Deborah Fein
Distinguished Professor
| Degree: | Ph.D., 1975, Clinical Psychology Rutgers University |
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| Research Synopsis: | The Early Detection Study looked at the effectiveness of using the M-CHAT-R to screen for ASD and other developmental delays at pediatrician offices between 18 and 36 months.The new and improved Early Detection Project has built on the foundation the Early Detection Study created, and lowered the screening age to 12 and 15 months to test screening effectiveness and accuracy at those ages. Collaborators at Drexel University and Georgia State University are also using the same methods, but are testing using electronic screening methods. This project is also interested in determining how additional training for pediatricians may influence screening and surveillance practices.Our Albania Project worked with colleagues in Albania to see if the M-CHAT-R could work in Albanian. A total of 2,594 toddlers were screened, finding that 89.5% of children with ASD and 100% of children with developmental delay were accurately identified, so screening has been adopted by many pediatricians there.In collaboration with Vanderbilt University and the University of Washington, we have also looked at how screening for ASD differs in children who have older siblings on the autism spectrum in our Sibling Study. Our results suggest that parents of older children with ASD may be more sensitive to detecting milder delays in their younger children and that therefore they may be detected at a younger age.Our Optimal Outcome Study has put forth an effort to understand factors that contribute to better outcomes for children with ASD. Our lab has studied children with an early history of ASD who then go on to lose their diagnosis. Our results showed that these children had earlier parent concern, and earlier intervention, especially Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy. MRI findings suggest that they may have reached this state by âcompensatingâ rather than ânormalizingâ brain activity. We hope to follow up with some of these individuals into adulthood in our next phase of research.The Parent Training Project is a website being constructed for parents of children with ASD to complement intensive behavioral therapy. The website covers many topics in detail and includes video examples, pictures and progress quizzes. It introduces parents to the most effective ways of teaching life skills and communication while modifying problem behaviors. Until the website is readily available, part of the material can be accessed now as a book available on Amazon â Activity Kit for Babies and Toddlers at Risk. |
| Courses: | Undergraduate courses
Abnormal Psychology Clinical Psychology Graduate courses: Fundamentals of Neuropsychology Neuropsychological Assessment Practicum in Neuropsychological Assessment |
| Students in Research: | Dasal Jashar, M.A., Kathryn Bradbury, M.A., Lauren Miller, B.A., Yael Dai, B.A. |
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| Â Early Detection Lab: |  |
| deborah.fein@uconn.edu | |
| Phone | 860.486.3518 |
| Mailing Address | Unit 1020 |
| Office Location | Bousfield 143 |