Validation of an Instrument That Measures Factors Affecting Saudi Parents' Tolerance of Risky Play: A Rasch Analysis.

IMPORTANCE: Benefits of children's participation in risky play are broadly recognized. However, most related research originates in Western countries; none focuses on outdoor play in Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, although the literature identifies varying perspectives on risky play among parents, there is no objective measure to assess personal, situational, and cultural factors shaping their risk tolerance. OBJECTIVE: To establish the construct validity and internal reliability of data gathered with the newly developed Factors Affecting Tolerance for Risk in Play Scale (FAC-TRiPS). DESIGN: Instrument development. SETTING: Online survey. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety Saudi parents with children ages 7 to 10 yr. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The FAC-TRiPS, a 17-item, self-report measure. We used Rasch analysis (Winsteps 4.4.4) to establish evidence for construct validity (item fit, match of item difficulty and parent tolerance, principal-components results) and internal reliability (person reliability index). RESULTS: Item fit analysis revealed that data from 15 of 17 items (88%) conformed to Rasch model expectations. Item difficulty closely matched parents' risk tolerance level. The principal-components analysis of residuals demonstrated that observed variance (49.6%) closely matched expected variance (49.7%). The first contrast's unexplained variance had an eigenvalue slightly greater than 2.5, suggesting possible multidimensionality. The person reliability index was .90. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Preliminary analysis suggests that the FAC-TRiPS yields valid, reliable data measuring factors that influence parents' risk tolerance. Further research is needed. Plain-Language Summary: This study contributes to the knowledge of how parents in Eastern countries perceive risky play. The Factors Affecting Tolerance for Risk in Play Scale (FAC-TRiPS) is a newly developed tool that occupational therapy practitioners can use to understand parents' beliefs about and tolerance for their children's participation in risky play. The findings facilitate an understanding of the complex nature of parenting when determining whether to allow children to participate in risky play activities.

Parent Perspectives on Parent-Mediated Intervention for Young Children With Down Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Parent-mediated intervention (PMI) is a potentially scalable approach for tailored interventions in neurogenetic conditions like Down syndrome (DS). Because PMIs require ongoing parent engagement, they must be developed in alignment with the needs of intended users. The present study examined caregiver opinions and preferences to inform the development of syndrome-informed interventions for children with DS. METHOD: Parents of children with DS (n = 34) participated in focus groups discussing PMI. Interviews were transcribed and a thematic analysis was applied to code the data. RESULTS: Three themes were identified: advantages of PMI, disadvantages of PMI and preferred features of PMI. To align with parent preferences, future PMIs for children with DS should require a brief time commitment, blend intervention activities into daily routines and include family members in activities. CONCLUSIONS: Findings have implications for developing novel interventions to support early development in children with DS and other neurogenetic conditions.

Sensory Processing and Maladaptive Behavior: Profiles Within the Down Syndrome Phenotype.

Aim: Sensory processing impairments are well characterized in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism, and have been associated with maladaptive behaviors. However, little is known regarding sensory processing difficulties within Down syndrome, or how these difficulties may influence maladaptive behavior. This study aims to characterize sensory processing difficulties within the Down syndrome phenotype and determine the influence of processing difficulties on maladaptive behavior. Methods: To explore this issue, we administered the Short Sensory Profile and the Developmental Behavior Checklist to parents or primary caregivers of young children with DS (N = 49; M nonverbal mental age (NVMA) = 30.92 months (SD = 12.30); M chronological age (CA) = 67.04 (SD = 25.13). Results: Results indicated that Low Energy/Weak, Under-responsive/Seeks Sensation, and Auditory Filtering were the areas of greatest sensory regulation difficulty, and that Self-Absorbed behavior and Disruptive/Antisocial behavior were elevated areas of maladaptive behavior. Multivariate regression analyses indicated that Under-responsive/Seeks Sensation was the only sensory regulation domain significantly associated with Self-Absorbed and Disruptive/Antisocial behavior. Conclusion: Findings indicate a consistent pattern of sensory processing impairments and associations with maladaptive behavior in children with DS. Implications for interventions are discussed.

