TOPIC

Autism spectrum research

Everything we have read on autism spectrum. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

2,764 PAPERS · PAGE 2 OF 56 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPOther2016Reduced Mimicry to Virtual Reality Avatars in Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults copied avatar movement height slightly less than neurotypical adults, but the group difference was weak. An avatar acting socially engaged did not increase copying. This lab task does not show VR social training works.
• SLPCohort2016Brief Report: The Prevalence of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Identified by the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network.Journal of autism and developmental disordersNF1 was found in 22 of 12,271 children with ASD (0.18%). These children were less likely to have a prior ASD diagnosis and to show difficulty with non-verbal communication, suggesting ASD/NF1 may be underestimated.
• SLPCase-Control2017Do early caregiver concerns differ for girls with autism spectrum disorders?Autism : the international journal of research and practiceCaregiver concerns tied to autism did not separate girls with autism from boys with autism. Girls with autism had reported concern patterns more like boys with other developmental delays than boys with autism.
• SLPOther2016The social responsiveness scale in relation to DSM IV and DSM5 ASD in Korean children.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchA Korean parent and teacher questionnaire may help identify children with autism-spectrum conditions and separate them from children with other disorders. It was less clear for social communication disorder, and score thresholds still need testing.
• SLPCohort2017Severity of ASD symptoms and their correlation with the presence of copy number variations and exposure to first trimester ultrasound.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchFirst trimester ultrasound was linked to increased repetitive behaviors in children with ASD, but also to lower social affective symptoms. In males with specific genetic variations, it correlated with lower non-verbal IQ. These findings suggest a possible interaction, but do not prove ultrasound causes these outcomes.
• SLPCase-Control2016Name recognition in autism: EEG evidence of altered patterns of brain activity and connectivity.Molecular autismBrain activity in high functioning young men with autism showed their own name was not treated as more special than a close person's name. Long range front to back brain communication was weaker, while name recognition speed and accuracy were normal.
• SLPCase-Control2016Quantitative autistic trait measurements index background genetic risk for ASD in Hispanic families.Molecular autismIn Hispanic families, spouses and relatives had similar autistic-trait scores. Parents of children with autism were more likely to both score high. These scores may index background inherited risk for autism.
• SLPOther2016Social affiliation motives modulate spontaneous learning in Williams syndrome but not in autism.Molecular autismIn live playful demonstrations, preschoolers with Williams syndrome imitated more when the model was socially engaging. Preschoolers with autism did not show that boost. When imitation had a practical goal and in trial-and-error learning, the groups did not differ.
• OTSLPOther2016Cognitive and Adaptive Skills in Toddlers Who Meet Criteria for Autism in DSM-IV but not DSM-5.Journal of autism and developmental disordersToddlers who met DSM-IV autism criteria but not DSM-5 had milder cognitive and adaptive deficits than DSM-5 toddlers, but still had lower socialization scores than toddlers with other delays.
• PTOTSLPCohort2016Sociodemographic Disparities in Intervention Service Utilization in Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFamilies using public insurance received fewer weekly hours of individual therapy than those with private insurance. Non-English speaking families also received fewer hours. Children of Black mothers entered classroom services earlier than White children, though this may reflect differences in prior diagnoses or childcare needs rather than superior access.
• OTSLPRCT2016A Replication and Extension of the PEERS® for Young Adults Social Skills Intervention: Examining Effects on Social Skills and Social Anxiety in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersYoung adults with autism who completed this 16-week social skills group showed better social skills knowledge, empathy, and fewer problem behaviors than those on a waitlist. They also reported more social interactions. However, the group did not significantly reduce loneliness or social anxiety compared to waitlist controls.
• SLPOther2016The Latent Structure of Autistic Traits: A Taxometric, Latent Class and Latent Profile Analysis of the Adult Autism Spectrum Quotient.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutism questionnaire scores did not behave as a simple severity scale. A high-scoring group stood apart, and other people endorsed different autistic traits despite similar total scores.
