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The Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers (STAT) is a validated stage‐2 autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening measure that takes 20 minutes to administer and comprises 12 play‐based items that are scored according to specific criteria. This study examines an expanded version (STAT‐E) that includes the examiner's subjective ratings of children's social engagement (SE) and atypical behaviors (AB) in the scoring algorithm. The sample comprised 238 children who were 24–35 months old. The STAT‐E assessors had limited ASD experience to mimic its use by community‐based non‐specialists, and were trained using a scalable web‐based platform. A diagnostic evaluation was completed by clinical experts who were blind to the STAT‐E results. Logistic regression, ROC curves, and classification matrices and metrics were used to determine the screening properties of STAT‐E when scored using the original STAT scoring algorithm versus a new algorithm that included the SE and AB ratings. Inclusion of the SE and AB ratings improved positive risk classification appreciably, while the specificity declined. These results suggest that the STAT‐E using the original STAT scoring algorithm optimizes specificity, while the STAT‐E scoring algorithm with the two new ratings optimizes the positive risk classification. Using multiple scoring algorithms on the STAT may provide improved screening accuracy for diverse contexts, and a scalable web‐based tutorial may be a pathway for increasing the number of community providers who can administer the STAT and contribute toward increased rates of autism screening. Lay Summary: Detecting autism in young children allows for timely access to specialized early intervention services. A new scoring system that incorporates two new ratings for the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers (STAT) significantly increased the number of children correctly identified at ASD risk when administered by novice STAT assessors who were trained using a web‐based tutorial. Using web‐based training and non‐expert providers has the potential to increase the number of community providers who can administer the STAT and contribute toward increased rates of ASD screening and service access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic has posed unique challenges for families and caregivers, as well as for autism‐focused clinicians, who are faced with providing a thorough and accurate evaluation of children's specific needs and diagnoses in the absence of in‐person assessment tools. The shift to telehealth assessments has challenged clinicians to reconsider approaches and assumptions that underlie the diagnostic assessment process, and to adopt new ways of individualizing standard assessments according to family and child needs. Mandates for physical distancing have uncovered deficiencies in diagnostic practices for suspected autism and have illuminated biases that have posed obstacles preventing children and families from receiving the services that they truly need. This Commentary outlines several considerations for improving diagnostic practices as we move forward from the current pandemic and continue to strive to build an adaptable, sustainable, equitable, and family‐centered system of care. Lay Summary: Physical distancing and the abrupt end to in‐person services for many children on the autism spectrum has forced clinicians to examine the existing challenges with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnostic assessment and consider things they want to keep and things that should be changed in the years ahead. New approaches such as telehealth both alleviated and exacerbated existing disparities, and brought into stark focus the importance of equitable and timely access to family‐centered care. This commentary suggests ways of improving clinical practices related to ASD assessment to continue along this path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the development of several evidence‐based Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), very few have been adapted for use in community‐based settings. This study examines the implementation of Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT)—an NDBI—by community Early Intervention (EI; IDEA Part C) providers serving toddlers from birth to 3 years. Of the 87 EI providers enrolled from 9 agencies in 4 counties across Washington State, 66 were included in the current sample. A stepped‐wedge design was used to randomly assign counties to the timing of RIT training workshops. Self‐report measures of practice and self‐efficacy regarding ASD care were collected at baseline (T1, T2) and 6‐months and 12‐months post‐training (T3, T4). At T3 and T4, providers reported on RIT adoption and rated items about RIT feasibility and perceived RIT effectiveness; at T4, they also reported on child characteristics that led to RIT use and modifications. From pre‐training to post‐training, there were significant increases in providers' self‐efficacy in providing services to children with ASD or suspected ASD. At T3 and T4, provider ratings indicated high levels of RIT adoption, feasibility, and perceived RIT effectiveness. At T4, providers indicated that they most commonly: (a) initiated RIT when there were social‐communication or motor imitation delays, or an ASD diagnosis; and (b) made modifications to RIT by repeating elements, blending it with other therapies, and loosening its structure. While additional research is needed, RIT may help families get an