The co-occurrence of Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder: is it because of additional genetic variations?

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at a significantly higher frequency than the typical population. The differentiation of ASD symptoms from those of severe intellectual disability presents diagnostic challenges, which have led to more refined methods in the clinical evaluation of ASD in DS. These improved phenotypic characterization methods not only provide better diagnosis of ASD in DS, but may also be useful in elucidating the etiology of the increased prevalence of ASD in DS. Because all individuals with the classic presentation of DS have trisomy 21, it is possible that those with co-occurring DS and ASD may have additional genetic variants which can act as modifiers of the phenotype, leading to the development of ASD. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Decreased left perisylvian GABA concentration in children with autism and unaffected siblings.

Imbalanced levels of excitation and inhibition (E/I) have been proposed to account for various behavioral and electrophysiological phenotypes in autism. Although proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) studies have been published on various metabolite levels in autism, including glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter, few (1)H-MRS studies have yet been conducted the major inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. Seventeen individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) participated in a single-voxel, point resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) study conducted on a 3T magnet. Data were also acquired on 14 unaffected siblings of children with autism, and 17 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects. GABA concentration was measured along with Creatine (Cr) in a single voxel aligned with the auditory cortex in the perisylvian region of the left hemisphere. The ratio of GABA to Cr was significantly lower in the ASD group than the control subjects. Siblings also exhibited lower GABA/Cr ratios compared to controls. Cr concentration did not differ between groups. The volumes of gray matter, white matter and CSF did not differ between groups in the whole brain or within the spectroscopy voxel. Reduced auditory GABA concentration in ASD is consistent with one previous MRS study of GABA concentration in the frontal lobe in autism, suggesting that multiple neocortical areas may be involved. Lower GABA levels are consistent with theories of ASD as a disorder involving impaired inhibitory neurotransmission and E/I imbalance. The reduction in unaffected siblings suggests that it may be a heritable biomarker, or endophenotype, of autism.

The feasibility of occupational therapy using Zones of Regulation™ Concepts in an equine environment.

Introduction: The current paper aimed to assess the feasibility of a modified intervention protocol named "Occupational Therapy using Zones of Regulation Concepts in an Equine Environment" (OT-ZOR Equine). Methods: A single arm A-B feasibility study was conducted, involving 14 autistic youth ages 6-13 years who first received 10-weeks of occupational therapy without horses (OT-ZOR Clinic) followed by 10-weeks of OT-ZOR Equine. Results: All participants completed the study and attended 95% of OT-ZOR Equine sessions. Occupational therapists maintained 91% fidelity to the OT-ZOR Equine intervention protocol and there were no serious adverse events. All participants' caregivers and study occupational therapists rated being satisfied or very satisfied with the OT-ZOR Equine intervention. Youth demonstrated improved self-regulation following participation in the OT-ZOR Clinic and OT-ZOR Equine interventions. However, participants' social functioning only improved after OT-ZOR Equine. Discussion: This study demonstrated that OT-ZOR Equine is feasible to implement, acceptable to recipients and providers, and may offer additive benefits in social functioning compared to occupational therapy intervention without horses. The current study provides a foundation for future efficacy research aimed at quantifying additive benefits of integrating horses into occupational therapy for autistic youth.

Occupational Therapy Using Zones of Regulation™ Concepts: A Feasibility Study.

There is a lack of peer-reviewed research on occupational therapy using Zones of Regulation™ concepts for autistic youth. The purpose of this article is to describe the feasibility of a newly-developed occupational therapy intervention using Zones of Regulation™ concepts (OT-ZOR) for autistic youth. Specifically, we aimed to evaluate: (a) participant recruitment, retention, and attendance; (b) intervention fidelity, safety, and assessment completion; (c) intervention acceptability; and (d) preliminary participant outcomes. A single-arm feasibility study was completed with outcome measures before and after 10 weeks of OT-ZOR. Fourteen autistic youth ages 6 to 13 completed the study. Youth attended 94% of OT-ZOR sessions. Providers achieved 97% fidelity to the intervention. Occupational therapists and caregivers expressed overall satisfaction with the OT-ZOR intervention. Youth demonstrated significant decreases in irritability, hyperactivity, emotional reactivity, and dysphoria. OT-ZOR is feasible to implement, acceptable to providers and caregivers, and may improve self-regulation in autistic youth.

