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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 21 OF 56 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPQualitative2021Cross-cultural perspectives on the meaning of family quality of life: Comparing Korean immigrant families and Canadian families of children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceKorean immigrant parents of children with autism described family quality of life as shared family goals, faith, and feeling accepted by society. Canadian parents described family interactions, support, emotional well-being, individual characteristics, and comparisons to other families.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Autonomic dysfunction in autism: The roles of anxiety, depression, and stress.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults report more autonomic symptoms, such as dizziness and bowel issues, than non-autistic peers. However, this difference disappears once anxiety and stress are accounted for. The symptoms appear driven by co-occurring mental health difficulties rather than autism itself.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021A Data Driven Approach Reveals That Anomalous Motor System Connectivity is Associated With the Severity of Core Autism Symptoms.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism showed weaker brain connectivity between the right posterior cerebellum and the left inferior parietal lobule. This specific connectivity pattern correlated with more severe social deficits and repetitive behaviors, but showed no significant link to motor imitation or ball-catching scores.
• OTSLPCohort2021Touch and olfaction/taste differentiate children carrying a 16p11.2 deletion from children with ASD.Molecular autismChildren with idiopathic autism showed more touch and taste/smell issues than children with a 16p11.2 deletion. Both groups had higher sensory scores than typical children. The deletion group’s touch and taste/smell profiles looked more like typical children.
• SLPRCT2021Cannabinoid treatment for autism: a proof-of-concept randomized trial.Molecular autismWhole-plant cannabis extract improved disruptive behaviors on clinician ratings compared to placebo, but showed no benefit on the primary parent questionnaire. Pure cannabinoids were not significantly better than placebo. Somnolence was common.
• OTSLPOther2021Implicit Semantic Processing of Linguistic and Non-linguistic Stimuli in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn adults with autism, brain responses to picture meanings were larger than in controls, while word responses showed no group difference. Age interacted with autistic traits differently for pictures and words, suggesting visual supports may aid comprehension while language demands increase.
• SLPPilot2021Modified CBT for social anxiety and social functioning in young adults with autism spectrum disorder.Molecular autismYoung adults with autism reported lower social anxiety and stress after an eight-week modified CBT group, but overall social functioning did not improve significantly. Without a control group, these gains cannot be proven to come from the therapy.
• OTSLPCohort2021Early Pandemic Experiences of Autistic Adults: Predictors of Psychological Distress.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchNearly half of autistic adults reported moderate-to-severe psychological distress early in the pandemic. Distress levels remained stable over two months despite worsening life disruptions. Frequent hopefulness predicted lower distress and greater resilience, suggesting emotional supports should target hope.
• OTSLPCohort2021Understanding Stability and Change in Perceived Social Support in Parents of Autistic Children and Adolescents.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPerceived social support, parent stress, and child behavior problems remained stable over one year. Higher support predicted lower stress and fewer behavior problems at 6 months, but stress and behavior did not predict later support. Interventions targeting support may help, but stability suggests early access is key.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2021Exploring an e-learning community's response to the language and terminology use in autism from two massive open online courses on autism education and technology use.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceLearners in autism education courses found no single preferred term. Self-advocates and families mostly chose 'autistic', while professionals varied. All groups agreed the key rule is to ask the individual what they prefer and respect their choice over any standard terminology.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Not just at school: Inclusion of children with autism spectrum disorder in a weight management program in a community pediatric setting.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceChildren with autism completed an inclusive weight management program at the same rate as peers without autism. They achieved similar weight outcomes. Adaptations like predictable routines and sensory adjustments allowed them to participate fully alongside typically developing children.
• SLPSurvey2021Is social camouflaging associated with anxiety and depression in autistic adults?Molecular autismAutistic adults who reported more camouflaging had more generalised anxiety, social anxiety and depression symptoms. The link was strongest for anxiety and similar across men and women. This was an association, not proof camouflaging caused poor mental health.
• SLPCase-Control2021Autism Detection in Children by Combined Use of Gaze Preference and the M-CHAT-R in a Resource-Scarce Setting.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdding a 15-second gaze test to the M-CHAT-R improved autism screening accuracy in Peruvian children, raising specificity from 63% to 92%. This reduced false alarms but lowered sensitivity to 64%, meaning some cases would be missed.