early start on accessing specialized treatment within an established infrastructure available across the United States. Lay Summary: Reciprocal imitation training (RIT) is an evidence‐based treatment for ASD that might be a good fit for use by intervention providers in widely accessible community‐based settings. After attending an educational workshop on RIT, providers reported feeling more comfortable providing services to families with ASD concerns, used RIT with over 400 families, and believed that RIT improved important social communication behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced parental age is a well‐replicated risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition with a complex and not well‐defined etiology. We sought to determine parental age associations with ASD‐related outcomes in subjects at high familial risk for ASD. A total of 397 younger siblings of a child with ASD, drawn from existing prospective high familial risk cohorts, were included in these analyses. Overall, we did not observe significant associations of advanced parental age with clinical ASD diagnosis, Social Responsiveness Scale, or Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales scores. Instead, increased odds of ASD were found with paternal age < 30 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.83 and 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.14–7.02). Likewise, younger age (<30 years) for both parents was associated with decreases in Mullen Scales of Early Learning early learning composite (MSEL‐ELC) scores (adjusted β = −9.62, 95% CI = −17.1 to −2.15). We also found significant increases in cognitive functioning based on MSEL‐ELC scores with increasing paternal age (adjusted β associated with a 10‐year increase in paternal age = 5.51, 95% CI = 0.70–10.3). Results suggest the potential for a different relationship between parental age and ASD‐related outcomes in families with elevated ASD risk than has been observed in general population samples. Autism Res 2020, 13: 998‐1010. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay Summary Previous work suggests that older parents have a greater likelihood of having a child with autism. We investigated this relationship in the younger siblings of families who already had a child with autism. In this setting, we found a higher likelihood of autism, as well as poorer cognitive scores, in the siblings with younger fathers, and higher cognitive scores in the siblings with older parents. These results suggest that parental age associations may differ based on children's familial risk for autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robust findings demonstrate that parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience high levels of parenting stress that are associated with negative outcomes for families. Although the majority of research on parenting stress has focused on parents of children with an existing diagnosis, parents of young children with concerns about ASD‐related behaviors also face many unique challenges before the time of diagnosis. However, no study to date has examined patterns of parenting stress among parents of children with ASD concerns prior to a formal ASD diagnosis. Therefore, the current study investigated longitudinal trajectories of parenting stress among parents of young children with ASD concerns compared to parents of children with non‐ASD developmental concerns (e.g., language delay), and parents of children with no developmental concerns. Known predictors of parenting stress were also examined. Results from multilevel model analyses revealed that parents of children with ASD concerns experienced consistently higher levels of parenting stress across early child development compared to parents of children with non‐ASD developmental concerns and those with no concerns. Additionally, parenting efficacy, psychological functioning, social satisfaction, and child social communication behaviors predicted levels of parenting stress for all parents. Autism Res 2020, 13: 82–92. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay Summary: This study examined parenting stress across time among parents of young children with ASD concerns before receiving a diagnosis. Parents of children with ASD concerns reported consistently higher levels of parenting stress compared to parents of children with other developmental concerns and parents of children with no concerns. Also, ASD concerns predicted parenting stress in addition to other parent and child predictors of parenting stress. These findings highlight the need to better support families before an ASD diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water treatment residual (WTR) is an underused clean water industry byproduct, generally disposed to landfill. This study assesses the benefits and risks of ferric‐WTR as a soil amendment or co‐amendment for plant growth in a nutrient‐poor sandy soil. A 12‐wk pot trial tested the efficacy of WTR and a locally available, low‐quality, municipal compost as single (1, 5, and 12.5% dry mass) and co‐amended treatments (1:1 WTR/compost ratio, at 2, 10, and 25%) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth in a sandy soil. The low total N content of the compost and low WTR P and K contents resulted in significantly lower (up to 50% lower, p < 0.05) plant biomass in single amendments compared with the control, whereas the highest co‐amendment produced significantly higher plant biomass (33% higher, p < 0.05) than the control. This positive co‐amendment effect on plant growth is attributed to balanced