Standardized screening programs ensure that children are monitored for early signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in order to promote earlier diagnosis and intervention. The aim of this study is to identify early signs of atypical development consistent with ASD or other developmental disorders in a population of 224 low-risk toddlers through a two-stage screening approach applied at 12 and 18 months of age. We adopted two screening tools combined: 1. the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile (CSBS DP) Infant–Toddler Checklist (I-TC) and 2. The Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT). We assessed their sensitivity and specificity related to the diagnostic outcome at 36 months. The results showed that autistic signs can be detected as early as the first year even through a few questions extrapolated from both screeners and that our model could be used as a screening procedure in the Italian public health system.

The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) is an evidence-based early intervention model for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is crucial to investigate the feasibility of the ESDM in community settings in contexts that are culturally different from American universities in which the model was originally developed. The aim was to further evaluate the effectiveness of the ESDM delivered within the Italian community setting at low intensity. We compared a group aged 19 to 43 months receiving the ESDM for 2 h per week over the course of 1 year with a concurrent, comparable, non-randomized control group receiving treatment as usual (TAU). Children were evaluated at baseline (T0) and after 6 months (T1) and 12 months (T2) of intervention. Feasibility was evaluated by parent and therapist questionnaires, retention rate, and therapist treatment fidelity. Both groups made similar gains in cognition and language abilities. The ESDM group made larger improvement in domains measured by the ESDM Curriculum Checklist, including communication, social skills, and maladaptive behaviors. Feasibility seemed well supported by retentions, therapists and parent satisfaction, and treatment fidelity. Our study further supports the feasibility of the ESDM implemented within the Italian public health system and suggests a better response in the ESDM-treated group than in the control group.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction between gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, sleep problems, and challenging behaviors in children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their effect on parental stress. The secondary objective was to assess the frequency and type of GI and feeding disorders in a sample of children with ASD through a multidisciplinary assessment and, finally, to investigate families’ perceptions and satisfaction with the proposed multidisciplinary approach. All children underwent a comprehensive gastroenterological and neuropsychiatric evaluation supported by standardized questionnaires. Pediatric gastroenterologists, specifically trained in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), provided advice for parent-delivered behavioral intervention for food selectivity. Thirty-six children with an autism diagnosis (29 males, age 4.5 +/−2.2 years, mean +/− SD) were enrolled. A positive correlation between sleep problems and aggressive behavior was found, and this association was stronger in children experiencing more problematic mealtime behaviors (b = 0.788, p = 0.014). Sleep difficulties were associated with stereotyped behaviors and parent-perceived stress. Parents interviewed about the gastroenterology visit perceived this multidisciplinary approach as helpful in addressing food selectivity. This study shows that sleep and mealtime issues can have a synergistic negative impact on ASD symptoms. A multidisciplinary approach and an integrated assessment of GI, feeding problems, and sleep disorders could be helpful in diagnosing comorbidities and to provide targeted advice to parents.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary lockdown period in Italy, during which the delivery of in-person treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in public health services was discontinued. This occurrence represented a crucial challenge for both families and professionals. We assessed the short-term outcomes of a sample of 18 children who received an early intervention with the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), delivered at low intensity over one year in the pre-pandemic period, after six months of interruption of in-presence treatment due to lockdown restrictions. Children who received the ESDM treatment maintained their gains in sociocommunicative skills and did not exhibit any developmental regression. Additionally, there was evidence of a decrease in the restrictive and repetitive behavior (RRB) domain. The parents, who were already familiar with the principles of the ESDM, only received telehealth support from therapists that aimed to sustain the gains already achieved. We believe that it is always helpful to support parents in their daily lives by implementing interactional and play skills with their children to integrate and consolidate the results obtained in the individual interventions conducted by experienced therapists.

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