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Objective. The purpose of this study was to examine clinical severity, multidimensional development, and adaptive behavioral functioning in younger and older children with Rett syndrome (RTT) in the pseudostationary stage (stage III). Methods. Fourteen younger ([less than or equal to]10 years of age) and 15 older (11-18 years of age) children with confirmed stage III RTT (assigned to young-RTT and old-RTT groups, respectively) participated in this study. Clinical severity was determined using the Clinical Severity Score (CSS) scale for RTT. The children's cognitive, language, motor, and sociocommunicative development was assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) and the Early Social Communication Scale (ESCS). Their adaptive behavioral and daily functional skills were assessed using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Chinese version (VABS-C) and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory-Chinese version (PEDI-C). Results. Compared with the young-RTT group, the old-RTT group had higher severity of scoliosis on the CSS scale, poorer fine motor scores on the MSEL, reduced eye contact, reduced alternating eye gaze, and reduced turn-taking during social interaction on the ESCS. However, none of the VABS-C or PEDI-C subscale scores differed significantly between the groups. Higher CSSs were significantly correlated with lower scores in several subscales of MSEL, ESCS, VABS-C, and PEDI-C, especially for gross motor, mobility, and socialization functioning in all children with RTT. Conclusion. Age-related differences in fine motor and sociocommunicative skills were observed between the young-RTT and old-RTT group, as measured using standardized assessments. Greater severity of RTT was correlated with poor motor, sociocommunicative, adaptive behavioral, and daily functional skills in stage III RTT. Impact. Practitioners should be aware of clinical severity and the differences of developmental and adaptive behavioral functioning between younger and older children in the pseudostationary stage of RTT to provide specific age-related treatments. Lay Summary. With an understanding of severity and differences of developmental and adaptive behavioral functioning between younger and older children, clinical professionals can provide specific age-related treatments. Keywords: Children, Development, Pseudostationary, Rett Syndrome, Severity, Introduction Rett syndrome (RTT; MIM 312750) is an X-linked progressive neurodevelopmental disorder that is commonly linked to methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) mutations and mainly affects girls. (1,2) It is characterized [...]

Objectives. Few studies have examined the relationship between language abilities and specific motor skills in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of this study was to compare the relationship of receptive language (RL) and expressive language (EL) abilities with motor functioning in toddlers with ASD aged 24 to 36 months and their peers with typical development (TD). Furthermore, the study compared multidimensional motor functioning in toddlers with ASD with delayed RL and EL development and toddlers with ASD and typical RL and EL development. The predictive powers of the motor skills were examined for the group with delayed RL and EL development. Methods. The language abilities of 38 toddlers with ASD and 38 age-matched toddlers with TD were evaluated using the Receptive and Expressive Language Subscales of the Mullen Scale of Early Learning, and their motor skills were assessed using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, Second Edition. Results. Significant correlations between language ability and motor functioning were observed in the ASD and TD groups. The ASD group with delayed RL and EL development had lower scores for multidimensional motor functioning than the ASD group with typical RL and EL development and the TD group. Moreover, the risks of delayed EL and RL development could be predicted by the lower motor scores in toddlers with ASD. Conclusions. The positive correlation between language abilities and motor functioning in toddlers with ASD indicated potential connections between the early onsets of motor and speech-language impairments in these toddlers. Impact. The results may have implications forthe development of motor-based interventions targeting language development in young children with ASD. Keywords: ASD, Toddler, Language, Motor, Development, Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by primary deficits in social interaction and communication with restricted behaviors and repetitive movements; its symptoms can be observed and [...]