Testing the Labeling Effect in Autistic Children.

PURPOSE: Our objective was to test the labeling effect in autistic children. The effect has been robustly tested in typically developing (TD) individuals. TD children expect that any two objects that receive the same linguistic label will have similar properties, which suggests that they generate concepts based on acts of labeling. The labeling effect has not been tested on autistic children, who may not be equally attuned to the relevance of linguistic clues or may not generalize as swiftly as TD children. METHODS: We reproduced Graham et al.,'s (Frontiers in Psychology 10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00586, 2013) design on 30 autistic children of different ages. Participants were divided into two groups depending on whether objects presented to them were named alike or differently (Same or Distinct Label between-individuals condition). The dependent variable was the number of target actions the child performed on an object, depending on whether that object made the same sound as a previously shown test object. RESULTS: We did not reproduce results similar to those reported in Graham et al., (Frontiers in Psychology 10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00586, 2013). Children in the Same Label group did not perform significantly more actions than children in the Distinct Label group when the objects that were handed to the children did not make the same sound as the test object. CONCLUSIONS: Autistic children do not seem to be sensitive to the labeling effect to the same extent as TD children. If these results are confirmed, intervention programs for autistic children should consider trainings on this way of generating concepts shared by their linguistic community.

[Scientific evidence of sensory integration as an approach to occupational therapy in autism]. / Evidencia científica de integración sensorial como abordaje de terapia ocupacional en autismo.

This article briefly presents the theoretical and practical background of Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) and its application in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Historical criticisms on the evidence of ASI as a therapeutic intervention are reviewed and contemporary evidence is presented. According to standards established by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), an international organization that develops criteria for categorizing evidence-based practices, ASI is an evidence-based practice.

Este artículo presenta brevemente los antecedentes teóricos y prácticos de Integración Sensorial de Ayres (ASI, Ayres Sensory Integration) y su aplicación en el trastorno del espectro autista (TEA). Se revisan críticas históricas sobre la evidencia de ASI como intervención terapéutica y se presenta evidencia contemporánea. Según estándares establecidos por el Consejo para Niños Excepcionales (CEC, Council for Exceptional Children), organismo internacional que desarrolla criterios para categorizar prácticas basadas en la evidencia, ASI es una práctica basada en la evidencia.

Evidencia científica de integración sensorial como abordaje de terapia ocupacional en autismo / Scientific evidence of sensory integration as an approach to occupational therapy in autism

Este artículo presenta brevemente los antecedentes teóricos y prácticos de Integración Sensorial de Ayres (ASI, Ayres Sensory Integration) y su aplicación en el trastorno del espectro autista (TEA). Se revisan críticas históricas sobre la evidencia de ASI como intervención terapéutica y se presenta evidencia contemporánea. Según estándares establecidos por el Consejo para Niños Excepcionales (CEC, Council for Exceptional Children), organismo internacional que desarrolla criterios para categorizar prácticas basadas en la evidencia, ASI es una práctica basada en la evidencia.

This article briefly presents the theoretical and practical background of Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) and its application in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Historical criticisms on the evidence of ASI as a therapeutic intervention are reviewed and contemporary evidence is presented. According to standards established by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), an international organization that develops criteria for categorizing evidence-based practices, ASI is an evidence-based practice.