Occupational Therapy Using Zones of Regulation Concepts: A Feasibility StudyThe research team developed an intervention that combines occupational therapy best practices for autistic youth with concepts from a widely used curriculum for teaching self-regulation skills, the Zones of Regulation™. This article describes the feasibility of implementing this new intervention, named occupational therapy using Zones of Regulation (OT-ZOR). The current feasibility study provided 10 weeks of OT-ZOR to autistic youth ages 6 to 13 and collected data about feasibility of implementing the intervention, acceptability of the intervention to caregivers and providers, and preliminary participant outcomes. OT-ZOR was feasible to implement, as indicated by high rates of retention, attendance, and fidelity to the intervention. OT-ZOR was acceptable to the occupational therapists who provided it, and the caregivers of autistic youth who participated. Youth demonstrated improvements in self-regulation. Overall, we concluded OT-ZOR was feasible to implement, acceptable to providers and caregivers, and may improve self-regulation in autistic youth.

Phonological processing in first-degree relatives of individuals with autism: an fMRI study.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex neurodevelopmental disorders. Twin studies have provided heritability estimates as high as 90% for idiopathic ASD. Further evidence for the spectrum's heritability is provided by the presence of the broad autism phenotype (BAP) in unaffected first-degree relatives. Language ability, specifically phonological processing, is proposed to be a core BAP trait. To date, however, no functional neuroimaging investigations of phonological processing in relatives of individuals with ASD have been undertaken. We conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study in parents of children with ASD utilizing a priming task probing implicit phonological processing. In our condition that placed heavier demands on phonological recoding, parents exhibited greater hemodynamic responses than controls in a network of cortical regions involved in phonological processing. Across conditions, parents exhibited enhanced priming-induced response suppression suggesting compensatory neural processing. A nonword repetition test used in previous studies of relatives was also administered. Correlations between this measure and our functional measures also suggested compensatory processing in parents. Regions exhibiting atypical responses in parents included regions previously implicated in the spectrum's language impairments and found to exhibit structural abnormalities in a parent study. These results suggest a possible neurobiological substrate of the phonological deficits proposed to be a core BAP trait. However, these results should be considered preliminary. No previous fMRI study has investigated phonological processing in ASD, so replication is required. Furthermore, interpretation of our fMRI results is limited by the fact that the parent group failed to exhibit behavioral evidence of phonological impairments.

Group cognitive behavior therapy for children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders and anxiety: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are at high risk for developing significant anxiety. Anxiety can adversely impact functioning across school, home and community environments. Cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) are frequently used with success for children with anxiety symptoms. Modified CBT interventions for anxiety in children with ASD have also yielded promising results. METHODS: Fifty children with high-functioning ASD and anxiety were randomizedto group CBT or treatment-as-usual (TAU) for 12 weeks. Independent clinical evaluators, blind to condition, completed structured interviews (Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule ­ Parent Version;ADIS-P) pre- and post-intervention condition. RESULTS: Forty-seven children completed either the CBT or TAU condition. Results indicated markedly better outcomes for the CBT group. Significant differences by group were noted in Clinician Severity Ratings, diagnostic status, and clinician ratings of global improvement. In the intent-to-treat sample, 10 of 20 children (50%) in the CBT group had a clinically meaningful positive treatment response, compared to 2 of 23 children (8.7%) in the TAU group. CONCLUSIONS: Initial results from this randomized, designed treatment study suggest that agroup CBT intervention specifically developed for children with ASD may be effective in decreasing anxiety. Limitations of this study include small sample size, lack of an attention control group, and use of outcome measures normed with typically developing children

Abnormalities in gamma-band responses to language stimuli in first-degree relatives of children with autism spectrum disorder: an MEG study.