• OTSLPQualitative2021'It's not that they don't want to access the support . . . it's the impact of the autism': The experience of eating disorder services from the perspective of autistic women, parents and healthcare professionals.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic women with anorexia described standard eating disorder treatments as mismatched to their needs. Cognitive behavioural therapy failed because it assumed abstract skills they lacked, while group therapy caused shutdown due to social demands. Practical occupational therapy and emotion-focused dialectical behaviour therapy were valued more highly.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Evaluation of sex differences in preschool children with and without autism spectrum disorder enrolled in the study to explore early development.Research in developmental disabilitiesPreschool boys and girls with autism symptoms scored almost identically on behavior, development, and screening tests. Small differences in restricted interests were not clinically meaningful. Screening tools appear equally sensitive for young children of both sexes, so do not assume girls present differently at this age.
• SLPMeta-Analysis2021Do animated triangles reveal a marked difficulty among autistic people with reading minds?Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic people scored lower than non-autistic people on all types of animated shapes, not just social ones. The gap was slightly wider for social animations, but the difference was small. This suggests general difficulty interpreting motion may contribute more than a specific inability to read minds.
• SLPQualitative2021Camouflaging in an everyday social context: An interpersonal recall study.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults described camouflaging as a exhausting, constant performance to appear non-autistic, which ironically hindered genuine connection. They reported feeling less anxiety and more ease when socialising authentically with supportive partners who accepted their autistic behaviours.
• OTSLPRCT2021Modulation of atypical brain activation during executive functioning in autism: a pharmacological MRI study of tianeptine.Molecular autismA single dose of tianeptine shifted atypical brain activation in adults with autism towards typical patterns during attention tasks. However, it did not improve actual test performance, so this is a proof of concept for brain changes, not evidence of clinical benefit.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2021Sleep disorders in rare genetic syndromes: a meta-analysis of prevalence and profile.Molecular autismSleep disorders are common in rare genetic syndromes, but the type varies by syndrome. Screen for breathing issues in Mucopolysaccharidosis II, daytime sleepiness in Smith-Magenis, and insomnia broadly. Do not treat all poor sleep as behavioural.
• SLPOther2021Naturalistic evaluation of preschoolers' spontaneous interactions: The Autism Peer Interaction Observation Scale.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceA new 3-hour observation scale reliably distinguished preschoolers with autism from typical peers, highlighting specific deficits in eye contact, complex social reciprocity, and conversation quality. It correlates with teacher ratings but shows weak links to standard diagnostic tools, suggesting it captures unique peer interaction skills.
• SLPCohort2021Rate of Communicative Gestures and Developmental Outcomes in Toddlers With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder During a Home Observation.American journal of speech-language pathologyAt home, toddlers with autism used fewer different gestures and communicated less often than toddlers with typical development. Their gesture inventory and overall communication rate were linked to later language and development scores.
• SLPRCT2021Oxytocin-induced increase in N,N-dimethylglycine and time course of changes in oxytocin efficacy for autism social core symptoms.Molecular autismIn men with autism, six weeks of oxytocin raised blood levels of a metabolite called DMG. This rise tracked with early behavioral improvements that faded by week four, but did not correlate with overall six-week outcomes, suggesting DMG marks timing of efficacy rather than total benefit.
• SLPOther2021Attention Bias and Prodromal Anxiety Symptoms in Toddlers With Fragile X Syndrome and Down Syndrome.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesGaze avoidance to a new person did not differ among toddlers with fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, and typical development, and it did not track anxiety. Avoidance to a scary spider was higher in both syndromes, but also unrelated to anxiety.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Feeding and eating problems in children and adolescents with autism: A scoping review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFeeding problems, especially food selectivity driven by sensory issues, are pervasive in autistic youth. True eating disorders involving weight or shape concerns are rarely studied, yet evidence suggests higher risk. Clinicians must distinguish between sensory-based refusal and body-image pathology to avoid misdiagnosis and select appropriate treatment.
