Paulina Buffle

 

 

Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ASD Diagnosis, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Pediatric settings,  ASD Post-diagnostic support and Intervention, Eye-tracking, Telehealth,  Autism in Ecuador, Autism in a Global Context.

Mots Clés: Trouble du Spectre Autistique (TSA), Diagnostic du TSA, Troubles Neurodéveloppementaux, Contextes Pédiatriques, Soutien Post-diagnostic et Interventions dans le TSA, Occulemètre, Télésanté,  Autisme dans un Contexte International.

Palabras clave: Trastorno del Espectro Autístico (TEA), Diagnóstico, Trastornos del Neurodesarrollo, Contextos Pediátricos, Sostén Post-Diagnóstico e Intervención en el TEA , Eye-tracking, Telemedicina, Telesalud, Autismo en Ecuador, Autismo en un Contexto Global.

Contact

Dr Paulina Buffle

Project leader "Autism in a Global Context"

Email: Paulina.Buffle(at)unige.ch 

Phone: (+) 41 22 379 81 16

 

Université de Genève
Uni Mail, 40 Blvd. du Pont-d'Arve
1211 Genève 4 - Switzerland

Office M4152

 

Dr Paulina Buffle leads the project Autism in a Global Context at the Laboratory of Sensori-Motor Affective and Social Development at the University of Geneva.

Her career as a scientist is driven by a particular interest in promoting early diagnosis and intervention in young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Dr Buffle’s research involves Eye-tracking and behavioural paradigms in order to investigate visual orientation towards social stimuli in children, as well as participatory research to optimise and customise ASD detection procedures and case-management in pediatric settings.

Her diverse clinical and research training and exposure to different cultures during her professional practice have raised interest in the cultural factor’s impact on ASD identification and intervention processes.

During her stay in Ecuador, Dr Buffle has worked towards understanding the perceptions of autism symptoms in mainstream and professional settings. As an invited lecturer, she has trained paediatricians in the use of autism-specific screening tools and diagnostic procedures. She has also disseminated knowledge on different evidence-based practices, such as ESDM and PACT. She is currently working to understand the adaptability of early intervention in group contexts and the use of telehealth methods to improve access to services for individuals with ASD and their families.

Fluent in French, Spanish, and English, she is currently leading different projects in Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Ecuador.

Additionally, she is a certified professional in ADOS-2 and ADI-R, trained in different neuropsychological and developmental batteries, and provides clinical consultation in different countries.

Recent Publications 

Buffle, P., Armijos, C., Naranjo, A., & Gentaz, E. (2023). Feasibility of an observational procedure to enhance early identification of autism spectrum disorder in paediatric settings: A mixed-methods study on an Ecuadorian sample. Autism. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613231175587

Sideropoulos, V., Van Herwegen, J., Meuleman, B., Alessandri, M., Alnemary, F. M., Buffle , P... & Samson, A. C. (2023). Anxiety, concerns and COVID-19: Cross-country perspectives from families and individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions. Journal of Global Health, 13.

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://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.915817

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://doi.org/10.3390/children9020123

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. [Early identification and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder: a literature review on evidence-based recommendations: Narrative Review.] Ecuadorian Journal of Pediatrics, 22(3), Article 23:1-19. https://doi.org/10.52011/113

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://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87888-3

Book chapter

Buffle, P. (2020). Autism in Ecuador, in Volkmar F. Ed., The Encyclopaedia of Autism, NY, Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102532-1

Book translation

Lejeune, F., Gentaz, E. (2017). El niño prematuro, desarrollo cognitivo y emocional. Translated by Paulina Buffle, Asociación Ecuatoriana de Pediatría.

Oral communications, posters & conferences

Buffle, P. Community Engagement in Research in Ecuador 2015-2023, Cultural Diversity Career Advancement Program (C-CAP), International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Webinar, November 2023.

Buffle, P., Cavadini, T., Ortega M.L., Armijos, C., Soto P., Gentaz, E. Crane, L. (2023). Autism Diagnostic Experiences of Parents in Ecuador, International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) , Stockholm.

Buffle, P., Gentaz, E., Vivanti G. (2023). Coaching à distance pour une intervention médiée par les parents de jeunes enfants autistes : perceptions des méthodes et stratégies du Early Start Denver Model pour les parents  (P-ESDM) en Equateur, RIPSYDEV, Geneva.

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

Actualités

3 questions à Paulina Buffle, docteur associée au BabyLab à l'UNIGE | Radio Lac, 11.10.2021

Areas of interest and expertise

• Diagnosis and Early Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC/ASD)
• Autism Identification procedures in pediatric contexts
• Validation of culturally adapted tools for screening and diagnosis of autism
• Use of Eye-Tracking for the evaluation of socio-cognitive abilities in clinical and typical populations
• Telehealth for evaluation of certain aspects of neurodevelopmental disorders
• Telehealth based on the P-Early Start Denver Model for families of children with neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Socio-cognitive development in typical and clinical populations
• Neuro-cognitive development of individuals with autism
• Neuro-cognitive development of pre-term new-born children

Languages

• French, Spanish, English (fluent)
• Italian, Portuguese (working knowledge)
• German (basic school knowledge)