• SLPCohort2016Brief Report: Autism Symptoms in Infants with Fragile X Syndrome.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFragile X infants at 12 months showed more autism observation signs than typical controls. In a small sample, 53% were flagged as at risk, versus 17% of infants with an autistic sibling and 6% of controls.
• SLPSurvey2016Parent Beliefs About the Causes of Learning and Developmental Problems Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results From a National Survey.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesMost parents of children with autism believed a genetic cause was at least somewhat likely, while lower-income parents more often believed exposures or injury caused their child's condition. Asking about these beliefs may help family conversations.
• SLPOther2016Lexical Processing in Toddlers with ASD: Does Weak Central Coherence Play a Role?Journal of autism and developmental disordersToddlers with ASD did not show the predicted detail-focused processing pattern on a word recognition task. They looked less reliably at named pictures than matched peers, but that difference disappeared once receptive vocabulary was considered.
• SLPCohort2017Design and Cohort Characteristics of the Social Spectrum Study: A Multicenter Study of the Autism Spectrum Among Clinically Referred Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn clinically referred children, 33% screened positive for ASD symptoms, and only 16% of DSM-IV PDD-NOS cases met DSM-5 ASD criteria.
• SLPOther2017Evaluation of the ADHD Rating Scale in Youth with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 386 youth with ASD, ADHD-RS-IV ratings did not separate inattention from hyperactivity/impulsivity as intended. Elevated scores, especially social items such as not listening when spoken to directly, may reflect ASD difficulties, so use follow-up interview before treating as ADHD.
• SLPCohort2017Increased Risk for Substance Use-Related Problems in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Population-Based Cohort Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPeople with autism were more likely to have substance use problems than matched controls, especially with ADHD. The study cannot prove cause, but clinicians should consider attention and prevention for substance use.
• SLPCohort2017Parent-Endorsed Sex Differences in Toddlers with and Without ASD: Utilizing the M-CHAT.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAt 18 months, parents reported fewer failed M-CHAT items for girls without ASD than boys, but more failed items for girls with ASD than boys. Item patterns changed after accounting for total failures.
• SLPCohort2017Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Sotos Syndrome.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 78 people with Sotos syndrome, 65 had parent-reported autism symptom scores in a clinical range. Restricted interests and repetitive behaviour scores were higher than social communication scores. Gender did not affect severity.
• OTSLPCohort2017Predictors of Parent Responsiveness to 1-Year-Olds At-Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of 12-month-olds at risk for autism who were less responsive to sensory input and communicated less tended to talk less and play more physically. This shift may reduce verbal language input during a critical period for communication development.
• SLPPilot2016Brief Report: Evaluation of an Intelligent Learning Environment for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersA gaze-based prompt system was tolerated by all 16 young children in a pilot. Toddlers with ASD turned toward their name on every trial, usually after one name call. It shows feasibility, not proven therapy.
• SLPOther2016A Group-Administered social Skills Training for 8- to 12- Year-Old, high-Functioning Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Evaluation of its Effectiveness in a Naturalistic Outpatient Treatment Setting.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn high-functioning children with ASD, group social skills training increased parent and teacher ratings versus waiting list, and gains remained at 3 months. Loneliness did not decrease more than waiting list.
• SLPSurvey2017"Frank" presentations as a novel research construct and element of diagnostic decision-making in autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMost ASD diagnosticians recognise a rapid, clear 'frank' presentation in about 40% of their patients. Clinicians form these impressions quickly, often within 10 minutes, primarily through observed social and repetitive behaviors. This suggests experience shapes diagnostic intuition, though it requires careful checking against formal criteria.
• OTSLPOther2016Brief Report: Prevalence of Self-injurious Behaviors among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder-A Population-Based Study.Journal of autism and developmental disorders27.7% of 8-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder in selected areas of the United States had documented self-injury, and prevalence varied widely by site. Ask about head banging, hair pulling, arm biting, eye poking, and skin scratching, especially with cognitive or adaptive delays.
