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Staff Profiles

Dr. Helena Lydon

B.A.,H.Dip.,M.A.,PhD

Contact Details

LECTURER ABOVE THE BAR
School of Psychology
NUI Galway
T: Ext. 4457
E: helena.lydon@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography

Helena is a graduate from NUI, Galway having completed a Masters in Applied Behaviour Analysis and a PhD in Applied Behaviour Analysis. She is a certified Behaviour Analyst with the Behaviour Analyst Certification Board®. She has worked for seven years as a Behaviour Therapist and Senior Behaviour Specialist with children and adults in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services, and with private children’s residential care service providers, throughout Ireland. Her clinical experience is in the treatment of challenging behaviour and individuals presenting with a dual diagnosis across educational, residential and respite settings. Helena is a member of the Forensic and Intellectual Disability and ASD Group which based at NUIG. In 2013, Helena began lecturing on the MSc and structured PhD programmes in Applied Behaviour Analysis which prepares students to become expert practitioners who can work effectively within systems to improve the quality of services in the fields of intellectual and developmental disabilities, education, rehabilitation, and mental health. She is a member of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and the Division of behaviour analysis (DBA) in Ireland. 


 


Research Interests

  • Feeding problems
  • Sleep Problems
  • Behavioural Interventions for challenging behavoiur and mental health issues
  • Increasing language in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Teaching play skills to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
New Directions: Evaluation of the first year of implementation in a regional intellectual disability service 01-JAN-18 30-JUN-18
HELENA LYDON GENERAL RESEARCH ACCOUNT 01-OCT-17 30-SEP-27

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2020) 'The Edmark® Reading Program: A Comparison of Computerized and Table Top Presentation in Reading Outcomes in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder'
Nally, A., Holloway, J., Lydon, H., & Healy., O (2020) 'The Edmark® Reading Program: A Comparison of Computerized and Table Top Presentation in Reading Outcomes in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder'. Journal Of Developmental And Physical Disabilities, [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Implementing Positive Behavior Support Within Preschool Settings: Group Functional Assessment and CW-FIT'
Mahon, D,Gunning, C,Holloway, J,Lydon, H (2020) 'Implementing Positive Behavior Support Within Preschool Settings: Group Functional Assessment and CW-FIT'. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Interventions to improve sleep for individuals with Angelman syndrome: A systematic review'
Egan, M., Farrell, K., Hoey, E., McGuire, B.E., Lydon, H.K. (2020) 'Interventions to improve sleep for individuals with Angelman syndrome: A systematic review'. Research In Developmental Disabilities, [Details]
(2019) 'Parental satisfaction with early intensive behavioral intervention'
Grey, I,Coughlan, B,Lydon, H,Healy, O,Thomas, J (2019) 'Parental satisfaction with early intensive behavioral intervention'. Journal Of Intellectual Disabilities, 23 :373-384 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'An Exploration of the Performance and Generalization Outcomes of a Social Skills Intervention for Adults with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities'
Walsh, E., Holloway, J., & Lydon, H. (2019) 'An Exploration of the Performance and Generalization Outcomes of a Social Skills Intervention for Adults with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities'. Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, [Details]
(2019) 'An Evaluation of Assistive Technology in Determining Job-SpecificPreference for Adults With Autism and Intellectual Disabilities'
Walsh, E., Lydon, H., & Holloway, J. (2019) 'An Evaluation of Assistive Technology in Determining Job-SpecificPreference for Adults With Autism and Intellectual Disabilities'. Behavior Analysis in Practice, [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'An evaluation of positive behavioural support for children with challenging behaviour in community settings'
Grey, I,Mesbur, M,Lydon, H,Healy, O,Thomas, J (2018) 'An evaluation of positive behavioural support for children with challenging behaviour in community settings'. Journal Of Intellectual Disabilities, 22 :394-411 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Chronic pain: a source of disability in its own right'
McGuire, B.E., Lydon, H. (2018) 'Chronic pain: a source of disability in its own right'. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 60 (4):538-538 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'An analysis of reading abilities in children with autism spectrum disorders'
Nally, A., Healy, O., Holloway, J., Lydon., H. (2018) 'An analysis of reading abilities in children with autism spectrum disorders'. Research In Autism Spectrum Disorders, 47 :14-25 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Increasing appropriate conversation skills using a behavioral skills training package with adults with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder'
Ryan, G., Brady, S., Holloway, J., & Lydon, H. (2018) 'Increasing appropriate conversation skills using a behavioral skills training package with adults with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder'. Journal Of Intellectual Disabilities, [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'An Evaluation of a Social Skills Intervention for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disabilities preparing for Employment in Ireland: A Pilot Study'
Walsh, E,Holloway, J,Lydon, H (2018) 'An Evaluation of a Social Skills Intervention for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disabilities preparing for Employment in Ireland: A Pilot Study'. Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders, 48 :1727-1741 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'An Evaluation of Positive Behaviour Support for Children with Challenging Behaviour in Community Settings'
Grey, I., Mesbur, M., Lyon, H. Healy, O. (2017) 'An Evaluation of Positive Behaviour Support for Children with Challenging Behaviour in Community Settings'. Journal Of Intellectual Disabilities, [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Comparison of behavioral intervention and sensory integration therapy on challenging behavior of children with autism'
Lydon, H,Healy, O,Grey, I (2017) 'Comparison of behavioral intervention and sensory integration therapy on challenging behavior of children with autism'. Behavioral Interventions, 32 :297-310 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Using Novel Variantof Stimulus Fading in the Treatment of Food Refusal and Co-Morbid Challenging Behaviour in a Child with Autism'
Grey, I., Lydon, H., Healy, O. Thomas, J. (2017) 'Using Novel Variantof Stimulus Fading in the Treatment of Food Refusal and Co-Morbid Challenging Behaviour in a Child with Autism'. Global Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disaiblities (GJIDD), 1 (5):1-7 [Details]
(2016) 'Technology-aided interventions for employment skills in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A systematic review'
Walsh, E. Holloway, J., McCoy, A., Lydon, H. (2016) 'Technology-aided interventions for employment skills in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A systematic review'. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Positive behaviour support: What model of disability does it represent?'
Grey, I,Lydon, H,Healy, O (2016) 'Positive behaviour support: What model of disability does it represent?'. Journal of intellectual & developmental disability, 41 :255-266 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'Sensory integration therapy for autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review'
Lang, R,O'Reilly, M,Healy, O,Rispoli, M,Lydon, H,Streusand, W,Davis, T,Kang, S,Sigafoos, J,Lancioni, G,Didden, R,Giesbers, S (2012) 'Sensory integration therapy for autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review'. Research In Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6 :1004-1018 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'A comparison of Video Modeling and Pivotal Response Training to teach pretend play skills to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder'
Lydon, H,Healy, O,Leader, G (2011) 'A comparison of Video Modeling and Pivotal Response Training to teach pretend play skills to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder'. Research In Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5 :872-884 [DOI] [Details]
(2008) 'The effects of daily tact instruction on the emission of pure mands, tacts and conversational units in non-instructional settings by two preschool children with Autism'
Lydon, H., Healy, O., Leader, G, & Keohane, D.D. (2008) 'The effects of daily tact instruction on the emission of pure mands, tacts and conversational units in non-instructional settings by two preschool children with Autism'. Journal Of Speech And Language Pathology And Applied Behavior Analysis, 3.2-3.3 :35-46 [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2018) New Directions: Evaluation of the first year of implementation in a regional intellectual disability service.
Lydon, H., D’Eath, M., Heary, C. (2018). (2018) New Directions: Evaluation of the first year of implementation in a regional intellectual disability service. National Disability Authority, Dublin. [Details]

