Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

6-2017

Document Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

Au.D.

Program

Audiology

Advisor

Barbara E. Weinstein

Subject Categories

Speech Pathology and Audiology

Keywords

autism, postural control, ASD, vestibular, audiology, postural assessment, balance

Abstract

The objective of this systematic review was to determine the methods in which postural stability and control are being quantified in persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with what instrumentation and which healthcare professionals are included in this process. It is well studied that persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which now include those with Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger Disorder, often suffer from vestibular modulation abnormalities (Rogers & Ozonoff, 2005; American Psychiatric Association, 2013.) These individuals may present with either an under- or over-responsiveness to vestibular inputs resulting in a variety of repetitive behaviors or deviations in gait and postural control (Ben-Sasson et al., 2009). In total, 14 studies were analyzed. The review revealed that instrumentation used to study postural control and ASD included: 1) industry-standard static forceplates, 2) electromagnetic motion trackers, 3) the Nintendo Wii balance Board and 3) computerized dynamic posturography. Background of all authors involved was identified in order to determine which professionals are involved in assessing balance in the ASD population. Of the 57 authors, 54 backgrounds were able to be identified and were found to be one of the following: psychologist, medical doctor, kinesiologist, biotechnology specialists, occupational therapist, engineer, optometrist, neuroscientist, physicist, statistician, or biologist. With audiologists being balance experts whom are also familiar with the above-named instrumentation, it is essential that they too participate in this area of research.

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