nutrient provision, with P and K from the compost and N from the WTR. Foliar micronutrient and Al levels showed no toxic accumulation, and co‐amended foliar Mn levels increased from near deficient (20 mg kg−1) to sufficient (50 mg kg−1). Total WTR metals were well below maximum land application concentrations (USDA). Trace element bioavailability remained the same (Ni, Cu, and Hg) or significantly decreased (B, Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, As, and Cd; p < 0.05) during the pot trial. These results suggest, within this context, that a WTR–compost co‐amendment is a promising soil improvement technology for increasing crop yields in sandy soils. Core Ideas: Iron (Fe) water treatment residual (WTR) is a byproduct of potable water production.Wheat biomass increased by 33% when poor‐quality compost and Fe‐WTR were combined.Combined amendments and control outperformed single amendments of compost and WTR.Bioavailable metals measured after the pot trial did not increase.Co‐application of compost with WTR may counter the negative effects of P sorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among preschool‐age children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing children, parents' verbal responsiveness (PVR) has long been shown to predict children's later language ability. However, before the age of three, when language develops most rapidly, the early social communication deficits associated with ASD may impact parents' opportunities to facilitate early language development. The aim of this review was to characterize the relation between PVR and the vocal communication ability of children with or at high risk for ASD early in development. Specifically, we examined whether the relation between PVR and child communication varied by type of PVR and by child diagnostic status, as well as whether interventions increased PVR. A systematic multi‐database search yielded 25 empirical studies (804 parent–toddler dyads; 30 effect sizes) that met inclusion criteria and related a variable of PVR to a variable of child vocalization or language. Meta‐regression analyses revealed that the relation between PVR and child communication was significant regardless of PVR type or child diagnostic status. To date, interventions targeting both PVR and child communication were found to significantly increase PVR, but not child communication, for these populations. Future research should examine parent–child communication in a transactional, longitudinal manner. In addition, these findings have implications for interventions designed to target parents' responsiveness and child communication. Autism Research 2019, 12: 715–731. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay Summary: For families with children under 3 years old who are at risk for or diagnosed with ASD, this study revealed empirical evidence of a robust relation between parents'' verbal responsiveness to their children's play and communication and children's communication ability. This relation is similar to that reported in research on typically developing children. Interventions designed to improve parent–child interaction in children with or at risk for ASD may be effective in increasing parents' responsiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) becomes a greater public health concern, access to professionals and expert assessment becomes increasingly more challenging. Novel techniques to improve efficiency of assessment of young children with social communication concerns are desperately needed to address significant barriers to accessing diagnostic evaluations. Utilizing crowdsourcing technology, we compared ratings by experts and crowdworkers of social communication behaviors in videos of 18‐month‐old children. Of note, 563 crowdworkers and 24 expert responses were collected in approximately 7 hr and 57 days, respectively. Summed scores of social communication behaviors observed by crowdworkers showed high correlation to those of experts. These data introduce a novel and perhaps efficient way in which to examine of social communication impairments in toddlers. Autism Research2018, 11: 1629–1634. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay Summary This research compared crowdsourced assessments of social communication behaviors to assessments by experts, for toddlers whose behaviors ranged in severity from typical to atypical. Results showed that crowdsourced rankings of social communication behavior significantly correlate with those of experts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International migration has changed the demographics and dynamics of Australia's population since European settlement. It continues to be a principal driver in the growth of its cities, including a projected doubling of major city populations by mid‐century. The influence of migrants on metropolitan housing markets—and urban consumption more generally—has been significant, and the socio‐spatial influence of migration in Australia has been the focus of regular geographical research. Less researched is the impact that "importing" half of the nation's population growth each year has on consumption of urban resources and environmental impact, including via housing consumption practices. Evidence has also been lacking on changed consumption behaviours of migrants moving from developing to developed, high‐income societies—a barometer, perhaps, of a future trajectory of consumption within developing societies. The largest cohort of recent immigrants to Australian cities has been from China, and this trend can be expected to