Selection of words for implementation of the Picture Exchange Communication System - PECS in non-verbal autistic children. / Seleção de vocábulos para implementação do Picture Exchange Communication System ­ PECS em autistas não verbais.

PURPOSE: It is known that some autistic individuals are considered non-verbal, since they are unable to use verbal language and barely use gestures to compensate for the absence of speech. Therefore, these individuals' ability to communicate may benefit from the use of the Picture Exchange Communication System - PECS. The objective of this study was to verify the most frequently used words in the implementation of PECS in autistic children, and on a complementary basis, to analyze the correlation between the frequency of these words and the rate of maladaptive behaviors. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. The sample was composed of 31 autistic children, twenty-five boys and six girls, aged between 5 and 10 years old. To identify the most frequently used words in the initial period of implementation of PECS, the Vocabulary Selection Worksheet was used. And to measure the rate of maladaptive behaviors, we applied the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). RESULTS: There was a significant prevalence of items in the category "food", followed by "activities" and "beverages". There was no correlation between the total amount of items identified by the families and the rate of maladaptive behaviors. CONCLUSION: The categories of words most mentioned by the families could be identified, and it was confirmed that the level of maladaptive behaviors did not interfere directly in the preparation of the vocabulary selection worksheet for the children studied.

Seleção de vocábulos para implementação do Picture Exchange Communication System – PECS em autistas não verbais / Selection of words for implementation of the Picture Exchange Communication System – PECS in non-verbal autistic children

RESUMO Objetivo Sabe-se que alguns autistas são considerados não verbais, uma vez que não são hábeis para utilizar o código linguístico. E tampouco usam gestos para compensar a ausência de fala. Sendo assim, a habilidade comunicativa desses indivíduos pode ser beneficiada pelo uso do sistema de comunicação alternativa Picture Exchange Communication System – PECS. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar os vocábulos mais frequentemente utilizados na implementação do PECS em crianças autistas. E, de forma complementar, analisar a correlação entre a frequência destes vocábulos e o índice de comportamentos não adaptativos. Método Trata-se de um estudo transversal. A amostra foi constituída por 31 crianças autistas, sendo vinte e cinco meninos e seis meninas, na faixa etária de 5 a 10 anos. Para identificação dos vocábulos mais frequentemente utilizados no período inicial de implementação do PECS, utilizamos a Planilha de Seleção de Vocabulário. E, para obtermos o índice de comportamentos não adaptativos, aplicamos o Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). Resultados Houve predomínio significativo de itens na categoria alimentos, seguido de atividade e bebidas. Não houve correlação entre o total de itens identificados pelas famílias com o índice de comportamentos não adaptativos. Conclusão Foi possível identificar as categorias de vocábulos mais mencionados pelas famílias e verificar que o índice de comportamentos não adaptativos não interferiu diretamente na elaboração da planilha de seleção de vocábulos das crianças estudadas.

ABSTRACT Purpose It is known that some autistic individuals are considered non-verbal, since they are unable to use verbal language and barely use gestures to compensate for the absence of speech. Therefore, these individuals’ ability to communicate may benefit from the use of the Picture Exchange Communication System – PECS. The objective of this study was to verify the most frequently used words in the implementation of PECS in autistic children, and on a complementary basis, to analyze the correlation between the frequency of these words and the rate of maladaptive behaviors. Methods This is a cross-sectional study. The sample was composed of 31 autistic children, twenty-five boys and six girls, aged between 5 and 10 years old. To identify the most frequently used words in the initial period of implementation of PECS, the Vocabulary Selection Worksheet was used. And to measure the rate of maladaptive behaviors, we applied the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). Results There was a significant prevalence of items in the category “food”, followed by “activities” and “beverages”. There was no correlation between the total amount of items identified by the families and the rate of maladaptive behaviors. Conclusion The categories of words most mentioned by the families could be identified, and it was confirmed that the level of maladaptive behaviors did not interfere directly in the preparation of the vocabulary selection worksheet for the children studied.

Comparative study of the imitation ability in Specific Language Impairment and Autism Spectrum Impairment.