Electronic Article

  Year Publication
(2019) Improving Social Skills for adults with autism and co-occurring intellectual disabilities to promote workplace inclusion.
Walsh, E., Holloway, J., & Lydon, H. (2019) Improving Social Skills for adults with autism and co-occurring intellectual disabilities to promote workplace inclusion. Electronic Article [Details]

Reviews

  Year Publication
(2012) Sensory integration therapy for autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review.
Lang, R;O'Reilly, M;Healy, O;Rispoli, M;Lydon, H;Streusand, W;Davis, T;Kang, S;Sigafoos, J;Lancioni, G;Didden, R;Giesbers, S (2012) Sensory integration therapy for autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review. OXFORD: Reviews [DOI] [Details]
(2017) Technology-Aided Interventions for Employment Skills in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review.
Walsh, E;Holloway, J;McCoy, A;Lydon, H (2017) Technology-Aided Interventions for Employment Skills in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review. HEIDELBERG: Reviews [DOI] [Details]

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Board Analyst Certification Board BCBA-D 01-FEB-14 /
Chartered Psychologist Psychological Society of Ireland 01-DEC-18 /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Special Interest Group in Paediatric Psychology Committee Member 01-SEP-17 /
Division Of Behaviour Analysis Committee member 01-MAY-14 /

Current Postgraduate Students (Taught)

  Name Degree Primary Supervisor
Nicole Hanna MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis Y
Chiara Ferrari MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis Y
Laura Lavin MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis Y
Liam Finnerty MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis Y

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2019 Edith Walsh PhD in Psychology (Applied Behaviour Analysis)
2018 Amanda Nally PhD in Psychology (Applied Behaviour Analysis)

Current Postgraduate Students (Research)

  Student Degree Type Type
Patrycja Zagrabska Doctorate - Ph.D (Applied Behaviour Analysis) Co-supervisor (1)
Dearbhaile Mahon Doctorate - Ph.D (Applied Behaviour Analysis) Supervisor

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
Semester 2 Behaviour Change Procedures PS 511
Semester 1 and 2 Ethics, Professional Conduct and Clinical Practice 1 PS 6121
Semester 1 Advanced Behaviour Systems PS6123
Semester 1 Psychological Measurement PS 420