Psychological markers in the detection of autism in infancy in a large population

223

154

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) diagnosis in very young children may be delayed due to doubts about validity. In this study, 77 children received a diagnostic and developmental evaluation between 16 and 35 months and also between 42 and 82 months. Diagnoses based on clinical judgment, Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule were stable over time. Diagnoses made using the Autism Diagnostic Interview were slightly less stable. According to clinical judgment, 15 children (19%) moved off the autism spectrum by the second evaluation; none moved onto the spectrum. Results indicate diagnostic stability at acceptable levels for diagnoses made at age 2. Movement off the spectrum may reflect true improvement based on maturation, intervention, or over-diagnosis at age 2.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnostic Stability in Very Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Kleinman

Ventola

Pandey

et al. 2007

223

154

“…For children with an ASD, in addition to delays in developmental functioning, irregularities in social interactions, attention, cognitive rigidity, communication, and play, along with increased problem behaviors such as hyperactivity, rituals, stereotypies, tantrums, and aggression are likely to occur (Baron- Cohen et al 1996;Spence et al 2004;Trevarthen and Daniel 2005). Furthermore, intellectual disability can and often does co-occur among persons with ASD (Matson et al 2008a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Validity of the Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits: Part 1 (BISCUIT: Part 1)

Matson

Wilkins

Fodstad

2010

A top priority in the field of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is the development of precise early diagnostic tools that can be completed with minimal time and training. We report on the convergent and divergent validity of the Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits (BISCUIT), specifically the BISCUIT-Part 1. Previous research with this scale has determined its reliability and sensitivity/specificity. In this study, a sample of 1,007 toddlers 17-37 months of age were assessed individually. The BISCUIT-Part 1 demonstrated good convergent validity with the Modified CHecklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) and the Personal Social domain from the Battelle Developmental Inventory, Second Edition (BDI-2). Additionally, divergent validity was demonstrated by its small correlation with the Adaptive and Motor domains from the BDI-2.

“…Importantly, prospective screening studies have demonstrated the importance of joint attention in the prediction of a later diagnosis of AD. Failing 3 items-pretend play, gaze monitoring and pointing (the latter two being joint attention)-on the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT) administered at 18 months carried an 83.3% risk of developing AD ( Baron-Cohen et al 1996). A subsequent follow-up study of this same population by Baird et al (2000), however, found that the CHAT had failed to identify a further 50 children.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Early Development of Joint Attention in Infants with Autistic Disorder Using Home Video Observations and Parental Interview

Clifford

Dissanayake

2007

137

The aim in the current study was to investigate the early development of joint attention, eye contact and affect during the first 2 years of life, by using retrospective parental interviews and analyses of home videos of infants who were later diagnosed with Autistic Disorder (AD). The 36 children with AD and the 27 matched control children were all aged between 3 and 5 years at recruitment. Reported anomalies in gaze and affect emerged in the children with AD as early as the first 6 months of life, generally becoming more severe just prior to the second birthday. Video data confirmed these anomalies from as early as the first year. Joint attention impairments were found throughout the second year of life. The results suggest that early dyadic behaviours-eye contact and affect-may play a role in the joint attention impairment in AD.