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Mobila Application Supporting Time Orientation for People with Autism
Deák, Jaromír ; Chrápek, David (referee) ; Beran, Vítězslav (advisor)
The aim of the project is to design graphical user interface, which helps autistic people with time orientation. The devised user interface follows the rules of Structured education. The main components of the mobile application are mobile schedule and digital clock accompanied by a story. Final user interface was tested by real users, who used the experimental application. Developed experimental application has been used for testing by real users. The tests offer important result: under the supervision, the autistic users are able to utilize the application. The utilisation of clock accompanied by a story is partly verified so far. The important finding is, that after some training, the designed and developed application is exploitable for autistic people.
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Influence of autism on facial morphology
Cenková, Klára ; Velemínská, Jana (advisor) ; Harnádková, Katarína (referee)
Autism (ASD) is a severe pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder with an as yet unclear etiology but increasing incidence. Early diagnosis and early initiation of therapy are crucial to the success of its treatment and to improving the quality of life of individuals with PAS. The identification of biomarkers in the form of specific facial features of individuals with autism can contribute significantly to facilitating diagnosis. These facial dysmorphologies have their basis in the prenatal period as a consequence of the common and interacting embryogenesis of the face and brain and reflect the neurodevelopmental basis of autism. Using special anthropometric methods, specific facial phenotypes can be determined, which can also be used to classify individuals with PAS into groups according to the severity of the disorder. Key words: Autism, facial dysmorphology, ASD, biomarkers, anthropometry
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Evaluation of phenotypic expression of proximal 15q chromosomal region amplifications
Duračková, Jana ; Slámová, Zuzana (advisor) ; Trková, Marie (referee)
Proximal region of the long arm of chromosome 15 (region 15q11-q13) is susceptible to occurence of deletions, duplications and inversions in the process of non-allelic homologous recombination due to the presence of five breaking points. Manifestation of these aberrations can differ depending on the parental origin of the derivative chromosome due to the presence of imprinted genes. Deletions of this region cause well-known disorders - Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes. Phenotypic features linked to amplifications of this region (autism, developmental delay, speech delay, epilepsy, hypotonia) are variable and these amplifications are often inherited from a healthy parent. This thesis concerns itself with evaluation of phenotypic expression of amplifications of chromosomal region 15q11.2q13.3 in terms of genotype-phenotype correlation with the aim to contribute to explanation of these recurrent findings. A cohort of 36 patients with a detected amplification of this region was divided into multiple groups according to various criteria - size and gene content of the amplification, parental origin of the amplification and the presence of a second detected variant. Within these groups, we also took the number of copies and the location of the amplified region (interstitial amplification/marker...
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The effect of the molecular weight of poly(I:C) on the development and behavior of offspring in the maternal immune activation model
Cmarková, Nathalie ; Brožka, Hana (advisor) ; Petrásek, Tomáš (referee)
Maternal inflammation during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of the development of psychiatric disorders in offspring, especially schizophrenia and autism. Prenatal treatment with poly(I:C), a viral mimetic, is a widely used model of maternal immune activation leading to developmental and behavioral alterations in offspring. However, results of studies are inconsistent possibly due to the differences in the molecular weight of used poly(I:C). In this thesis, the effect of different molecular weights of poly(I:C) was assessed. Pregnant Wistar rat females were treated by either high molecular weight (HMW) or low molecular weight (LMW) poly(I:C) on gestational day 14 to assess developmental and behavioral deficits relevant to schizophrenia and autism in offspring on postnatal day 12 and at three months. Prenatal exposition to the HMW poly(I:C) led to significantly reduced social behavior in the Homing test and a trend towards reduced USV vocalization in pups. The LMW pups showed significantly impaired negative geotaxis. In adulthood, the HMW and LMW offspring both exhibited significant social deficits and reduced anxiety. Anxiety was reduced mainly in the LMW group. This thesis revealed differences in behavioral outcomes between prenatal exposition to HMW and LMW poly(I:C). These...
