Cheryl Dissanayake

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Professor Cheryl Dissanayake AM, FASSA is the inaugural Olga Tennison Endowed Chair in Autism Research and was the founding Director [1] of the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre [2] based at La Trobe University, Australia. She is a developmental psychologist and behavioural scientist in the field of autism research. [3]

Contents

Early life

Dissanayake attended St Bridget's Convent in Colombo from 1966 to 1973, and Bentleigh High School (now Bentleigh Secondary College) in Melbourne from 1974 to 1977. She commenced at Monash University in 1978, taking out an Honours degree in Psychology (1983) and a PhD (1992). Her postdoctoral research was undertaken in the Sigman lab at UCLA in the US from 1993 to 1995 inclusive. [1]

Research and career

Dissanayake's early research focused on the development of attachment in autistic children which challenged previously held notions that they were not attached to their primary caregivers. She joined the Department of Psychological Science at La Trobe University in 1996 where she established her autism research lab. Her comprehensive studies on the behavioural, cognitive and physical phenotypes of children with diagnoses of 'Autistic Disorder' and 'Asperger's Disorder' (as per DSM 4) contributed a significant body of research regarding the lack of distinction between these conditions which contributed to the single diagnostic label of Autism Spectrum Disorders adopted in DSM 5.

Her research on the early autism phenotype led to the first Australian community-based study to prospectively identify autism in infancy via the Maternal and Child Health Service (MCH). [4] The success of this study and a replication study indicated that autistic children can be reliably identified and diagnosed by 2-years of age. In 2010, Dissanayake helped establish the Victorian Autism Specific Early learning and Care Centre, adopting the Early Start Denver Model [5] which she had introduced to Australia in 2009. Her related studies on early learning and early therapy outcomes in Autistic pre-schoolers indicated the impact of accessing evidence-based therapy early in life, serving to improve developmental outcomes and facilitate social inclusion into the school years. In addition to detailed behavioural observation studies, she investigated the physiological correlates of behaviour including the cardiac and attentional responses of Autistic children to social and emotional stimuli and undertaking studies of biological markers. Her research on growth in infants later diagnosed with autism provided the first evidence that autism is characterized by generalised growth dysregulation, extending this work to show that growth dysregulation is also characteristic of older autistic children and adolescents. Dissanayake has investigated autism manifestations in boys with Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) and compared the behavioural and cognitive profiles in Autistic boys with idiopathic and comorbid autism as such comparisons cast light on the biological mechanisms involved in the origins of autism. [6] More recently, Dissanayake has engaged in studies of Autistic adolescents and adults focused on employment and mental health. [7]

Awards

In 2018, Dissanayake was elected Fellow of the International Society of Autism Research [8] in its inaugural round, and served as president between 2019–2021. In 2021, she was awarded a Lifetime Membership by the Australasian Society for Autism Research, [9] which she helped co-found in 2011, and where she served as vice president for 10 years. Dissanayake has been named the field leader in developmental disabilities by The Australian Research Magazine for 6 consecutive years (2018-2023) [10] [11] and a field leader in Child and Adolescent Psychology for 5 consecutive years (2018-2022). [12] In the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to medical research, to tertiary education, and to professional societies [13] [14] and was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia in the same year. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asperger syndrome</span> Neurodevelopmental diagnosis now categorized under ASD

Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger's syndrome, formerly described a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication combined with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. The syndrome has been merged with other conditions into autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is no longer considered a stand-alone diagnosis. It was considered to differ from other diagnoses that were merged into ASD by relatively unimpaired spoken language and intelligence.

Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) is a historic psychiatric diagnosis first defined in 1980 that has since been incorporated into autism spectrum disorder in the DSM-5 (2013).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neurodiversity</span> Non-pathological explanation of variations in mental functions

Neurodiversity is a framework for understanding human brain function and mental illness. It argues that diversity in human cognition is normal and that some conditions classified as mental disorders are differences and disabilities that are not necessarily pathological.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to autism:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autism therapies</span> Therapy aimed at autistic people

Autism therapies include a wide variety of therapies that help people with autism, or their families. Such methods of therapy seek to aid autistic people in dealing with difficulties and increase their functional independence.

The epidemiology of autism is the study of the incidence and distribution of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A 2022 systematic review of global prevalence of autism spectrum disorders found a median prevalence of 1% in children in studies published from 2012 to 2021, with a trend of increasing prevalence over time. However, the study's 1% figure may reflect an underestimate of prevalence in low- and middle-income countries.

The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ) is a questionnaire published in 2001 by Simon Baron-Cohen and his colleagues at the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge, UK. Consisting of fifty questions, it aims to investigate whether adults of average intelligence have symptoms of autism spectrum conditions. More recently, versions of the AQ for children and adolescents have also been published.

Asperger syndrome (AS) was formerly a separate diagnosis under autism spectrum disorder. Under the DSM-5 and ICD-11, patients formerly diagnosable with Asperger syndrome are diagnosable with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The term is considered offensive by some autistic individuals. It was named after Hans Asperger (1906–80), who was an Austrian psychiatrist and pediatrician. An English psychiatrist, Lorna Wing, popularized the term "Asperger's syndrome" in a 1981 publication; the first book in English on Asperger syndrome was written by Uta Frith in 1991 and the condition was subsequently recognized in formal diagnostic manuals later in the 1990s.

Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) or extreme demand avoidance (EDA) is a proposed disorder and sub-type of autism spectrum disorder, defined by characteristics such as a greater-than-typical refusal to comply with requests or expectations and extreme efforts to avoid the social demand. Any expectation, even familiar, routine activities for highly desired activities, such as getting ready to leave home to visit a playground, can trigger avoidant behavior, and if the demand cannot be avoided, a panic attack or a meltdown may ensue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classic autism</span> Neurodevelopmental condition

Classic autism, also known as childhood autism, autistic disorder, (early) infantile autism, infantile psychosis, Kanner's autism,Kanner's syndrome, or (formerly) just autism, is a neurodevelopmental condition first described by Leo Kanner in 1943. It is characterized by atypical and impaired development in social interaction and communication as well as restricted, repetitive behaviors, activities, and interests. These symptoms first appear in early childhood and persist throughout life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autism spectrum</span> Neurodevelopmental disorder

Autism, formally called autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction, and repetitive or restricted patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities, which can include hyper- and hyporeactivity to sensory input. Autism is clinically regarded as a spectrum disorder, meaning that it can manifest very differently in each person. For example, some are nonspeaking, while others have proficient spoken language. Because of this, there is wide variation in the support needs of people across the autism spectrum.

The history of autism spans over a century, autism has been subject to varying treatments, being pathologized or being viewed as a beneficial part of human neurodiversity. The understanding of autism has been shaped by cultural, scientific, and societal factors, and its perception and treatment change over time as scientific understanding of autism develops.

Sex and gender differences in autism exist regarding prevalence, presentation, and diagnosis.

John N. Constantino is a child psychiatrist and expert on neurodevelopmental disorders, especially autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Constantino is the Blanche F. Ittleson Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine.

Marian Diamond Sigman (1941–2012) was a developmental and child clinical psychologist known for her research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). At the time of her death, she was Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Margot Ruth Prior was an Australian psychologist, educator, and musician. She was professor of psychology at the University of Melbourne where her research focussed on autism and literacy development. She was also director of psychology at the Royal Children's Hospital and was adjunct professor at La Trobe University.

Valsamma Eapen is a chair of infant, child and adolescent psychiatry at UNSW Sydney. She is a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autism and LGBT identities</span>

Current research indicates that autistic people have higher rates of LGBT identities and feelings than the general population. A variety of explanations for this have been proposed, such as prenatal hormonal exposure, which has been linked with both sexual orientation, gender dysphoria and autism. Alternatively, autistic people may be less reliant on social norms and thus more open about their orientation or gender identity. A narrative review published in 2016 stated that while various hypotheses have been proposed for an association between autism and gender dysphoria, they lack strong evidence.

The diagnosis of autism is based on a person's reported and directly observed behavior. There are no known biomarkers for autism spectrum conditions that allow for a conclusive diagnosis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jan K. Buitelaar</span>

Jan K. Buitelaar is a Dutch medical doctor, psychiatrist, author, and academic. He is a professor of psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry at Radboud University Medical Centre and former Head of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

References

  1. 1 2 "Professor Cheryl Dissanayake". La Trobe University. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  2. ↑ University, La Trobe. "Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre". www.latrobe.edu.au.
  3. 1 2 "Academy Fellow: Professor Cheryl Dissanayake AM, FASSA". Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.
  4. ↑ Barbaro, Josephine; Dissanayake, Cheryl (October 26, 2010). "Prospective Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Infancy and Toddlerhood Using Developmental Surveillance: The Social Attention and Communication Study". Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. 31 (5): 376–385. doi:10.1097/DBP.0b013e3181df7f3c. PMID   20495475. S2CID   41939294 – via www.academia.edu.
  5. ↑ Dissanayake, Cheryl (September 27, 2022). "Surely the time for NDIS teething issues is over". The Canberra Times.
  6. ↑ Clifford, Sally; Dissanayake, Cheryl; Bui, Quang M.; Huggins, Richard; Taylor, Annette K.; Loesch, Danuta Z. (April 26, 2007). "Autism spectrum phenotype in males and females with fragile X full mutation and premutation". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 37 (4): 738–747. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0205-z. PMID   17031449. S2CID   23978077 – via PubMed.
  7. ↑ "Cheryl Dissanayake". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  8. ↑ "INSAR Fellows - International Society for Autism Research (INSAR)". www.autism-insar.org.
  9. ↑ "ASfAR success at INSAR – ASfAR – Australasian Society for Autism Research".
  10. ↑ Bowbotham, Jill (29 September 2019). "La Trobe Uni's Cheryl Dissanayake is a leader in autism research". The Australian. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "The Australian Research Magazine 2024". 9 November 2023. p. 23. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "The Australian Research Magazine 2021". The Australian Research Magazine. p. 34. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  13. ↑ "Professor Anne Cheryl DISSANAYAKE". Australian Honours Search Facility. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  14. ↑ "Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia" (PDF). Governor-General of Australia. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
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