Staff profile

Dr Amanda Richdale

Associate Professor, Principal Research Fellow

Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering

School of Psychological Science
Department of Psychology
Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre

BIOL 2 Building Rm 255, Melbourne (Bundoora)

 

Qualifications

B.App.Sc (Textile Chem) (Gordon Institute of Technology), M.Behav.Sc. (Prelim), PhD (La Trobe University)

Membership of professional Associations

Australian Psychological Society, Australian Society for Intellectual Disability, Australasian Sleep Association, International Society for Autism Research

Area of study

Psychology

Brief Profile

I joined the School of Psychological Science, Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre in April 2009 after an honorary appointment from mid-2008. I was previously Associate Professor in Psychology at RMIT University. I have taught in a range of areas in Psychology, but primarily in Developmental Psychology, Biological Psychology and Child Psychopathology, including specialist teaching in autism spectrum disorders and children’s sleep.

I have experience in the assessment and diagnosis of developmental disabilities, in particular autism spectrum disorders and specific learning difficulties. My research interests are in autism spectrum disorders, specific learning difficulties and developmental disorders, and children’s sleep. I am most widely known for my research on sleep in autism spectrum disorders, but together with my research students have conducted research in a range of areas related to child development and intervention, in particular ASDs, reading difficulties, and ADHD.

I have recently completed a research project funded by DHS (Vic) investigating supports for tertiary students with an autism spectrum disorder, and I am currently completing a project funded by Australian Wool Innovation on bedding and sleep in 2 to 5 year old children. I work on projects related to sleep in autism spectrum disorders, and social skills and friendships in autism spectrum disorders, primarily with Honours and Post-graduate students. I also collaborate  with Associate Professor Kimberly Schreck, Penn State University, USA and with Prof Beth Malow and Dr Suzanne Goldman at Vanderbilt University, USA.

Research interests

Cognitive and developmental psychology

- autism spectrum disorders; children's sleep; developmental disorders

Teaching Units

PSY3CDB

PSY3RTP

PSY5PNP

Consulting

I have provided workshops on paediatric sleep (including Autism spectrum disorders) for the APS, for ACER and for community groups, as well as workshops about ASD for ACER

Recent Publications

 Book Chapters

Jacobs, D., & Richdale, A. (In press). Language and literacy subtypes in young children with a high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder. In: Communication in Autism. Arciuli, J. & Brock, J. (Eds.). Trends in Language Acquisition Research series (TiLAR). John Benjamins Publishing: Amsterdam. 

Richdale, A. L.(In press). Autism and other Developmental Disabilities. In A. R. Wolfson & H. Montgomery-Downs.The Oxford Handbook of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Sleep: Development and Problems. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.  

Richdale, A. L., & Schreck, K. A. (2008). Assessment and intervention in autism: An historical perspective. In J. Matson (Ed). Clinical assessment and intervention for autism spectrum disorders (pp. 3-32). New York: Elsevier.  

Polimeni, M., Richdale, A., & Francis, A. (2007). Research update: clinical issues in the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorders, in P. C. Carlisle (Ed.) Progress in Autism Research. New York: Nova Science Publishers

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Baker, E., Richdale, A., Short, M., & Gradisar, M. (Accepted Jan 2013). An investigation of sleep patterns in adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder compared with typically developing adolescents. Developmental Neurorehabilitation

Richdale, A. L. (Accepted, Jan 2013). Behavioral infant sleep intervention does not have long-lasting effects on children’s emotions or behaviour or child-parent relationship or maternal outcomes. Commentary. Evidence Based Mental Health.

Vivanti, G., Hudry, K., Trembath, D., Barbaro, J., Richdale, A., & Dissanayake, C. (Accepted Dec, 2102). Towards the DSM 5 Criteria for Autism: Clinical, Cultural and Research Implications. Australian Psychologist.

Goldman, S. E., Richdale, A. L., Clemens, T., & Malow B. A. (2012). Parental sleep concerns in autism spectrum disorders: Variations from childhood to adolescence, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42, 531-538.

