Pursuit Award

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are known to have a number of strengths and special interests, such as hyperlexia.

Those with hyperlexia demonstrate a strength in early word reading, alongside an intense special interest in letters and words. However, this strength in early word reading is accompanied by challenges in reading comprehension.

I first compared the emergent literacy skills of preschoolers with ASD and hyperlexia, and ASD without hyperlexia, to their typically developing (TD) peers. Findings indicated that preschoolers with ASD and hyperlexia demonstrate an alternate route to word reading that is unlike their TD peers. Subsequently, I evaluated a novel, tablet-based, parent-supported, reading comprehension intervention aimed at improving reading comprehension associated with hyperlexia from a very early age.

The results of this 6-week intervention demonstrated gains in reading comprehension for the group with ASD and hyperlexia as compared to a TD group, and a group with ASD without hyperlexia. Gains in receptive language were observed for all groups. Findings support teaching reading comprehension at the preschool level at the first signs of hyperlexia. This dissertation also adds to a growing body of research that emphasizes a strength-based approach to intervention for those with ASD.

About Dianne
Dr. Dianne Macdonald is a very recent PhD graduate of the Human Development program in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology at McGill University. She is a part-time instructor at Concordia University, teaching courses on inclusive education and evidence-based practice in the Department of Education, Child Studies program. Her research focuses on strength-based interventions that target a child’s strength to support challenging areas. Dianne’s dissertation clarifies the early literacy profile of preschoolers with autism and hyperlexia. Outlining a successful parent-supported, tablet-based, early reading comprehension intervention that harnesses their strength in advanced, early word reading to improve their challenges with reading comprehension and listening comprehension. Dianne’s background and continued work as a Speech-Language Pathologist, with a passionate concentration on autism spectrum disorders, and reading disorders for preschoolers, school-age children, and adults informs her research and motivates her to study and develop evidence-based practices to enrich their lives.

My doctoral research focused on early identification of dysphagia following pediatric ischemic stroke.

I conducted four studies: 1) a meta-analysis to derive the benefit of dysphagia screening in adult stroke, 2) a systematic review to explore the incidence of dysphagia, associated health outcomes and caregiver burden in the pediatric stroke group, 3) a retrospective database and chart review to identify the incidence, co-occurrence and potential predictors of dysphagia, oral motor dysfunction, motor speech and language impairment in pediatric stroke patients over a 5 year period at the Hospital for Sick Children and 4) a prospective survey to identify assessment items deemed relevant and feasible to be included in the next steps of development and validation of a pediatric dysphagia screening tool.

Altogether, these studies confirmed the benefit of dysphagia screening in adult stroke, identified relatively high incidence of dysphagia in pediatric stroke, similar to adults, and especially highlighted the need for standardized assessment protocols in the younger stroke groups. This work has laid the foundation to standardize dysphagia practice in pediatrics with the hope of early intervention to mitigate negative health consequences such as pneumonia and mortality. 

About Victoria
Victoria Sherman is a speech-language pathologist who completed her PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Toronto. Her clinical work guided her pursuit of research in stroke and dysphagia. She focused on bridging the gap in dysphagia practices between adult and pediatric stroke and her dissertation was entitled Early Identification of Dysphagia Post Pediatric Ischemic Stroke. Her research goals include informing early detection, standardized assessment protocols and early intervention of dysphagia to improve patient care and health outcomes in the young stroke groups. Victoria hopes to continue her research program as a clinician-scientist, but is currently focusing on welcoming a baby boy, the most recent addition to her family.

Chronic pain in youth is disabling. For an important subset, this pain is detrimental to youth’s personal and social lives, their families and society.

Given its complexity, multidisciplinary rehabilitation is required. Intensive interdisciplinary pain (IIPT) and multimodal (MMT) treatments are existing options, yet IIPT is rare.

This study aimed to 1) analyze the theoretical foundation of a Canadian IIPT, 2) identify stakeholder prioritized outcomes, and 3) evaluate the 12-month effects of an IIPT compared to those of an MMT.

A recruited 13-member advisory group (including youth) completed a logic analysis process. Outcomes were prioritized via nominal group technique. A pre-post effect analysis analyzed questionnaire data on the prioritized outcomes collected from 44 IIPT and 138 MMT youth. Interviews with a subset of participants guided by narrative timelines followed. Finding highlighted the IIPT theoretical soundness.

Six outcome domains were prioritized: activities of daily living, participation in meaningful activities, mood and affect, school engagement, roles and responsibilities, and self-efficacy. Positive effects were demonstrated in both the IIPT and MMT, with unique advantages and disadvantages identified for each. Merged findings provided better understanding of what treatment works, for whom, and why, generating pivotal knowledge to improving matching of youth with the appropriate treatment.

About Karen
Karen received a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy from the University of Ottawa, a Masters in Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of British Columbia, and supported by a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, recently completed her doctoral studies in Health Sciences Research, University of Sherbrooke.  

Her clinical research has aimed to better understand the experiences of children, youth, and caregivers with the healthcare system, and apply patients and public engagement strategies in co-designing, implementing, and evaluating novel interdisciplinary rehabilitation models to improve service access. Using a participatory approach, her doctoral thesis evaluates the theoretical foundation and the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary intensive rehabilitation pain treatment for youth with pain-related disability.

Karen is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Rehabilitation, University of Sherbrooke, with a focus on the use of parent coaching approaches in pediatric rehabilitation using telehealth. She is also leveraging her doctoral study findings in assisting the co-creation of a provincial chronic pain step service model for children, youth and their families in Newfoundland and Labrador. She is the vice chair of the International Organization for Physical Therapists in Pediatrics, and the co-founder of the international group of physical and occupational therapists interested in pediatric rehabilitation pain programs.