• SLPOther2016Ratings of Broader Autism Phenotype and Personality Traits in Optimal Outcomes from Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren who no longer met autism criteria were rated by unfamiliar raters as more talkative and assertive than typically developing peers, yet more likely to get sidetracked in conversation, lose their point, and talk too much.
• SLPOther2017Investigating the Receptive-Expressive Vocabulary Profile in Children with Idiopathic ASD and Comorbid ASD and Fragile X Syndrome.Journal of autism and developmental disordersA meaningful relative weakness in understanding words was not more common in boys with idiopathic ASD than boys with fragile X and ASD, but boys with idiopathic ASD had larger average gaps between understanding and spoken words. Assess both.
• SLPOther2016A systematic variant annotation approach for ranking genes associated with autism spectrum disorders.Molecular autismAn autism genetics database ranked genes using rare and common variants linked to autism. SHANK3, CHD8 and ADNP scored highest. It ranks genes, not patients, and offers no clinical test or treatment guidance.
• PTOTSLPCohort2016Unmet Health Services Needs Among US Children with Developmental Disabilities: Associations with Family Impact and Child Functioning.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPUnmet health service needs were not linked to children's behavioral problems the next year, but they were common, especially therapy and respite needs, and linked to family financial and employment impacts.
• OTSLPCase Series2017The Cognitive and Behavioral Phenotypes of Individuals with CHRNA7 Duplications.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with CHRNA7 duplications often had speech or language delay, lower IQ scores, and reduced adaptive skills. Speech delay affected 11 of 18, and five scored below 70 on IQ testing. This is a pattern, not evidence that a treatment works.
• SLPOther2017The Effect of Pivotal Response Treatment in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Non-randomized Study with a Blinded Outcome Measure.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren receiving PRT showed lower observed autism severity after 6 months, while children receiving usual care showed higher severity. The trial was not randomised and the PRT group started at higher severity, so this does not prove PRT caused the change.
• SLPOther2016Mimetic desire in autism spectrum disorder.Molecular autismSocial influence on preference did not differ between adults with autism and controls. Both groups rated objects as more desirable when they appeared to be someone's goal. The effect did not relate to reduced pleasure, depression, or social judgment.
• OTSLPCohort2017The salience of the self: Self-referential processing and internalizing problems in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchYouth with autism showed reduced self-positivity and weaker memory for self-relevant information. However, positive self-views protected against anxiety and depression in all children, but only if they had strong memory for self-relevant details.
• PTOTSLPOther2017Factors Associated with Self-Injurious Behaviors in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Findings from Two Large National Samples.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSelf-injury in children with autism is linked to sleep problems, sensory issues, aggression, anxiety, and lower adaptive skills. It is also associated with younger age and lower socioeconomic status. These findings support asking about self-injury when these other behaviors or factors are present.
• SLPQualitative2017"It was like walking without knowing where I was going": A Qualitative Study of Autism in a UK Somali Migrant Community.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSomali parents in Bristol said autism was a new word, and stigma, faith and family advice made acceptance hard. They faced confusing diagnosis, language barriers and fragmented services, so help was delayed. Parents asked for Somali link workers and clear explanations.
• SLPOther2016Cerebellar gray matter differentiates children with early language delay in autism.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn children with autism, early language delay was associated with reduced left cerebellar gray matter; both autism groups showed reduced right cerebellar gray matter compared with typically developing children.
• OTSLPCohort2017Mid-childhood outcomes of infant siblings at familial high-risk of autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research15 of 42 high-risk siblings met autism criteria at age 7; they had lower adaptive behaviour and more ADHD and anxiety than low-risk controls. The 24 high-risk siblings without autism had typical-range IQ and language but more separation anxiety.
