RESUMO
Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder, which affects social communicative capabilities. The research study has shown that ASD studies are focused on young children, excluding adolescents and adults: and it is understudied in the context of South Africa. Objective: This study examined the interactional communication strategies of adolescents with ASD and health professionals during different treatment consultations to identify the interactional styles and communication strategies utilised by adolescents with ASD and their respective healthcare professionals in a variety of scenarios in order to generate management strategies for future healthcare professional communication training. Method: A multi-case study design with a qualitative research approach has been used. Four adolescents with a moderate form of ASD and four health practitioners were interviewed. Participants were chosen by purpose and snowball sampling. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were used for health professionals to collect information on the various interaction types and communication methods used, as well as their interpretations of these methods. Conversely, adapted face-to-face interviews were used to collect similar knowledge from adolescents themselves. The findings were qualitatively analysed on a case-by-case and cross-case basis by thematic analysis techniques. Results: The findings indicated that ASD adolescents have interaction types that influence intervention to various degrees. In comparison to motor therapies such as occupational therapy and physiotherapy, interaction types have a greater impact on psychiatry and psychology, which depend mainly on verbal communication. Intuitively, to promote contact with these teens, all health practitioners changed their own interaction styles. They used techniques of clarification and repair. The therapists shared the intention to learn a range of successful ways to strengthen future experiences with ASD between themselves and adolescents. Conclusion: The findings indicate that practitioners can benefit from altering their interaction styles, and that approaches for promoting successful interactions and in establishing rapport could be shared with other professionals in the future.
RESUMO
El desarrollo psicomotor se asociaría con la calidad de las interacciones entre el niño(a) y los adultos significativos, siendo un importante predictor de su salud física y mental. El estudio analizó el desarrollo psicomotor y el cambio en la interacción de los niños(as) con el personal educativo en la sala cuna, evaluado en cuatro mediciones durante quince meses. Se estudió a 97 niños(as) entre 8 y 24 meses de edad (primera medición) con los instrumentos E.E.D.P y TEPSI y al personal educativo con CARE-INDEX. Los resultados muestran que la cooperatividad aumenta significativamente a lo largo del tiempo, presentándose diferencias por sexo. El desarrollo psicomotor no presentó cambio significativo ni está asociado con los estilos interaccionales de los niños(as).
Psychomotor development would be associated with the quality of interactions between the child and the significant adults, being an important predictor of physical and mental health. The study analyzed the psychomotor development and change in the interaction of children with the nursery's faculty, evaluating four measurements for 15 months. We studied 97 children between 8 and 24 months of age (first measurement) with the E.E.D.P and the TEPSI. Faculty was assessed with the CARE-INDEX. Results show that cooperation increases significantly over time, with sex differences. Psycho-motor development didn't change significantly and is not associated with the interactional children's styles.