• OTSLPSurvey2021The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults with autism: a survey study across three countries.Molecular autismAdults with autism reported significantly greater increases in depression and anxiety during the pandemic than those without. They faced specific stressors like disrupted routines, grocery shopping, and loss of support, while some found relief from social and sensory overload.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Evaluating the latent structure of the non-social domain of autism in autistic adults.Molecular autismIn 833 autistic adults, non-social traits split into four distinct but related dimensions: repetitive motor movements, insistence on sameness, restricted interests, and sensory sensitivity. These four areas should be assessed separately rather than as a single score or broad pair, as they vary independently across individuals.
• SLPOther2021Evidence-based use of scalable biomarkers to increase diagnostic efficiency and decrease the lifetime costs of autism.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchModeling suggests adding saliva or eye-tracking tests after screening could identify autism earlier. This approach might save over $37 billion annually by reducing wait times and starting interventions sooner, but the study is a simulation, not a clinical trial.
• SLPCase-Control2021Children with autism spectrum disorder show altered functional connectivity and abnormal maturation trajectories in response to inverted faces.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchBasic brain responses to inverted faces were similar in children with autism and typically developing children. Children with autism showed lower local and long-range brain connectivity when viewing inverted faces, and lower frontal connectivity was linked to greater autism severity.
• OTSLPSurvey2021It took a pandemic: Perspectives on impact, stress, and telehealth from caregivers of people with autism.Research in developmental disabilitiesCaregivers of children with autism reported that loss of daily structure and difficulty with emotion regulation were the biggest stressors during pandemic shutdowns. While many families found telehealth helpful for continuing care, it was often less effective for children with significant communication challenges.
• SLPOther2021Characterizing therapist delivery of evidence-based intervention strategies in publicly funded mental health services for children with autism spectrum disorder: Differentiating practice patterns in usual care and AIM HI delivery.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn usual care, therapists used evidence-based strategies diffusely, which correlated with worsening behavior. In trained therapists, specific active teaching of skills correlated with improvement, while general engagement strategies alone did not predict better outcomes over time.
• SLPNarrative Review2021A profile and review of findings from the Early Markers for Autism study: unique contributions from a population-based case-control study in California.Molecular autismChildren later diagnosed with autism had different immune markers before birth and at newborn testing, especially when intellectual disability was also present. Vitamin D and air pollution had little overall association, and combined chemical exposures showed no clear link.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021DSM-5 symptom expression in toddlers.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceCaregiver reports distinguish autism from other delays in toddlers. Repetitive behaviors and relationship deficits were most common. Insistence on sameness was rare, so two of the three remaining repetitive behavior criteria are needed for diagnosis. No single behavior is unique to autism.
• SLPCohort2021Imitation and recognition of facial emotions in autism: a computer vision approach.Molecular autismAdults with autism recognized fewer emotions and were slower than controls. They could imitate facial expressions when asked, but their imitation was less precise and slower. Precision of imitation correlated with recognition accuracy, though instructing imitation lowered immediate recognition performance.
• PTOTSLPPilot2021Short report on research trends during the COVID-19 pandemic and use of telehealth interventions and remote brain research in children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practice6 children with ASD engaged in 60-minute Zoom gross-motor or seated-play activities twice weekly for 8 weeks. Children gave satisfaction 4.4 and parents 4.3 out of 5. No completed trial results are reported.
• SLPOther2021Emotion Dysregulation is Substantially Elevated in Autism Compared to the General Population: Impact on Psychiatric Services.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchYouth with autism showed substantially higher emotion dysregulation than the general population, with community samples scoring in the clinical range. This impairment predicted psychiatric hospitalization, emergency service use, and medication prescription, even after accounting for age, intellectual disability, and ADHD symptoms.
• OTSLPOther2021'No idea of time': Parents report differences in autistic children's behaviour relating to time in a mixed-methods study.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents of autistic children reported significantly lower scores on time management and planning compared to parents of neurotypical children. Qualitative descriptions highlighted three key differences: struggles with learning time concepts, inflexible planning for the future, and time perception heavily influenced by the child's specific interests.
• SLPCohort2021Parent stress and coping trajectories in Hispanic and non-Hispanic families of children at risk of autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceHispanic parents reported lower general parenting stress and family impact than non-Hispanic parents during the autism diagnostic process, but autism-specific stress was similar. Non-Hispanic families showed more positive change in coping and impact over time.
