Below is a list of Completed Research the centre has carried out

Working Memory 

The Centre conducted research, to examine whether children with autism have difficulties with WM compared to their typically developing peers .  The project was conducted in collaboration with Dr Tracey Packiam Alloway, a Professor of Psychology at the University of North Florida  and author of the Automated Working Memory Assessment(AWMA).

Fifty six children were  tested with the AWMA  findings indicated that the children with autism did not perform as well as their typically developing peers.  This was particularly significant in visuo-spatial working memory.  Smaller differences between the two groups were found in Listening Recall and Listening Recall Processing.  To read more about the project and to access the summary of findings please click here 

 

Sensory Processing patterns, activity choice and participation of children with autism across Ireland

The Centre has completed research to explore Sensory Processing patterns, activity choice and participation of children with autism across Ireland.  The project was conducted in collaboration with the University of Ulster. One hundred and sixty one parents of children aged 4 – 11 years with a diagnosis of autism from across the island of Ireland participated in the study.  The majority of parents reported that their children participated most frequently in solitary activities and engaged less or never in social situations and unpredictable activities. Results from The Sensory Profile (SP) also revealed that the majority of children  were identified as having a ‘definitely different’ reaction to everyday sensory stimuli when compared to standardised scores of typically developing children defined by the SP

To read more about the project and to access the summary of findings please click here