BACKGROUND: Synchronous neural oscillatory activity in the gamma range (30-80 Hz) has been shown to be abnormal in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their first-degree relatives in response to simple auditory stimuli. Gamma-band abnormalities in ASD probands have been seen in response to language stimuli, but this has not been investigated in first-degree relatives. This is of particular interest given that language impairments are a core symptom of ASD and may be part of the broad autism phenotype (BAP) seen in relatives. METHODS: Magnetoencephalography recordings during a continuous word recognition task were obtained for 23 parents of a child with ASD (pASD) and 28 adult control participants. Total and evoked gamma-band activity, as well as inter-trial phase-locking factor (PLF), were measured in response to the task. Beta-band activity was also measured, due to its suggested role in language processing. Participants completed a series of language measures to assess the relationship between brain activity and language function, and lateralization of task-related activity was assessed. RESULTS: The pASD group showed increased evoked gamma and beta activity, while controls had decreased evoked activity. Additionally, while both groups showed a reduction in total gamma power (commonly seen in language tasks), this reduction was more prominent in the control group. The pASD group demonstrated significantly worse performance on a measure of phonology compared to controls. Significant but distinct relationships were found between gamma/beta activity and language measures within the two groups. In addition, while the overall task generally elicited left lateralized responses, pASD showed greater left lateralization than controls in some regions of interest. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormalities in oscillatory responses to language were seen in pASD that are consistent with previous findings in ASD probands. Gamma-band responses to language stimuli have not previously been assessed in first-degree relatives of ASD probands and these findings are supportive of gamma-band activity as a heritable, neurophysiological biomarker of ASD. The possible relationship seen between language function and neural activity in the current study should be investigated further to assess if oscillatory response abnormalities may contribute to behavioural manifestations of the BAP.

Preliminary Efficacy of Occupational Therapy in an Equine Environment for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The purpose of this study was to identify appropriate outcome measures and assess preliminary efficacy of occupational therapy in an equine environment (OTee HORSPLAY) for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Twenty-four youth with ASD aged 6-13 were randomized to 10 weeks of OTee HORSPLAY or to a waitlist control condition, occupational therapy in a garden. Youth demonstrated significantly improved goal attainment and social motivation, and decreased irritability after OTee HORSPLAY. When compared to the subset of participants who completed the waitlist control condition, the OTee HORSPLAY group still demonstrated significant improvements in goal attainment. This study provides preliminary evidence that horses can be integrated into occupational therapy for youth with ASD to improve social and behavioral goals.

Toileting Resistance Among Preschool-Age Children with and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may achieve continence later than other children. Little is known about factors associated with toileting resistance in children with ASD and other developmental delays/disabilities (DD). We sought to describe toileting resistance in children with ASD and DD and those from the general population (POP) and identify factors associated with toileting resistance in children with ASD and DD. METHOD: Families and children aged 24 to 68 months were enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development, a multisite case-control study on ASD. Children with ASD (N = 743) and DD (N = 766) and those from the POP (N = 693) who were 48 months or older were included in this study. Parents reported toileting resistance, gastrointestinal issues, behavior problems, and ASD symptoms in their children. Children completed an in-person evaluation to determine ASD status and developmental level. RESULTS: Toileting resistance was more common among children with ASD (49.1%) than children with DD (23.6%) and those from the POP (8.0%). Diarrhea and deficits in social awareness were significantly associated with toileting resistance in children with ASD and DD. Constipation, expressive language delays, and low social motivation were significantly associated with toileting resistance only in children with ASD; very low visual reception skills and oppositional behaviors were significantly associated with toileting resistance in only children with DD (all p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Evaluating gastrointestinal issues, developmental delays, and social deficits before toileting training may help identify children with atypical development who are likely to present with toileting resistance. These evaluations can be incorporated into health supervision visits.

Pilot Study: Occupational Therapy in an Equine Environment for Youth With Autism.

