The risk of school bullying triples in autistic children

A URV research project has studied the prevalence of autistic spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in school-age children and how these conditions affect their social relationships
A research project has studied the prevalence of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in school-age children and how these conditions affect their social relationships.

A research team from the URV’s Nutrition and Mental Health group has studied the prevalence of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in schoolchildren in the Tarragona region. The research, which also determined how these disorders affect children’s social relationships, collected data on 7,000 pupils, of whom 700 were studied in detail. The results determined that 1.5% of the children had autism, while 5% were diagnosed with ADHD.

In the first part of the study, they screened more than 7,000 children in two age groups, namely pupils in the fourth year of Infant Education and pupils in the fifth year of Primary Education (PE), from a representative sample of the whole province. Employing tests answered by teachers and families, they identified those cases with signs of presenting either of the two disorders. From the screening, a sample of 700 children, including a control group, was selected to evaluate the correct functioning of the methodology.

After conducting interviews with the children and their families and studying all the cases individually, the researchers determined that, of the children in the sample, 1.5% had autism and 5% had ADHD. “We also assessed other children with difficulties but who fell outside the diagnosis because they did not have all the symptoms. If we include them, we can say that 3.5% of children had some symptom of autism”, asserted the researchers.

Another aim of the research was to determine whether and to what extent infants diagnosed with any of these disorders feel socially disadvantaged. The researchers found that 35% of primary school children with ADHD reported experiencing some form of bullying, isolation or social exclusion. “This phenomenon is aggravated in children with combined ADHD, i.e. with all the typical symptoms: attention deficit, hyperactivity and impulsivity,” explained Núria Voltas.

The researchers also found that 58% of autistic children, who are characterised by behavioural problems and difficulties in social interaction and communication, felt displaced and excluded.

The research also revealed that in cases with both disorders, i.e. those with comorbid disorders, there was a stronger feeling of social isolation. These results do not refer to autistic children and ADHD in the fourth year of Infant Education as they are not mature enough to answer the tests on their perception of victimisation by bullying.

“Bullying has long-lasting consequences and increases the feeling of fear towards social relationships; having autism or ADHD and feeling victimised increases emotional problems”, says Fina Canals. When these people grow up and enter adolescence and adulthood, they present “very high rates of mental health disorders” and a “high risk of suicide”. For this reason, the authors of the research call for anti-bullying programmes to include specific measures for at-risk groups.

The research also revealed that in cases with both disorders, i.e. those with comorbid disorders, there was a stronger feeling of social isolation. These results do not refer to children with autism and ADHD in the fourth year of Infant Education as they are not mature enough to answer the tests on their perception of victimisation by bullying.

The research also revealed that in cases with both disorders, i.e. those with comorbid disorders, there was a stronger feeling of social isolation. These results do not refer to autistic children and ADHD in the fourth year of Infant Education as they are not mature enough to answer the tests on their perception of victimisation by bullying.

“Bullying has long-lasting consequences and increases the feeling of fear towards social relationships; having autism or ADHD and feeling victimised increases emotional problems”, says Fina Canals. When these people grow up and enter adolescence and adulthood, they present “very high rates of mental health disorders” and a “high risk of suicide”. For this reason, the authors of the research call for anti-bullying programmes to include specific measures for at-risk groups.

The research also revealed that in cases with both disorders, i.e. those with comorbid disorders, there was a stronger feeling of social isolation. These results do not refer to autistic children and ADHD in the fourth year of Infant Education as they are not mature enough to answer the tests on their perception of victimisation by bullying.

“He’s Autistic; He Deserved It Say Parents Of Bullies” – How do we stop the bullying of autistic people?




"He's Autistic; He Deserved It Say Parents Of Bullies"

“He’s Autistic; He Deserved It Say Parents Of Bullies”




I found this video both despicable and shocking.

And find myself at loss for words.

So how do we stop the abuse?  Do you have any ideas?

Thanks in advance.




 

 

Bullying gets worse as children with autism get older

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to experience bullying than children without ASD and this bullying gets worse with age, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Hannah Morton, a graduate student in the clinical psychology PhD program at Binghamton University, aimed to conceptualize bullying in children with ASD in order to specifically identify different bullying and behavior types. Her research also emphasizes the need to establish better definitions of bullying behaviors.

“This research is important because it contributes to our understanding of how bullying is nuanced,” said Morton. “This variability means it is crucial to establish a definition for bullying and have standard assessments to know when and what types of bullying are occurring.”

Morton, along with Binghamton psychologists Jennifer Gillis, Richard Mattson and Raymond Romanczyk, focused this study on teachers and parents of children with ASD, and community members without an ASD child. Participants took a survey containing 80 scenarios of interactions between two school-aged children. The scenarios varied from children ages four to fifteen. Sixty-four of these scenarios contained a type of bullying behavior (i.e. physical, verbal, interpersonal and cyber). The participants were randomly presented with 16 scenarios, and were asked to rate the severity of the interaction between the two children, as well as indicate which types of bullying were present.

Results showed that a child’s increased age predicted higher bullying severity ratings. The findings also showed that bullying among older children with ASD is viewed as especially problematic by their parents, and that perceived bullying severity differed according to the type of bullying behavior (i.e., physical, verbal, interpersonal, and cyber). 

“This paper emphasizes that bullying is a really broad construct,” said Morton. “What any two people might be referring to when they use the term ‘bullying’—regardless if they are parents, teachers, researchers, etc.— likely differs, and perhaps in subtle ways.”

Morton plans to further her research on this topic by focusing specifically on the bullying behaviors that children with ASD experience compared to children without ASD.

This research was conducted through Binghamton University’s Institute for Child Development, which offers early intervention services, speech services and more to children and families in the Binghamton region. 

The paper, “Conceptualizing bullying in children with autism spectrum disorder: Using a mixed model to differentiate behavior types and identify predictors,” was published in Autism.

Teacher charged with humiliating student with autism in Phoenix – This is just sick




Image result for Teacher charged with humiliating student with autism in Phoenix




A teacher at a west Phoenix school was arrested and charged because police said she put the eraser of a pencil in between an autistic student’s butt cheeks but parents are just finding out about it now.