Relations of Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors to Social Skills in Toddlers with Autism.
Pang Chaxiong, Catherine Burrows, Kelly N Botteron and 7 others
PMID 33956255WHAT IT FOUND
Repetitive sensory-motor behaviors, like hand flapping or lining up objects, predicted lower social skills in toddlers with autism more consistently than insistence on sameness or self-injury.
These behaviors appeared linked to poorer play and interpersonal skills at both 24 and 36 months.
Key findings
01Repetitive sensory-motor behaviors were the strongest predictor of lower overall social skills at both 24 and 36 months, while adding insistence on sameness or self-injury did not improve the prediction.
02Repetitive sensory-motor behaviors significantly predicted lower scores in play and leisure, and interpersonal relationships at both ages, surviving statistical adjustment for multiple comparisons.
03General cognitive ability was a significant predictor of social skills at 36 months but not at 24 months.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample size at 36 months was small (35 children), which reduced the ability to detect smaller effects. The study was heavily skewed toward male participants, limiting conclusions about gender differences. The Vineland socialization subdomains had very few items appropriate for children under 36 months, which may affect the validity of specific subdomain scores. The Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised is not specifically designed for this young age group, so parents rated items that may not have been developmentally appropriate. The study design is correlational, so it cannot determine if repetitive behaviors cause social deficits or if they simply co-occur.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, and Autism Speaks. No financial conflicts of interest were declared by the authors.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that treating repetitive sensory-motor behaviors will automatically improve social skills. This study shows an association, not a causal link, and does not test any intervention.