Developmental Functioning of Infants and Toddlers with Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

PURPOSE: The current study aimed to investigate developmental functioning in infants and toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), seizures, cerebral palsy (CP), and atypical development. METHODS: An ANOVA was utilized to investigate the differences between neurodevelopmental group on BDI-2 developmental quotient and a MANOVA was used to investigate the differences between the groups and five developmental domains. RESULTS: The results indicated statistically significant differences in overall developmental functioning and each subdomain of the BDI-2. DISCUSSION: These findings provide the basis for further research to investigate comorbidities of the three neurodevelopmental disorders and parse out the impact of intellectual disability (ID).

Developmental Functioning of Toddlers At-Risk for Autism With and Without Down Syndrome.

PURPOSE: Due to the difficulties in differentiating between impairments associated with intellectual disability and ASD symptomology, DS often leads to delayed or misdiagnoses of ASD. METHOD: An ANOVA was run to investigate the effects of ASD risk and DS on overall developmental functioning across three groups: ASD+, DS-, and DS+ (n = 138). A MANOVA was run to investigate the differences of group on five developmental subdomains. RESULTS: The results revealed significant group differences in the overall developmental functioning and each developmental subdomain. Children in the DS+ group demonstrated significantly lower overall developmental functioning, as well as lower adaptive, cognitive, motor, and communication skills compared to their peers; however, children in the DS- group demonstrated significantly better social skills compared to their peers in the ASD+ group. DISCUSSION: These findings support the need for early screening and identification of ASD among those with DS.

Examination of multiple birth as a predictor of autism symptom severity and developmental functioning in an early intervention sample.

Multiple birth is one of several perinatal factors associated with increased risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, complexity in its relationship to ASD symptoms and developmental functioning remains. The present study investigated perinatal risk factors for ASD, primarily focusing on birth status, within a large early intervention sample. In particular, the relationship between ASD, perinatal factors, and the effect of birth status on developmental functioning and ASD symptom severity were examined in youth with and without ASD classification who were born singly or were the product of a multiple birth. Overall, the presence of other perinatal risk factors, including prematurity, low birth weight, and advanced parental age, was primarily related to birth status and not to ASD classification, while severity of ASD symptoms and developmental impairments were primarily related to ASD classification and not to birth status. Study findings and implications for early screening of children with developmental delays are discussed.

Development and initial testing of the BABY-BISCUIT in an at-risk population.

PURPOSE: Early identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) via screeners for diagnostic measures are a high priority. At present, there is no consensus on one screener due to the need for better sensitivity and specificity. In this study, we report on the development and utility of the BABY-BISCUIT, a six-item screener based on a modified subset of items from the Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits (BISCUIT). METHODS: A sample of 504 children between 17-3 9months of age, who consisted of toddlers identified as at-risk for neurodevelopmental and other health disorders, were tested during an annual screening through the Louisiana EarlySteps program. RESULTS: An exploratory factor analysis yielded a one-factor solution (X2 = 48.62, df = 9, p = <.001). High sensitivity (i.e., 100.0%) at the cost of reduced specificity (i.e., 33.3%, AUC = 0.957) was found for an optimal screening cutoff score of 1. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study suggest that the BABY-BISCUIT has the potential to be a short and easily administered screener for ASD to inform whether further ASD assessment is necessary. Further investigation of convergent validity with established ASD measures is recommended.

Factors Associated with Restricted, Repetitive Behaviors and Interests and Diagnostic Severity Level Ratings in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and interests (RRBIs). With the latest update to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a severity level rating is assigned to the two core features of ASD (American Psychiatric Association in Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 5 American Psychiatric Association Washington, D.C., 2013). Previous studies have identified factors associated with RRBI severity; however, the relationship among RRBIs, adaptive functioning, and diagnostic severity level remains unclear. The present study investigated whether adaptive functioning and parent-reported ASD symptoms predict RRBI severity in young children with ASD. Additionally, a fine-grained analysis was conducted to examine the factors associated with diagnostic severity level ratings. Several significant associations were found. Study findings and implications for assessment and treatment of RRBIs are discussed.

Comparing Rates of Diagnosis Using DSM-IV-TR Versus DSM-5 Criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

With the publication of DSM-5, many changes were introduced regarding how Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) would be diagnosed. Changes from DSM-IV-TR were controversial, with many arguing that individuals would lose their diagnosis with the new criteria. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the application of diagnostic criteria across both recent versions in a sample of infants and toddlers. Fewer individuals met criteria according to DSM-5; however, a larger proportion of individuals met criteria for both. Additionally, individuals with higher levels of symptoms were more likely to meet criteria for both versions as compared to either alone. Overall, results suggest that there are meaningful differences in how DSM criteria may apply to individuals with an ASD.

Parental Age at Conception and the Relationship with Severity of Autism Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has examined the relationship between advanced parental age at conception and the incidence of autism, and has noted strong relationships between advanced parental age and other developmental disabilities. AIM: The purpose of this study was to confirm that and extend that knowledge to the association between advanced parental age and severity of autism symptoms as measured by a parental report of ASD symptom severity. METHODS: The current study included 252 participants between the ages of 2-17 years and their parents. RESULTS: Child's gender and paternal age were found to be significant predictors of autism severity with males and children with older fathers at conception showing the highest severity. Interestingly, maternal age was not found to be a significant predictor of autism risk or severity of symptoms in this sample. CONCLUSION: Possible explanations for these findings are discussed, as well as future directions for research in this area.

Differences in Developmental Concerns of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Across Racial/Ethnic Groups.

PURPOSE: Parents/caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have varying types of initial concerns regarding their child's development, which may be culturally bound to parents' perceptions of their child's development. This study investigated differences in the types of initial developmental concerns reported by parents or caregivers of different racial/ethnic groups with children in an early intervention program. METHOD: This study examined the frequency of endorsement of different types of concerns in African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic families. RESULTS: No significant differences between racial/ethnic groups were found in the endorsement of concerns related to communication, language/speech, motor, problem behavior, sensory, feeding, prematurity, attention, adaptive functioning, and medical conditions. Racial/ethnic groups differed significantly in their endorsement for social concerns. CONCLUSION: Racial/ethnic group differences were confirmed regarding initial developmental concerns related to social behavior, which may be due to cultural beliefs. The implications of these findings on early identification are discussed.

Gender Differences and Similarities: Autism Symptomatology and Developmental Functioning in Young Children.

A growing body of research suggests that symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may present differently in males and females. This study examined gender differences in ASD symptoms and developmental functioning, using the Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtism Traits, Part 1 (BISCUIT-Part 1) and the Battelle Developmental Inventory, 2nd Edition (BDI-2), amongst children aged 17-37 months meeting ASD diagnostic criteria (n = 1317). No gender differences were found in regards to overall symptom severity or symptom domains on the BISCUIT-Part 1 when gender groups were matched by cognitive ability. Females with ASD had greater motor deficits and less communication impairment compared to their male counterparts as measured by the BDI-2. Secondary analyses examining item endorsement patterns were also conducted. Implications of the findings are discussed.