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Challenging behaviour in pupils with intellectual disability and autism
Foord, Libuše ; Němec, Zbyněk (advisor) ; Hradilová, Tereza (referee)
The diploma thesis deals with challenging behaviour in pupils with intellectual disability and autism. The aim of the thesis is to map the current reality of education of these pupils through the statements of pedagogical staff from pre-schools and elementary schools established in accordance with section 16, paragraph 9 of the Education Act. The occurrence, frequency, intensity and specific manifestations of challenging behaviour are examined, as well as the underlying causes influencing challenging behaviour, prevention and preventative approaches, solutions to the occurrence and escalation. The theoretical part provides a comprehensive overview of the problem and challenging behaviour in our country and in the Anglo-Saxon world and it deals with approaches to challenging behaviour. It also focuses on autism, neurodiversity and intellectual disability. The research part defines the aim of the thesis, research questions and methodology. The research is carried qualitatively using semi-structured interviews. The results of the research draw on substantial statements of fourteen members of pedagogical staff. The conclusions of the work present a comprehensive picture of the challenging behaviour problematics. It is indicative of good practice, but also of lack of information and lack of support...
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Specifics of working with autistic clients in weekly residential care
ROZBOUDOVÁ, Markéta
The bachelor thesis deals with the specifics of the work with autistic clients in the weekly residential care of the Autis centrum, o.p.s. organization here in České Budějovice. The theoretical part of the thesis focuses mainly on the concept of autism and what is related to this concept. An integral part of the work is the introduction of the weekly residential care service provided by the organization. The practical part consists of qualitative research, which is carried out using semi-structured interviews with direct care workers in the weekly residential care.
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Differences in behavior and sociability depending on environmental enrichment in a rat model of autism
Tučková, Klára ; Petrásek, Tomáš (advisor) ; Svoboda, Jan (referee)
Autism spectrum disorders are among the most severe congenital neurodevelopmental disorders. Even though many known risk factors can induce ASD, the exact etiology is not known. This thesis focuses on different approaches to studying ASD in rodent models. The main goal of the experimental part of the thesis was to examine the manifestations of ASD in a rat genetic model of tuberous sclerosis (so-called Eker rat) and to determine the effect of different housing environments on autistic phenotype. The animals were studied for one year. We performed three series of behavioral tests at the age of 45, 90 and 365 days. Testing was focused on assessment of exploration, anxiety, and sociality. Our results showed that the activity in the open field was higher in young Eker rats. The anxiety displayed in the elevated plus maze was reduced in rats kept in an enriched environment. In social interaction, the enriched environment significantly increased self-grooming. We observed less complex self-grooming in Eker rats housed without environmental enrichment. Ultrasound communication varied significantly with age. We confirmed that the enriched environment had a significant effect on the behavior of rats, but we observed no strong differences in behavior caused by the Eker genotype. Key words: autism, Eker,...
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Early care of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
ŠINDELKOVÁ, Pavla
The number of children with or suspected of having an autism spectrum disorder has been increasing in recent years. Currently, the incidence of this disease in the population is estimated to be up to 1.7%. Early diagnosis is of great importance for the life of children with an autism spectrum disorder, enabling the introduction of appropriate interventions and methods at an early age of the child, which help the child to exercise his abilities and improve skills in problematic areas of development. Family care, cooperation of parents with professionals from various fields, or their mutual connection positively affects the therapeutic and educational process.
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Summer camps for children with autism spectrum disorders as a way of spending free time.
KŘEMENOVÁ, Lenka
This bachelor thesis is focused on the theme of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and spending leisure, specifically the summer camp as the possibility of spending free time for a person diagnosed with ASD. The theoretical part is focused on characteristics of autism spectrum disorder, historical development and basic classification of ASD according to International Classification of Diseases ICD-10. Following are characteristics of leisure, historical development of leisure and function and possibilities of spending free time. In the last theoretical chapter are described summer camps. The practical part is focused on two research objectives. The first research objective is identificacion of the approach of organizations preparing summer camps for children with autism spectrum disorder. Research goal is detected by survey which filled out 103 organizations that prepare summer camps for children with ASD. The second research objective of the practical part is presentation of chosen summer camp from the perspective of several actors. From the point of view of the organization management, the workers who prepare the summer camps for children with ASD and parents of children with ASD. This research goal was fulfilled per semi-structured interviews with the actors of the summer camp, specifically with the leaders of the organization, two workers of the organization and a mother of a child with an ASD.
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