continue. This paper focuses on a comparison of urban consumption patterns (with particular focus on housing) among a group of 61 China‐born households prior to their migration to Melbourne post‐1995 and following their settlement in an established middle‐ring suburb of Melbourne (Box Hill). Using ecological footprint as the metric of consumption, results are striking. Not only do China‐born migrants "catch up" to Australian levels of urban consumption but they also surpass it in many cases. Findings are examined in relation to housing and urban context and a range of household sociocultural factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often experience difficulty participating in everyday home routines, such as bed time or bath time. This randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy of an interactive, web‐based parenting tutorial for improving children's engagement in daily routines (i.e., proximal outcomes) as well improving children's social communication and parenting efficacy and stress (i.e., broad outcomes). Parents of children with ASD between 18 and 60 months were randomly assigned to the Tutorial group (n = 52) or the Control group (n = 52). All parents completed questionnaires at baseline (T1), 1 month after T1 (T2; post‐tutorial completion), and 2 months after T1 (T3). Relative to the Control group, parents in the Tutorial group reported significantly higher use of evidence‐based instructional strategies and higher levels of child engagement during routines at T2 and T3. In addition, parents in the Tutorial group reported significantly lower parenting stress and higher parenting efficacy at T3, as well as higher ratings of child social communication at T2 and T3, compared to the Control group. Parents reported being highly satisfied with both the clinical content and technical aspects of the tutorial. These improvements in both proximal and broad parent‐child outcomes suggest that this tutorial may be a promising and accessible way for empowering some parents and improving parent‐child interactions. Autism Res2018, 11: 667–678. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay Summary: This web‐based tutorial helped parents of children with ASD use proven strategies to improve their child's participation in daily routines at home. Parents who used the tutorial reported less parenting stress, felt better about their parenting skills, and reported better child social interactions compared to parents who did not use the tutorial. This tutorial may be especially helpful for families who have limited access to services, as it can be completed at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc borate glasses with increasing gallium content (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 Wt % Ga) were synthesized and their degradation, bioactivity in simulated body fluid (SBF), and antibacterial properties were investigated. ICP measurements showed that increased gallium content in the glass resulted in increased gallium ion release and decreased release of other ions. Degradability declined with the addition of gallium, indicating the formation of more symmetric BO3 units with three bridging oxygens and asymmetric BO3 units with two bridging oxygens in the glass network as the gallium content in the series increased. The formation of amorphous CaP on the glass surface after 24 h of incubation in SBF was confirmed by SEM, XRD, and FTIR analyses. Finally, antibacterial evaluation of the glasses using the agar disc-diffusion method demonstrated that the addition of gallium increased the antibacterial potency of the glasses against P. aeruginosa (Gram-negative) while decreasing it against S. epidermidis (Gram-positive); considering the ion release trends, this indicates that the gallium ion is responsible for the glasses' antibacterial behavior against P. aeruginosa while the zinc ion controls the antibacterial activity against S. epidermidis. The statistical significance of the observed trends in the measurements were confirmed by applying the Kruskal-Wallis H Test. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 367-376, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensory processing alterations are highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Neurobiologically-based theories of ASD propose that abnormalities in the processing of temporal aspects of sensory input could underlie core symptoms of ASD. For example, rapid auditory temporal processing is critical for speech perception, and language difficulties are central to the social communication deficits defining the disorder. This study assessed visual and auditory temporal processing abilities and tested their relation to core ASD symptoms. 53 children (26 ASD, 27 TD) completed visual and auditory psychophysical gap detection tasks to measure gap detection thresholds (i.e., the minimum interval between sequential stimuli needed for individuals to perceive an interruption between the stimuli) in each domain. Children were also administered standardized language assessments such that the relation between individual differences in auditory gap detection thresholds and degree of language and communication difficulties among children with ASD could be assessed. Children with ASD had substantially higher auditory gap detection thresholds compared to children with TD, and auditory gap detection thresholds were correlated significantly with several measures of language processing in this population. No group differences were observed in the visual temporal processing. Results indicate a domain-specific impairment in rapid auditory temporal processing in ASD that is associated with greater difficulties in language processing. Findings provide qualified support for temporal processing theories of ASD and highlight the need for future research testing the nature, extent, and universality of auditory temporal processing deficits in this population. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1845-1856. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay Summary Sensory symptoms are common in ASD. Temporal processing alterations are often implicated, but understudied. The ability to process rapid sensory information, particularly auditory input, is critical for language functioning. This study tested auditory and visual temporal processing in ASD and controls. Findings suggest that rapid auditory (but not visual) processing is impaired in ASD and related to language functioning. These results could provide mechanistic clues to understanding core symptoms and lead to novel intervention targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cost associated with incorporating standardized observational assessments and diagnostic interviews in large-scale epidemiologic studies of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) risk factors can be substantial. Streamlined approaches for confirming ASD case status would benefit these studies. We conducted a multi-site, cross-sectional criterion validity study in a convenience sample of 382 three-year olds scheduled for neurodevelopmental evaluation. ASD case classification as determined by three novel assessment instruments (the Early Video-guided Autism Screener E-VAS; the Autism Symptom Interview, ASI; the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers Expanded, STAT-E) each designed to be administered in less than 30 minutes by lay staff, was compared to ADOS scores and DSM-based diagnostic assessment from a qualified clinician. Sensitivity and specificity of each instrument alone and in combination were estimated. Alternative cutpoints were identified under different criteria and two-stage cross validation was used to avoid overfitting. Findings were interpreted in the context of a large, prospective pregnancy cohort study utilizing a two-stage approach to case identification. Under initial cutpoints, sensitivity ranged from 0.63 to 0.92 and specificity from 0.35 to 0.70. Cutpoints giving equal weight to sensitivity and specificity resulted in sensitivity estimates ranging from 0.45 to 0.83 and specificity ranging from 0.49 to 0.86. Several strategies were well-suited for application as a second-stage case-confirmation. These included the STAT-E alone and the parallel administration of both the E-VAS and the ASI. Use of more streamlined methods of case-confirmation in large-scale prospective cohort epidemiologic investigations of ASD risk factors appears feasible. Autism Res 2017, 10: 485-501. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circadian clock, an internal time-keeping mechanism, allows plants to anticipate regular changes in the environment, such as light and dark, and biotic challenges such as pathogens and herbivores. Here, we demonstrate that the plant circadian clock influences susceptibility to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea. Arabidopsis plants show differential susceptibility to B. cinerea depending on the time of day of inoculation. Decreased susceptibility after inoculation at dawn compared with night persists under constant light conditions and is disrupted in dysfunctional clock mutants, demonstrating the role of the plant clock in driving time-of-day susceptibility to B. cinerea. The decreased susceptibility to B. cinerea following inoculation at subjective dawn was associated with faster transcriptional reprogramming of the defence response with gating of infection-responsive genes apparent. Direct target genes of core clock regulators were enriched among the transcription factors that responded more rapidly to infection at subjective dawn than subjective night, suggesting an influence of the clock on the defence-signalling network. In addition, jasmonate signalling plays a crucial role in the rhythmic susceptibility of Arabidopsis to B. cinerea with the enhanced susceptibility to this pathogen at subjective night lost in a jaz6 mutant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most research into the epidemiology, etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of autism is based on studies in high income countries. Moreover, within high income countries, individuals of high socioeconomic status are disproportionately represented among participants in autism research. Corresponding disparities in access to autism screening, diagnosis, and treatment exist globally. One of the barriers perpetuating this imbalance is the high cost of proprietary tools for diagnosing autism and for delivering evidence-based therapies. Another barrier is the high cost of training of professionals and para-professionals to use the tools. Open-source and open access models provide a way to facilitate global collaboration and training. Using these models and technologies, the autism scientific community and clinicians worldwide should be able to work more effectively and efficiently than they have to date to address the global imbalance in autism knowledge and at the same time advance our understanding of autism and our ability to deliver cost-effective services to everyone in need. Autism Res 2015, 8: 473-476. © 2015 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder ( ASD) made before age 3 has been found to be remarkably stable in clinic- and community-ascertained samples. The stability of an ASD diagnosis in prospectively ascertained samples of infants at risk for ASD due to familial factors has not yet been studied, however. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends intensive surveillance and screening for this high-risk group, which may afford earlier identification. Therefore, it is critical to understand the stability of an ASD diagnosis made before age 3 in young children at familial risk. Methods Data were pooled across seven sites of the Baby Siblings Research Consortium. Evaluations of 418 later-born siblings of children with ASD were conducted at 18, 24, and 36 months of age and a clinical diagnosis of ASD or Not ASD was made at each age. Results The stability of an ASD diagnosis at 18 months was 93% and at 24 months was 82%. There were relatively few children diagnosed with ASD at 18 or 24 months whose diagnosis was not confirmed at 36 months. There were, however, many children with ASD outcomes at 36 months who had not yet been diagnosed at 18 months (63%) or 24 months (41%). Conclusions The stability of an ASD diagnosis in this familial-risk sample was high at both 18 and 24 months of age and comparable with previous data from clinic- and community-ascertained samples. However, almost half of the children with ASD outcomes were not identified as being on the spectrum at 24 months and did not receive an ASD diagnosis until 36 months. Thus, longitudinal follow-up is critical for children with early signs of social-communication difficulties, even if they do not meet diagnostic criteria at initial assessment. A public health implication of these data is that screening for ASD may need to be repeated multiple times in the first years of life. These data also suggest that there is a period of early development in which ASD features unfold and emerge but have not yet reached levels supportive of a diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined whether 9-month-old infants at average vs. high risk for autism spectrum disorder ( ASD) process facial features (eyes, mouth) differently and whether such differences are related to infants' social and communicative skills. Eye tracking and visual event-related potentials ( ERPs) were recorded in 35 infants (20 average-risk typical infants, 15 high-risk siblings of children with ASD) while they viewed photographs of a smiling unfamiliar female face. On 30% of the trials, the eyes or the mouth of that face was replaced with corresponding features from a different female. There were no group differences in the number, duration, or distribution of fixations, and all infants looked at the eyes and mouth regions equally. However, increased attention to the mouth was associated with weaker receptive communication skills and increased attention to the eyes correlated with better interpersonal skills. ERP results revealed that all infants detected eye and mouth changes but did so using different brain mechanisms. Changes in facial features were associated with changes in activity of the face perception mechanisms ( N290) for the average-risk group but not for the high-risk infants. For all infants, correlations between ERP and eye-tracking measures indicated that larger and faster ERPs to feature changes were associated with fewer fixations on the irrelevant regions of stimuli. The size and latency of the ERP responses also correlated with parental reports of receptive and expressive communication skills, suggesting that differences in brain processing of human faces are associated with individual differences in social-communicative behaviors. Autism Res 2012, 5: 253-266. © 2012 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This randomized controlled trial compared Hanen's 'More than Words' (HMTW), a parent-implemented intervention, to a 'business as usual' control group. Sixty-two children (51 boys and 11 girls; M age = 20 months; SD = 2.6) who met criteria for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their parents participated in the study. The HMTW intervention was provided over 3.5 months. There were three measurement periods: prior to randomization (Time 1) and at 5 and 9 months post enrollment (Times 2 and 3). Children's communication and parental responsivity were measured at each time point. Children's object interest, a putative moderator, was measured at Time 1. There were no main effects of the HMTW intervention on either parental responsivity or children's communication. However, the effects on residualized gains in parental responsivity from Time 1 to both Times 2 and 3 yielded noteworthy effect sizes (Glass's Δ = .71, .50 respectively). In contrast, there were treatment effects on child communication gains to Time 3 that were moderated by children's Time 1 object interest. Children with lower levels of Time 1 object interest exhibited facilitated growth in communication; children with higher levels of object interest exhibited growth attenuation. The HMTW intervention showed differential effects on child communication depending on a baseline child factor. HMTW facilitated communication in children with lower levels of Time 1 object interest. Parents of children who evidence higher object interest may require greater support to implement the HMTW strategies, or may require different strategies than those provided by the HMTW curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared working memory (WM) for the location of social versus non-social targets in infant siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (sibs-ASD, n = 25) and of typically developing children (sibs-TD, n = 30) at 6.5 and 9 months of age. There was a significant interaction of risk group and target type on WM, in which the sibs-ASD had better WM for non-social targets as compared with controls. There was no group by stimulus interaction on two non-memory measures. The results suggest that the increased competency of sibs-ASD in WM (creating, updating and using transient representations) for non-social stimuli distinguishes them from sibs-TD by 9 months of age. This early emerging strength is discussed as a developmental pathway that may have implications for social attention and learning in children at risk for ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined whether face-specific perceptual brain mechanisms in 9-month-old infants are differentially sensitive to changes in individual facial features (eyes versus mouth) and whether sensitivity to such changes is related to infants' social and communicative skills. Infants viewed photographs of a smiling unfamiliar female face. On 30% of the trials, either the eyes or the mouth of that face were replaced by corresponding parts from a different female. Visual event-related potentials were recorded to examine face-sensitive brain responses. Results revealed that increased competence in expressive communication and interpersonal relationships was associated with a more mature response to faces, as reflected in a larger occipito-temporal N290 with shorter latency. Both eye- and mouth changes were detected, though infants derived different information from these features. Eye changes had a greater impact on the face perception mechanisms and were not correlated with social or communication development, whereas mouth changes had a minimal impact on face processing but were associated with levels of language and communication understanding. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have examined the variability in outcomes of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at age 2. Research is needed to understand the children whose symptoms – or diagnoses – change over time. The objectives of this study were to examine the behavioral and diagnostic outcomes of a carefully defined sample of 2-year-old children with ASD, and to identify child and environmental factors that contribute to variability in outcomes at age 4. Methods: Forty-eight children diagnosed with autism or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS) at age 2 were followed to age 4. Diagnostic measures included the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – Generic (ADOS-G) and clinical diagnosis at ages 2 and 4, and the ADI-R at age 4. Results: Diagnostic stability for an ASD diagnosis (autism or PDDNOS) was 63%, and for an autism diagnosis was 68%. Children who failed to meet diagnostic criteria for ASD at follow-up were more likely to: 1) be 30 months or younger at initial evaluation; 2) have milder symptoms of autism, particularly in the social domain; and 3) have higher cognitive scores at age 2. No differences between children with stable and unstable diagnoses were found for amount of intervention services received. Among the children with unstable diagnoses, all but one continued to have developmental disorders, most commonly in the area of language. Conclusions: The stability of ASD was lower in the present study than has been reported previously, a finding largely attributable to children who were diagnosed at 30 months or younger. Implications for clinical practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study describes a new caregiver-report assessment, the Sensory Experiences Questionnaire (SEQ), and explicates the nature of sensory patterns of hyper- and hyporesponsiveness, their prevalence, and developmental correlates in autism relative to comparison groups. Method: Caregivers of 258 children in five diagnostic groups (Autism, PDD, DD/MR, Other DD, Typical) ages 5–80 months completed the SEQ. Results: The SEQ's internal consistency was α′ = .80. Prevalence of overall sensory symptoms for the Autism group was 69%. Sensory symptoms were inversely related to mental age. The Autism group had significantly higher symptoms than either the Typical or DD groups and presented with a unique pattern of response to sensory stimuli – hyporesponsiveness in both social and nonsocial contexts. A pattern of hyperresponsiveness was similar in the Autism and DD groups, but significantly greater in both clinical groups than in the Typical group. Conclusion: The SEQ was able to characterize sensory features in young children with autism, and differentiate their sensory patterns from comparison groups. These unique sensory patterns have etiological implications, as well as relevance for assessment and intervention practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the reliability and stability of an autism diagnosis in children under 3 years of age who received independent diagnostic evaluations from two clinicians during two consecutive yearly evaluations. Strong evidence for the reliability and stability of the diagnosis was obtained. Diagnostic agreement between clinicians was higher for the broader discrimination of autism spectrum vs. no autism spectrum than for the more specific discrimination of autism vs. PDD-NOS. The diagnosis of autism at age 2 was more stable than the diagnosis of PDD-NOS at the same age. Social deficits and delays in spoken language were the most prominent DSM-IV characteristics evidenced by very young children with autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]