COST project entitled ESSEA (Enhancing the Scientific Study of Early Autism) (2010-2014) is aimed to establish an interdisciplinary scientific European network to improve the detection of the earliest signs of autism, as well as to combine techniques from cognitive neuroscience with those from clinical sciences in order to establish practice guidelines on early identification and intervention of autism. The Macedonian team that actively participates in this project is composed of four participants: Acad. N. Pop-Jordanova, S. Markovska-Simoska PhD T. Zorcec, PhD and Prof. V. Trajkovski.
The latest activity in this project was to obtain information about the usual early treatment in each country. For this aim, a questionnaire concerning the early treatment procedures used in each country have been translated and distributed to parents of children, younger than 6 years, with diagnosis ASD. Responses from 16 European countries, including Macedonia were obtained. I find it interesting to announce to our colleagues some of the obtained results. The questionnaire was distributed online in the period of 1. 5 month, in the autumn of 2012, through parents' organizations, or by direct contact with parents of autistic children. From 16 countries, 2438 respondents filled in the questionnaire. Only 1681 (83%) of the questionnaires that were complete were included in the analysis.
The children as a target group are estimated to be ~5% of the total population in Europe, and the children with autism are estimated to be around 1%. 30 questionnaires have been obtained from Macedonia that estimates that the target population is 2. 91%. The average age of evaluated children was 58. 1 months (SD 14. 2), and the age of diagnosis was 38.8 months (SD 12. 9). Mothers were respondents in 83% of the questionnaires, and 63% of them were with university degree of education. The verbal ability of these children was described as "simple phrase speech" (the percentage in Macedonia is 24%).
The most important question was: what type of treatment European children with ASD get? The most frequent therapy used for children is speech and language therapy (64%), the same refers to Macedonian. In Macedonia, it is practically the only therapeutic approach to ASD children. In other countries more than one therapeutic procedure was performed in 25% of cases.
It is also important to know that parents in most of the counties obtain some additional aid to perform communication with children, such as Pecs, Sign, Language, Teach, Visual aids, Social stories, which is not present in our country.
The following answers about therapy are very important to be known. In Macedonia, the percentage of use of medicaments (especially non specific antipsychotic drugs) is very high in comparison to the developed countries (see Fig. 1). In opposite, the so called "branded" therapies are practically not present in our country. It was very surprising that the percentage of alternative therapies (hyperbaric chamber, massages, pet's therapy, diet and supplementing with vitamins) is still very high (including Macedonia) (see Fig 2).
Concerning the education (nursery and preschools), 61 % of ill children all over Europe are included in education, but only for 17. 8% special support in schools is available (not in our country).
The main conclusion for Macedonia was: there are not specialized teachers for autistic children, there are no day care centers, and there is not additional help for parents; prescribed medicaments (especially non specific antipsychotics) are much more than usual, the use of alternative therapies is much more present although it is not based on evidence. It is obvious that the health system as well as the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy should improve the conditions that are necessary for long term monitoring of these children.
Nada POP JORDANOVA
Macedonian Academy of
Science and Arts
Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Recived: 24.11.2012
Accepted: 25.11.2012
Corresponding Address:
Acad. Prof. Nada POP-JORDANOVA
Macedonian Academy of Science of Arts
Blvd. Krste Misirkov b.b.
E-mail: [email protected]
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Copyright Institute of Special Education 2013
Abstract
COST project entitled ESSEA (Enhancing the Scientific Study of Early Autism) (2010-2014) is aimed to establish an interdisciplinary scientific European network to improve the detection of the earliest signs of autism, as well as to combine techniques from cognitive neuroscience with those from clinical sciences in order to establish practice guidelines on early identification and intervention of autism. The main conclusion for Macedonia was: there are not specialized teachers for autistic children, there are no day care centers, and there is not additional help for parents; prescribed medicaments (especially non specific antipsychotics) are much more than usual, the use of alternative therapies is much more present although it is not based on evidence.
You have requested "on-the-fly" machine translation of selected content from our databases. This functionality is provided solely for your convenience and is in no way intended to replace human translation. Show full disclaimer
Neither ProQuest nor its licensors make any representations or warranties with respect to the translations. The translations are automatically generated "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" and are not retained in our systems. PROQUEST AND ITS LICENSORS SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTIES FOR AVAILABILITY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, NON-INFRINGMENT, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Your use of the translations is subject to all use restrictions contained in your Electronic Products License Agreement and by using the translation functionality you agree to forgo any and all claims against ProQuest or its licensors for your use of the translation functionality and any output derived there from. Hide full disclaimer