Despite growing prevalence, research investigating occupational therapy incorporating horses for youth with autism is limited. This study aimed to (a) pilot a screening, evaluation, and intervention protocol of occupational therapy in an equine environment and (b) assess preliminary effects on occupational performance goals, behavior, and social functioning of youth with autism. A multiple baseline single-case experimental design was used. Six youth with autism participated in a no-treatment baseline phase and 10 weeks of intervention. Therapists implemented the intervention with 95% fidelity. Per parent report, participants improved in occupational performance goals, social motivation, and communication; four demonstrated decreased irritability and hyperactivity. This research operationalizes a screening, evaluation, and intervention protocol for occupational therapy in an equine environment, and demonstrates it may improve occupational, behavioral, and social outcomes for youth with autism. Next steps include manualizing the intervention, refining feasibility measures, and implementing a randomized controlled efficacy study.

Developmental Trajectories of Adaptive Behavior From Toddlerhood to Middle Childhood in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Longitudinal growth modeling was utilized to examine adaptive behavior over eight years across the three time points (i.e., ages 2-10). Seventy-six parents completed the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales interviews of adaptive behavior. Child participants completed standardized developmental testing and an executive function task in toddlerhood and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule across all time points. Growth models were specified for communication, daily living skills, and socialization domains of adaptive behavior. Mental age in toddlerhood was a significant predictor of trajectories of communication, daily living skills, and socialization. Executive function and autism severity were significant predictors of socialization. Findings suggest executive function as a potential target for promoting the growth of adaptive behavior skills in addition to autism symptomology.

Cognitive Profiles and Autism Symptoms in Comorbid Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of comorbid autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children with Down syndrome (DS) is estimated to be around 16%. This study aims to fill gaps in the literature by describing developmental and behavioral phenotypes in this group relative to those with DS or ASD in isolation. METHODS: Participants included 173 children (Mage = 73 months) with ASD, DS, or DS + ASD. Two 3 × 2 repeated-measures analyses of variance were completed with between-subject factors of the diagnostic group (DS, ASD, and DS + ASD) and within-subject factors of cognitive performance (verbal and nonverbal developmental quotient [DQ]) or ASD symptoms (social affect [SA] and restricted and repetitive behaviors [RRBs]). RESULTS: Significant group-by-scale interactions were found, and pairwise comparisons revealed that for verbal DQ, DS + ASD < DS, ASD, whereas for nonverbal DQ, DS + ASD < DS < ASD. For SA, DS < DS + ASD < ASD, whereas for RRB, DS, DS + ASD < ASD. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest greater cognitive impairment in DS + ASD on both verbal and nonverbal measures. Despite these significant cognitive challenges, ASD symptoms appeared less severe in DS + ASD relative to peers with ASD in isolation, although SA symptoms were elevated over DS-only. This unique DS + ASD presentation has important implications for early identification and intervention. Given previous research suggesting relative social strengths in DS and less severe ASD symptoms documented in this study, future research may benefit from investigating different aspects of SA (i.e., components related to reciprocal social interaction vs. social communication) in those with DS + ASD to more clearly delineate the social phenotype in this group and potentially inform intervention efforts.

Temperament Similarities and Differences: A Comparison of Factor Structures from the Behavioral Style Questionnaire in Children with and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The majority of studies of temperament in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) use scales normed on typical populations. The present study examined a widely used measure of temperament, the Behavioral Style Questionnaire (McDevitt and Carey in Behavioral Styles Questionnaire, Behavioral-Developmental Initiatives Scottsdale, AZ, 1975) to determine whether it contains the temperament traits theorized by its creators. Neither confirmatory nor exploratory factor analysis, using a sample of children with ASD and a population comparison group, identified the theorized nine temperament factors; many items did not strongly load on any of the original factors. A 10 factor solution best described the ASD data and a 9 factor solution best described the typical group's data. There were substantial similarities in the 9 factor solutions, but groups differed from one another enough to question construct similarity for several factors. These results highlight that more basic psychometric research is needed to better understand the BSQ in children with ASD.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptom profiles of children with comorbid Down syndrome (DS) and ASD: A comparison with children with DS-only and ASD-only.