Schreck, K. A., & Richdale, A. L. (2011). Knowledge of childhood sleep: A possible variable in under or misdiagnosis of childhood sleep problems. Journal of Sleep Research, 20, 598-597

Goldman, S. E., McGrew, S., Johnson, K., Richdale, A., Clemons, T., Malow, B. A. (2011). Sleep is associated with problem behaviors in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5, 1223-1229.

Cotton. S., & Richdale, A. (2010). Sleep patterns and behaviour in typically developing children and children with autism, Down Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome and intellectual disability. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4, 490-500.

Chu, J., & Richdale, A. L. (2009). Sleep quality and psychological wellbeing in mothers of children with developmental disabilities. Research in Developmntal Disabilities, 30, 1512-1522.

Richdale, A. L. & Schreck, K. A. (2009). Sleep problems in autism spectrum disorders: Prevalence, nature & possible biopsychosocial aetiologies. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 13, 403-411.

Mahar, N., & Richdale, A. (2008) Primary teachers’ linguistic knowledge and perceptions of early literacy instruction. Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities, 13, 17-37.

Polimeni, M. A., Richdale, A. L., & Francis, A. J. P. (2007). The impact of children’s sleep problems on the family and behavioural processes related to their development and maintenance. E-Journal of Applied Psychology, 76 – 85. http://ojs.lib.swin.edu.au/index.php/ejap/issue/view/12

Cotton, S., & Richdale, A. (2006). Brief Report: Parental Descriptions of Sleep Problems in Children with Autism, Down Syndrome, and Prader-Willi Syndrome. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 27, 151 - 161. (Selected for the American Psychological Associations’ Clinician’s Research Digest, Oct, 2006)

Kos, J. M., Richdale, A.L., & Hay, D. (2006) Children with ADHD and their teachers: A review of the literature. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 53, 147-160. (Special Issue on ADHD)

Richdale, A., & Wiggs, L. (2005) Behavioral approaches to the treatment of sleep problems in children with developmental disorders. What is the state of the art? International Journal of Behavioral and Consultation Therapy, 1, 165 – 189. http://www.baojournal.com/IJBCT/IJBCT-VOL-1/IJBCT-1-3.pdf

Polimeni, M. A., Richdale, A. L., & Francis, A. J. P. (2005). A survey of sleep problems in autism, Asperger’s disorder and typically developing children.  Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 49, 260 -268

Weiskop, S, Richdale, A., & Matthews, J. (2005). Treatment to Reduce Sleep Problems in Children with Autism or Fragile X Syndrome. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 47, 94-104

Older Publications

Book Chapters

Richdale, A. (2001).  Sleep disorders in autism and Asperger’s syndrome. In G. Stores & L. Wiggs (Eds).  Sleep disturbances in disorders of development: its significance and management. London: MacKeith Press.

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Kos, J. M., & Richdale, A. L. (2004).  The history of attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder. Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities, 9, 22-24.

Kos, J. M., Richdale, A. L., & Jackson, M. S. (2004).  Knowledge about attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder: A comparison of in-service and pre-service teachers.  Psychology in the Schools, 45, 517-526.   Robinson, A. M., & Richdale, A. L. (2004). Sleep problems in children with an intellectual disability: Parental views of treatment, satisfaction and effectiveness. Child: Care, Health and Development, 30, 139 – 150.

Richdale, A. L. (2003). A descriptive analysis of sleep behaviour in children with Fragile X. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 28, 97 - 104.

Thackeray, E., & Richdale, A. (2002). The behavioural treatment of sleep difficulties in children with an intellectual disability. Behavioral Interventions, 17, 211-231.

Weiskop, S., Matthews, J., & Richdale, A. (2001). Treatment of sleep problems in a 5-year-old boy with autism using behavioural principles. Autism, 5, 209-221.

Braithwaite, K., & Richdale, A. L. (2000). Functional communication training to replace challenging behaviors across two behavioral outcomes.  Behavioral Interventions, 15, 21-36.

Richdale, A., Gavidia-Payne, S., Francis, A., & Cotton, S. (2000). Sleep problems, behaviour and stress in children with an intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 25, 147-161.