• SLPCohort2017ADHD severity as it relates to comorbid psychiatric symptomatology in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).Research in developmental disabilitiesIn 99 children with autism, the severity of ADHD symptoms, not the severity of autism itself, predicted the number and intensity of other psychiatric problems. Clinicians should assess ADHD severity to identify risk for comorbid anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues.
• SLPOther2017Increasing Opportunities for Question-Asking in School-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Effectiveness of Staff Training in Pivotal Response Treatment.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTraining inpatient staff in Pivotal Response Treatment increased one-to-one opportunities for children with autism to ask questions. However, these skills did not generalize to group settings, and only a minority of children maintained the question-asking behavior at six-month follow-up.
• SLPOther2017Divergence of Age-Related Differences in Social-Communication: Improvements for Typically Developing Youth but Declines for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersOlder typically developing youth were rated as having fewer social communication difficulties. Older youth with autism without intellectual disability were rated as having more difficulties in the main analysis, but not when groups were similar in IQ and sex.
• SLPCase-Control2017Prenatal toxoplasmosis antibody and childhood autism.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMothers with T. gondii IgM antibodies were less likely to have a child with autism, but only a few mothers had these antibodies. Children of mothers with IgG antibodies did not show a clear increase in autism risk.
• SLPCase-Control2017Behavioral and emotional problems in high-functioning girls and boys with autism spectrum disorders: Parents' reports and adolescents' self-reports.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceGirls and boys with ASD did not differ in behavioral or emotional problems. Both groups reported more withdrawn, anxious/depressed, and social problems than matched peers, and parents rated them higher on all scales.
• SLPOther2017Quantifying and exploring camouflaging in men and women with autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAdults with autism varied widely in camouflaging. Women scored higher than men on average, but the score cannot separate men from women.
• SLPOther2016Alexithymia, but not autism spectrum disorder, may be related to the production of emotional facial expressions.Molecular autismHigher alexithymic traits were linked to less emotional facial expression and more neutral expression in children with and without autism. Autistic traits were not linked to expression overall, and diagnosis group differences were limited.
• SLPRCT2017The impact of caregiver-mediated JASPER on child restricted and repetitive behaviors and caregiver responses.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChild restricted and repetitive behaviors did not change overall after caregiver-mediated JASPER added to a 30-hour early intervention program. Caregivers in JASPER responded more often and more successfully than caregivers in the education group immediately after treatment.
• SLPCohort2017Predictors of Treatment Effectiveness for Youth with ASD and Comorbid Anxiety Disorders: It all Depends on the Family?Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with ASD and anxiety improved after CBT. Child age and gender did not predict improvement. Children of anxious fathers started with less severe anxiety disorders but showed smaller later reductions, and family type affected symptom scores inconsistently.
• SLPCase-Control2017Auditory processing in noise is associated with complex patterns of disrupted functional connectivity in autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchBoys with autism did not show a right frontal brain response to unexpected sounds in background noise, while typically developing boys did. Their frontal-temporal connectivity also differed. The response difference appeared in noise, not quiet.
• SLPCohort2017Potential Risk Factors for the Development of Self-Injurious Behavior among Infants at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSelf-injury at 12 months and lower cognitive scores were the strongest signs of self-injury at 24 months in infants at high familial risk for autism. 48% of those who self-injured at 12 months still did so at 24 months.
• PTOTSLPCohort2016Dyspraxia and autistic traits in adults with and without autism spectrum conditions.Molecular autismAdults with dyspraxia but no autism reported significantly more autistic traits and lower empathy than controls. In adults already diagnosed with autism, having dyspraxia did not increase these social difficulties. Dyspraxia is 8.69 times more common in autistic adults than in the general population.
• SLPCase-Control2017Gaze Following in Children with Autism: Do High Interest Objects Boost Performance?Journal of autism and developmental disordersHigh-interest objects did not improve first look duration in children with autism. Gaze-following accuracy was similar in both groups. Children with autism showed no advantage for the object another person looked at.