• OTSLPSurvey2021Needs assessment in unmet healthcare and family support services: A survey of caregivers of children and youth with autism spectrum disorder in Delaware.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchCaregivers of 263 children and youth with autism reported unmet needs for speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, social skills, and family support, especially provider shortages and access barriers.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Assessment of medical morbidities in a rhesus monkey model of naturally occurring low sociality.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMale rhesus monkeys classified as naturally low-social suffered significantly higher rates of trauma and more total injuries than socially competent peers. No differences were found in gastrointestinal, inflammation, or other medical morbidities. This supports the validity of this animal model for studying ASD-related physical risks.
• SLPOther2021Examination of the ADOS-2 Expressive Language Score in Fragile X Syndrome.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesThe ADOS-2 Expressive Language Score tracks expressive language in adolescents with Fragile X Syndrome, correlating strongly with parent reports and direct tests. It does not reflect anxiety or rule-breaking behaviors, making it a useful quick proxy for language ability when comprehensive testing is not possible.
• OTSLPOther2021Assessing general and autism-relevant quality of life in autistic adults: A psychometric investigation using item response theory.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchThe ASQoL measure produced biased results for autistic women compared to men, falsely suggesting lower quality of life. The 4-item WHOQOL-4 was stable across groups and accurately measured global quality of life, making it a better choice for clinical assessment.
• SLPCohort2021Short-term trajectories of restricted and repetitive behaviors in minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMinimally verbal school-aged children displayed frequent restricted and repetitive behaviors, mostly verbal rather than object-focused. Rates remained stable during active social communication treatment but significantly decreased three months after the intervention ended.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2021A Narrative Review of Function-Focused Measures for Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA review identified 14 ICF-based tools for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Most focus on participation and activity rather than body function. Seven target cerebral palsy, but three can be used for any child regardless of diagnosis.
• SLPNarrative Review2021Evaluating evidence-based practice in light of the boundedness and proximity of outcomes: Capturing the scope of change.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchInterventions that teach specific skills in structured settings often look highly effective because they are measured close to the training context. Clinicians should check if an 'evidence-based' label reflects generalized development or just narrow, context-bound learning.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Fathers Matter: Enhancing Healthcare Experiences Among Fathers of Children With Developmental Disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesFathers of children with disabilities said they were involved, but clinicians said fathers were less involved. Seven fathers and 13 clinicians described ways to include fathers: direct attention, explain, take time, and accommodate schedules.
• SLPCohort2021Psychological distress and burden among family caregivers of children with and without developmental disabilities six months into the COVID-19 pandemic.Research in developmental disabilitiesCaregivers of children with autism or ADHD reported higher anxiety, depression, stress and burden than those without DD six months into the pandemic. Scores did not worsen over time. For caregivers of children without DD, losing self-care opportunities drove distress; for ASD/ADHD caregivers it did not.
• SLPCohort2021Bayonet-shaped language development in autism with regression: a retrospective study.Molecular autismChildren with autism who lose early words take longer to reach fluent speech. However, if they have normal non-verbal intelligence, almost all become fluent by age 18. The loss itself does not predict poor long-term language outcomes.
• SLPCohort2021Extremely preterm birth and autistic traits in young adulthood: the EPICure study.Molecular autismThe main autistic-trait score was not significantly higher after the study's strict correction for many tests, but extremely preterm young adults had more traits, especially pragmatic language, and more exceeded the trait cut-off.
• OTSLPRCT2021Examining a stepped-care telehealth program for parents of young children with autism: a proof-of-concept trial.Molecular autismParents using a stepped-care website for imitation training had higher fidelity and self-efficacy than usual care. Children in the program showed better parent-reported social communication, but objective imitation scores did not reach significance.
• OTSLPCohort2021Cataloguing and characterizing interests in typically developing toddlers and toddlers who develop ASD.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchFor toddlers at high risk for autism, the unusualness of their interests, not just their intensity, better distinguished those who developed ASD from those who did not. High-risk siblings showed more intense interests than low-risk peers, regardless of diagnosis.