofauti wa asili wa ASD. """ Kwa kweli, sio kesi zote za ASD zinafanana. Watafiti wamegundua kuwa kuna sababu nyingi ambazo hutofautiana kati ya dalili na ukali wa dalili zinazohusiana na ASD. Vipengele vingine kama vile umri wa mwanzo, na vilevile nguvu na udhaifu ambao watu wenye ASD wana, pia hutofautiana sana. Watafiti wa ASD-CARC wanaamini kwamba kwa kutambua na kusoma sifa hizi tofauti, pia huitwa <unk>profiling<unk>, tutaweza kuainisha vikundi tofauti vya ASDs <unk> vikundi vidogo ambavyo vitakuwa na etiolojia sawa na kujibu matibabu sawa au kuwa na mahitaji sawa ya msaada. Kwa kusoma Profiles Autism, tunatumaini kutambua makundi tofauti ya ASD. Makundi haya madogo yatatupa vidokezo ambavyo vitatuwezesha kuelewa baadhi ya dalili za mapema zaidi za tofauti au kasoro za maendeleo. Kwa hivyo, kuna uwezekano kwamba aina tofauti za ASD zinaweza kujibu kwa njia tofauti kwa matibabu mbalimbali (kwa mfano, mkakati wa lishe, ABA, mikakati ya elimu). Kwa hivyo, kwa sababu ya uchunguzi wa kliniki, familia zinaweza kugawanywa katika vikundi tofauti kulingana na tofauti ndogo katika tabia, dalili na sifa za mwili za watu walioathirika. Kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano, kwa mfano. Ni muhimu kujua kama kuna tofauti za maumbile au mazingira ambazo zinaweza kuelezea vikundi vidogo vya ASD, na majibu tofauti kwa matibabu na msaada mbalimbali unaotumiwa na watu wenye ASD. Kwa kuwa baadhi ya sifa ni za familia, badala ya maalum kwa ASD, tunahimiza wanachama wote wa familia kushiriki katika masomo yetu yote. Hii inajumuisha watu wenye ASD, wazazi na ndugu na dada wanaositawi kwa kawaida au wanachama wengine wa familia. Kwa mujibu wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti, watoto wenye autism wana matatizo ya masikio, lakini sio watoto wote wenye autism wana matatizo ya masikio. Ikiwa tunasoma kikundi kidogo cha watoto wenye kasoro hizi za sikio, je, watoto hawa watakuwa na sifa nyingine za kawaida ambazo, pamoja, zinaweza kuunda kikundi kidogo cha kliniki au "Profile ya Autism"? Kujifunza makundi ya watoto wenye ASD ambao wanashiriki sifa za kimwili au tabia ni uwezekano mkubwa kutupa picha wazi ya "makundi madogo" ya ASD kuliko ikiwa tutaunganisha matokeo yetu kwa watoto wote wenye ASD. Ili kutambua tofauti za kimwili ambazo haziwezi kuonekana kwa jicho la kawaida, tunatumia picha za uso wa 3D kuchunguza nyuso za watu wenye ASD na wanafamilia zao. Kamera hizi ziko katika baadhi ya maeneo yetu, pamoja na ndani ya Maabara ya Simu. """Tumeona tofauti katika nyuso za watu wenye ASD ambazo haziwezi kugunduliwa isipokuwa kupitia teknolojia hii na tunaamini kwamba hii itatuongoza kuelewa vizuri tofauti za maendeleo ya mapema ambazo hutokea katika malezi ya ubongo na sifa za uso wa watu wenye ASD na matatizo yanayohusiana." Pia ni kweli kwamba kuna tofauti kubwa katika tabia au neurophysiological sifa katika watoto na watu wazima na ASDs. Kwa mfano, kikundi kimoja cha watoto kinaweza kuwa na matatizo ya tumbo au matatizo ya usingizi. Mwishowe, tunataka kulinganisha kila "kikundi kidogo" (kufafanuliwa kwa tabia au sifa za kimwili) kwa kutumia masomo ya maumbile, ili kuamua kama kuna profile ya kawaida ya kliniki au tabia inayohusishwa na kila seti ya tofauti za maumbile (genotype) au mwangaza wa mazingira. Baadhi ya tabia ya watoto wenye ASD ni pamoja na wale ambao wanaonekana kuwa na matatizo ya kulala, matatizo ya tumbo na matatizo ya lishe. Familia zote zinahimizwa kushiriki katika masomo hayo ya mtandaoni! <p>SITE MAP STUDIES <p>Q<unk>GLO KUTAFUTA KIMBO?