PURPOSE: To compare abilities of imitating generic and sequential motion gesture schemes in family routines among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Specific Language Impairment (SLI) and to analyze the relation between imitation index and verbal production in the ASD group. METHODS: The sample was constituted by 2:1 pairing of 36 children, according to gender and age. All of them were diagnosed by a multidisciplinary team as belonging to the ASD group (n=24) or SLI group (n=12) and were under direct and indirect intervention in a school clinic. We have used the stage of imitation of the Assessment of Symbolic Maturity, which entails the imitation of nine generic and three sequential motion gesture schemes. RESULTS: There was a tendency to a better performance of the SLI group at imitating both generic and sequential gesture schemes. As we have related the ability of imitation to the verbal production in the ASD group, a direct relation between the production of phrases and the imitation of sequential schemes was detected. CONCLUSION: The ability to imitate gesture and sequential schemes could be compared, and a more prominent impairment was identified in children with autism. Among them, a direct significant relationship between the ability of imitating sequential gesture schemes in family routine and verbal production of words and sentences was verified.

Comparative study of the imitation ability in Specific Language Impairment and Autism Spectrum Impairment / Estudo comparativo da habilidade de imitação no Transtorno Específico de Linguagem e no Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo

Purpose: To compare abilities of imitating generic and sequential motion gesture schemes in family routines among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Specific Language Impairment (SLI) and to analyze the relation between imitation index and verbal production in the ASD group. Methods: The sample was constituted by 2:1 pairing of 36 children, according to gender and age. All of them were diagnosed by a multidisciplinary team as belonging to the ASD group (n=24) or SLI group (n=12) and were under direct and indirect intervention in a school clinic. We have used the stage of imitation of the Assessment of Symbolic Maturity, which entails the imitation of nine generic and three sequential motion gesture schemes. Results: There was a tendency to a better performance of the SLI group at imitating both generic and sequential gesture schemes. As we have related the ability of imitation to the verbal production in the ASD group, a direct relation between the production of phrases and the imitation of sequential schemes was detected. Conclusion: The ability to imitate gesture and sequential schemes could be compared, and a more prominent impairment was identified in children with autism. Among them, a direct significant relationship between the ability of imitating sequential gesture schemes in family routine and verbal production of words and sentences was verified. .

Objetivo: Comparar as habilidades de imitação de esquemas gestuais simples e de sequências de ações em rotinas familiares de crianças com Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo (TEA) e com Transtorno Específico de Linguagem e Fala (TEL) e analisar a relação entre o índice de imitação e a produção verbal das crianças do Grupo TEA. Métodos: A amostra foi constituída pelo pareamento 2:1 de 36 crianças, de acordo com gênero e faixa etária. Todas foram diagnosticadas por equipe multidisciplinar como pertencentes ao Grupo TEA (n=24) ou grupo TEL (n=12) e atendidas em intervenção direta e indireta em clínicaescola. Utilizamos a etapa de imitação da Avaliação da Maturidade Simbólica, que compreende a imitação de nove esquemas gestuais simples e de três esquemas gestuais sequenciais. Resultados: Observamos tendência de melhor desempenho do Grupo TEL na imitação de esquemas gestuais tanto simples como sequenciais. Ao relacionarmos a habilidade de imitação à produção verbal do Grupo TEA, verificamos relação direta entre produção de frases e imitação de esquemas sequenciais. Conclusão: Foi possível comparar a habilidade de imitação gestual e de esquema sequencial e verificar maior comprometimento de desempenho nas crianças com diagnóstico compatível com o Espectro do Autismo. Dentre estas, verificouse relação direta significativa entre a habilidade de imitação de sequências de rotinas familiares e a produção verbal de palavras e frases. .

Long-term favorable results by arteriovenous graft with Omniflow II prosthesis for hemodialysis.

AIMS AND METHODS: In order to decrease arteriovenous graft (AVG) failure and improve long-term patency, we used Omniflow II to perform AVG for hemodialysis access in 38 patients with very compromised vessels who were not suitable for other forms of AVG. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 38 (range 6-55) months, 31/38 (81%) patients were still alive. At 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, the primary patency was 83, 80, 68 and 60%, whereas the secondary patency was 92, 83, 78 and 75%,respectively [corrected].The cumulative 38-month prosthetic AVG patency was 70%. No infective event related to the vascular prosthesis occurred. Neither AVG thrombosis nor modifications in thrombophilic pattern were observed; these findings confirm the high hemocompatibility of this prosthetic vascular device. CONCLUSION: Our experience is extremely encouraging for the use of new biosynthetic devices such as Omniflow II.