Initial Characteristics of Psychological Development and Evolution of the Young Autistic Child

Abstract

This longitudinal study assessed multidisciplinary data on 219 children with autistic spectrum disorders from the median age of 5 (Time 1) to 8 years old (Time 2). The evolution of psychological and adaptive data was subjected to cluster analysis. Four clinically meaningful clusters emerged. The first group (21%) demonstrated the most important psychological transformations between the two times of the research. The second group (24%) made progress but less than group 1. The third and biggest group (30%) kept the same developmental slope. The fourth group (25%) showed no significant evolution between the two times of the research. This study highlights important differences among children with autism and the necessity of using a developmental view when considering the autistic syndrome.

What clinical characteristics of children with autism influence their inclusion in regular classrooms?

“…The number of hours of intervention for these children is low, with a median of 12 h per week (Baghdadli et al. 2007; Pry et al. 2007).…”

“…There is a great deal of variation in France's intervention programmes for children with autism. The number of hours of intervention for these children is low, with a median of 12 h per week Pry et al 2007). This situation, a legacy from the time prior to the passage of the new legislation, means that today's practices have not yet lived up to the new recommendation of at least 25 h per week of intervention.…”