RESUMEN
A battery of psychoeducational tests was administered to samples of high-functioning (IQ > 70) autistic subjects and normal controls. A previous psychoeducational study indicated the presence of preserved procedural and mechanical academic skills accompanied by impaired comprehension and interpretive skills in high-functioning autistic individuals. The present findings indicate that this psychoeducational pattern also has a developmental aspect. Younger (< 13 years) autistic subjects performed as well or better than younger controls on psychoeducational measures of mechanical and procedural skills, and on some complex, interpretive tasks. However, they performed more poorly than controls on tasks that involve following complex linguistic instructions. Younger autistic subjects and controls did not differ significantly from each other on interpretive tasks, while the older austic subjects did significantly more poorly than the older controls on such tasks. The findings are discussed in terms of early success, but subsequent decline, in the course of academic functioning in autism.
Asunto(s)
Trastorno Autístico/psicología , Escolaridad , Inteligencia , Adolescente , Factores de Edad , Pruebas de Aptitud , Atención , Trastorno Autístico/diagnóstico , Trastorno Autístico/rehabilitación , Niño , Formación de Concepto , Educación Especial , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Memoria a Corto Plazo , Pruebas Neuropsicológicas , Solución de Problemas , Aprendizaje Seriado , Aprendizaje Verbal , VocabularioRESUMEN
Academic achievement levels in 54 high functioning (IQ > 70) autistic subjects were compared with those of 41 normal controls, who did not differ significantly in age, IQ, gender, race, or SES from the autistic subjects. The measures of academic achievement used included portions of the Detroit Tests of Learning Aptitude-2, the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test, and the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement. Based on prior neuropsychological findings, it was hypothesized that autistic subjects would not differ from controls on subtests assessing mechanical and procedural skills, but would differ on subtests measuring comprehension and interpretive skills. As predicted, the autistic subjects performed significantly less well than controls on comprehension tasks, but not on mechanical reading, spelling, and computational tasks. This pattern is at variance with the typical academic profile of individuals with disabilities in reading or spelling, but shares some features with the nonverbal learning disabilities.
Asunto(s)
Trastorno Autístico/psicología , Escolaridad , Inteligencia , Adolescente , Adulto , Pruebas de Aptitud , Trastorno Autístico/rehabilitación , Niño , Formación de Concepto , Humanos , Masculino , Recuerdo Mental , Solución de Problemas , Aprendizaje Seriado , Percepción del HablaRESUMEN
Since its inception in 1979, the Nicaraguan National Health System has dramatically improved health care in Nicaragua through the provision of universal coverage, emphasis on preventive community-based primary care, and community participation in health activities. Of major importance in the development of the health system has been the decentralization of the administration, planning, and implementation of health programs. The war in Nicaragua has had a major impact on the development of the health system. Nicaraguan health personnel and facilities have been the objects of attack by the contras and scarce resources have been diverted from the development of social programs to military activities. A large refugee population has been created which further strains existing resources. Community-based preventive health programs have been adversely affected, particularly in rural areas where military activity is the most intense. Because of the war, efforts to optimize regionalization of the health system have been retarded. Economic pressures both within Nicaragua resulting from the war and within the entire Latin American area have further hampered efforts for development. Continued major improvements in health care in Nicaragua will depend on a settlement of the present military conflict which is draining resources in all sectors of development, including health.
PIP: Since its inception in 1979, the Nicaraguan National Health System has dramatically improved health care in Nicaragua through the provision of universal coverage, emphasis on preventive community-based primary care, and community participation in health activities. Of major importance in the development of the health system has been the decentralization of the administration, planning, and implementation of health programs. The war in Nicaragua has had a major impact on the development of the health system. Nicaraguan health personnel and facilities have been the objects of attack by the contras and scarce resources have been diverted from the development of social programs to military activities. A large refugee population has been created which further strains existing resources. Community-based preventive health programs have been adversely affected, particularly in rural areas where military activity is the most intense. Because of the war, efforts to optimize regi onalization of the health system have been retarded. Economic pressures both within Nicaragua resulting from the war and within the entire Latin American area have further hampered efforts for development. Continued major improvements in health care in Nicaragua will depend on a settlement of the present military conflict which is draining resources in all sectors of development, including health.
Asunto(s)
Programas Nacionales de Salud/organización & administración , Guerra , Economía , Instituciones de Salud , Fuerza Laboral en Salud , Humanos , Nicaragua , Prevención PrimariaRESUMEN
KIE: The authors were among a group of 200 health workers from the United States and Canada who visited Nicaragua in October 1984 to observe the health consequences of the "limited covert war" there. The task force reported that biological effects of the war include the killing of 7,000 persons, an increased prevalence of infectious diseases, and a severe disruption of the improvement in health services achieved by the Nicaraguan government since 1979. Because of the diversion of resources to military purposes, the building of new health service posts, development of teaching programs, and upkeep of equipment have been severely curtailed. Depression and other psychological problems have increased. Maintaining that sufficient information has been obtained to document a pattern of activity by the contras that violates principles of medical neutrality under the Geneva Convention, the authors urge physicians and other health workers to speak out against the war.^ieng