Research and dissemination

RedPanda has cooperated with experts in autism from universities in Switzerland, the UK, and the US. Together, we have conducted research projects in order to better understand and respond to the needs of children and adults with autism in Ecuador.

The results of our research projects have been published in peer-reviewed journals and scientific meetings, such as the International Society for Autism Research Annual Meetings (INSAR).

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Peer-reviewed articles

Buffle, P., Gentaz, E., & Vivanti, G. (2022). Perception, beliefs and causal attribution of autism early signs in Ecuadorian general population. Frontiers in Psychology, 3715. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9260421/

Buffle, P., Naranjo, A., Gentaz, E., & Vivanti, G. (2022). Experiences and Attitudes on Early Identification Practices of Autism: A Preliminary Survey of Pediatric Professionals in Ecuador. Children, 9(2), 123. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/2/123

Buffle, P., Cavadini, T., Posada, A., & Gentaz, E. (2021). A study on visual preference for social stimuli in typical Ecuadorian preschoolers as a contribution to the identification of autism risk factors. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1-10. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-87888-3

Buffle, P., & Naranjo, D. (2021). Identificación y diagnóstico tempranos del trastorno del espectro autista: una revisión de la literatura sobre recomendaciones basadas en la evidencia. Revista Ecuatoriana de Pediatría, 22(3), 1-19. (En Español y accesible gratuitamente) http://rev-sep.ec/index.php/johs/article/view/113/116

Buffle, P. (2020). Autism in Ecuador, in Volkmar F. Ed., The Encyclopedia of Autism, NY, Springer.

Oral communication and posters

Buffle P., Gentaz E., (2019). Perception of autism screening tools in paediatric contexts: An exploratory study in an Ecuadorian sample. International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Regional Meeting, Puerto Varas, Chile.

Buffle, P., Naranjo, A., Gentaz, E. Vivanti, G. (2019). Barriers to screening for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Pediatric Settings in Ecuador, International Society for Autism Research, Montreal, Canada.

Buffle, P., Granero, G., Gentaz, E. (2018). Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms’ Perception: The Case of Andean-Ecuadorian Population, International Society for Autism Research, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Buffle, P., Palama, A., Gentaz, E. (2018). Visual Attention to Human Movements, an Eye-tracking study in young neuro-typical children, Ripsydev, Lille, France.

2. DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE ON BEST PRACTICES

Lectures in Scientific Societies

Armijos, C., Evidence-based intervention for autism: The Early Start Denver Model implemented in Ecuador, Congress of the Ecuadorian Neuropediatric Association Quito, September 19, 2019.

Buffle, P., Early Identification and Diagnosis of Autism: Current challenges and barriers Congress of the Ecuadorian Neuropediatric Association Quito, September 19, 2019.

Buffle, P., Validated Tools for Screening and Diagnosis of Autism in Pediatric settings. Conference conducted at the XIX Congress of the Ecuadorian Pediatric Association, Quito, March 11, 2017.

Buffle, P., Social Cognition Development: Implications for Autism Spectrum Disorders Diagnosis, Conference held at the annual meeting of the Ecuadorian Society of Pediatrics, Hospital Metropolitano de Quito, September 9, 2016.

Lectures in Scientific Societies

Bufffle, P., Challenges in the identification of ASD, Conferences on Autistic Spectrum Disorders in the Classroom, held at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, March 7 2020.

Buffle, P., Autism: school and employment, perspectives on inclusion, Conference conducted at the Symposium Territorios Sostenibles, Líderes para Gobernar and Universidad de Loja, Quito 8 November 2019.

Buffle, P., Observational Tools for early Identification of Autism in Pediatric Settings Brain Meeting on Clinical Pediatric Neuropsychology, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, December 2019.

Buffle, P., Visual attention to human movements and social scenes: A contribution to an early identification of the Autism Spectrum Disorder, Conference conducted at the Symposium on Diversity and Integration, Universidad Salesiana de Quito, 21 November 2018.

Buffle, P., Validated Interventions for Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Brain Meeting on Clinical Pediatric Neuropsychology, held at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, April 6 2017.

Buffle, P., The Development of Social Cognition: Implications for Autism Diagnosis. Brain Meeting on Cognitive Neurosciences, held at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, October 28, 2015.

Buffle, P., The Premature Child, Psychological and Socio-emotional Development, Brain Meeting on Clinical Neuropsychology, held at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, February 26, 2015.

Buffle, P., Visual Attention to Human Movements and Social Stimuli in Preschool-age Children: A contribution to Autism Spectrum Disorders Early Detection, Brain Meeting on Cognitive Psychology, held at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, November 25, 2015.

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

RESEARCH

Families’ paths towards diagnosis of Autism in Ecuador

Dr. Buffle from Red Panda, in cooperation with the Ecuadorian parents Association (APADA), is currently leading a research aiming to identify the needs of families and individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions in Ecuador.

RESEARCH

Adapting Early Autism Intervention Strategies to local needs

Since 2019, RedPanda has been working to identify factors that can facilitate parents’ access to services for their young children with autism. Remote Parental Coaching to support Parent Mediated Interventions could increase access to evidence-based services for families living in remote places and can also limit the financial burden on families.