Richdale, A.L. (1999). Annotation: Sleep problems and autism: Comparison with other disabilities, causes, and intervention. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 41, 60-66.

Richdale, A. L., Cotton, S., & Hibbit, K. (1999). Sleep and behaviour difficulties in the Prader-Willi syndrome. A questionnaire study. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 43, 380-392.

Patzold, L, Richdale, A., & Tonge, B. (1998). An investigation into the sleep characteristics of children with autism and Asperger’s disorder. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. 34, 528-533.

Lawson, A., & Richdale, A.L. (1996). A scale for measuring teachers' beliefs about reading and children with reading disabilities. Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities, 1, 28-32.

Richdale, A.L., Reece, J.E., & Lawson, A. (1996). Teachers, children with reading difficulties and remedial reading assistance in primary schools. Behaviour Change, 13, 47-61.

Richdale, A.L. & Prior, M.R. (1995). The sleep/wake rhythm in children with autism. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 4, 175-186.

Richdale, A.L. & Prior, M.R. (1992). Urinary cortisol rhythm in a group of high-functioning autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 22, 433-447.

Gibbs, M.E., Richdale, A.L., & Ng, K.T. (1987). Effect of excess intracranial amino acids on memory formation: A behavioral survey. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 11, 331-339.

Williamson, A.M., Ng, K.T., & Richdale, A.L. (1981). Changes in corticosterone levels in iron deficient rats. Physiology and Behavior, 27, 1085-1088.

Gibbs, M.E., Richdale, A.L., & Ng, K.T. (1979). Biochemical aspects of protein synthesis inhibition in one or both hemispheres of the chick brain. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 10, 929-931.

Gibbs, M.E., Ng, K.T., & Richdale, A.L. (1977). L-Proline inhibition of long-term memory formation. Neuroscience Letters, 6, 355-360.

Research projects

Current Students

Doctoral Students

Emma Baker (PhD): Does Circadian Rhythm Disturbance Explain Insomnia in Adults with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Claire Forsythe (DPsych, Coursework): Investigating Social Attention in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Master of Psychology 

Natalie Mackay. Outcomes for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) 12 months following Early Intensive Behaviour Intervention (EIBI)

Stephanie Mertins. Diet in children with ASD

Honours (Psychology) 

2012 

Rebecca Cosentino. The Relationship Between Sleep, Behaviour and Executive Function in Children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder Compared with Typically Developing Children

Robin Giles: Critical factors in a successful transition to post-secondary education for students with autism spectrum disorders

2013

Jaqueline Uren: Longitudinal relationships between paeditric sleep problems and psychopathology

Susana Medina: Sleep development in ASD

Current and Recent Research Support 

2012:  Australian Wool Innovation. Bedding and Sleep Quality in Children Aged 2 – 5 years

2012:  Apex Autism Trust. Circadian Rhythm Dysfunction in Adults with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence from Dim Light Melatonin Onset. Emma Baker (PhD student); A Richdale (Primary supervisor)

2010:  Department of Human Services (Vic). Supporting tertiary transition to and participation in tertiary education for students with ASD. With A. Prof. Cheryl Dissanayake.

2009:  APEX  Autism Trust. An evaluation of the "Drama for Every Day Life" program for children and adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. A.Prof. Amanda Richdale (La Trobe) & Angelica Rose (Voice and Movement)

2008:  FAHCSIA Tender for National Autism Workshops Program 0-6 years. Lead organisation Parenting Research Centre, Partners A.Prof. Amanda Richdale, A.Prof. Susana Gavidia-Payne (RMIT); Dr Cheryl Dissanayake (La Trobe), Prof. Dennis Moore & Dr Angelika Anderson (Monash).  Initial funding is for 2 years with a follow-up 2 years.

2006:   Department of Human Services Victoria Tender.  Signposts Autism Module with Dr Susana Gavidia-Payne and Western Autistic School.

2006:  Feingold Association USA. An investigation of an elimination diet and parent training program on children’s behaviour.  Mrs Mickaela Schelleman (PhD student) and Dr Amanda Richdale (supervisor)