BACKGROUND: Down syndrome (DS) is associated with increased rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), characterized by social-communicative impairments (SOC-COM) and repetitive behaviors and interests (RBI). However, little is known about the ASD symptom presentation in children with DS + ASD. AIMS: The current study sought to describe parent-report of SOC-COM and RBI symptoms on the Autism Diagnostic Interview -Revised (ADI-R) in children with DS (n = 22), DS + ASD (n = 11), and ASD (n = 66). METHOD: SOC-COM and RBI scores from the ADI-R were compared across the groups whose autism status was ascertained using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. RESULTS: Differences in SOC-COM and RBI symptom severity was observed. The general pattern of findings was ASD > DS+ASD > DS. Dissimilar ASD symptom profiles were observed across groups. In ASD, SOC-COM scores were higher than RBI scores; in DS + ASD, similar SOC-COM and RBI scores were observed. Lastly, SOC-COM impairments were highly related to verbal cognition in youth with DS + ASD but not in those with DS or ASD. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that children with DS + ASD have a distinct profile of ASD symptoms that differs from peers with either disorder in isolation. Thus, care should be taken in evaluating and designing treatments for this group.

Sleep Problems in 2- to 5-Year-Olds With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Developmental Delays.

: media-1vid110.1542/5984243260001PEDS-VA_2018-0492Video Abstract BACKGROUND: Sleep problems can impact daytime behavior, quality of life, and overall health. We compared sleep habits in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental delays and disorders and in children from the general population (POP). METHODS: We included 2- to 5-year-old children whose parent completed all items on the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) in a multisite case-control study: 522 children with ASD; 228 children with other developmental delays and disorders with autism spectrum disorder characteristics (DD w/ASD); 534 children with other developmental delays and disorders without autism spectrum disorder characteristics (DD w/o ASD); and 703 POP. Multivariable analysis of variance compared CSHQ mean total score (TS) and subscale scores between groups. Logistic regression analysis examined group differences by using TS cutoffs of 41 and 48. Analyses were adjusted for covariates. RESULTS: Mean CSHQ TS for children in each group: ASD (48.5); DD w/ASD (50.4); DD w/o ASD (44.4); and POP (43.3). Differences between children with ASD and both children with DD w/o ASD and POP were statistically significant. Using a TS cutoff of 48, the proportion of children with sleep problems was significantly higher in children in the ASD group versus DD w/o ASD and POP groups (adjusted odds ratios [95% confidence intervals]: 2.12 [1.57 to 2.87] and 2.37 [1.75 to 3.22], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep problems are more than twice as common in young children with ASD and DD w/ASD. Screening for sleep problems is important in young children to facilitate provision of appropriate interventions.

Use of a teacher nomination strategy to screen for autism spectrum disorders in general education classrooms: a pilot study.

Given a rising prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), this project aimed to develop and pilot test various teacher nomination strategies to identify children at risk for ASD in a timely, reliable, cost-effective manner. Sixty participating elementary school teachers evaluated 1323 children in total. Each teacher nominated students who most fit a description of ASD-associated characteristics, and completed the Autism Syndrome Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) on every child in the classroom. The proportion of overall agreement between teacher nomination and ASSQ was 93-95%, depending upon the nomination parameters. Nomination required 15 min per class versus 3.5-5.5 h per class for the ASSQ. These results support the need for further study of teacher nomination strategies to identify children at risk for ASD.

Gross motor development, movement abnormalities, and early identification of autism.

Gross motor development (supine, prone, rolling, sitting, crawling, walking) and movement abnormalities were examined in the home videos of infants later diagnosed with autism (regression and no regression subgroups), developmental delays (DD), or typical development. Group differences in maturity were found for walking, prone, and supine, with the DD and Autism-No Regression groups both showing later developing motor maturity than typical children. The only statistically significant differences in movement abnormalities were in the DD group; the two autism groups did not differ from the typical group in rates of movement abnormalities or lack of protective responses. These findings do not replicate previous investigations suggesting that early motor abnormalities seen on home video can assist in early identification of autism.