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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 28 OF 56 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPOther2022Combining voice and language features improves automated autism detection.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchCombining automated voice and language features from recorded conversations classified children already diagnosed with autism more accurately than either set alone. The study was not intended for diagnosis or screening.
• SLPOther2022Increased context adjustment is associated with auditory sensitivities but not with autistic traits.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic and non-autistic adults did not differ in how their brains adjusted to unexpected sounds in different sound contexts. Across participants, greater auditory sensitivity was linked to larger adjustment, not autistic traits.
• SLPCase-Control2022A constellation of eye-tracking measures reveals social attention differences in ASD and the broad autism phenotype.Molecular autismDuring a picture story task, parents of people with autism who showed broad autism traits looked less at people and more at background as time went on. Average looking time did not show this difference.
• SLPQualitative2022The experiences of speech-language therapists providing telerehabilitation services to children with autism spectrum disorder.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsSouth African speech-language therapists described telerehabilitation for children with autism as workable when parents were trained, routines were kept, and distractions were reduced. They valued home observation and access, but warned against overprompting.
• SLPCohort2022The Behavioral Phenotype of 7q11.23 Duplication Syndrome Includes Risk for Oppositional Behavior and Aggression.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren with 7q11.23 duplication show high rates of oppositional behavior and aggression, particularly argumentative or non-compliant acts. Hyperactivity and social anxiety symptoms strongly predict this behavior, while lower nonverbal cognitive ability is linked to observed aggression.
• OTSLPCohort2022Early predictors of language skills at 3 years of age vary based on diagnostic outcome: A baby siblings research consortium study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchFor infants later diagnosed with autism, higher gesture scores at 12 months predicted lower language skills at 3 years, unlike in typically developing infants. Maternal education strongly predicted language outcomes in the autism group, with those whose mothers had less than a college degree showing the lowest scores.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Autistic adults have poorer quality healthcare and worse health based on self-report data.Molecular autismAutistic adults report significantly poorer healthcare experiences than non-autistic peers across communication, sensory environment, and access. They are far less likely to feel understood or able to describe symptoms, and much more likely to experience anxiety or shutdowns during medical visits.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Developmental profiles of children at risk for autism spectrum disorder at school entry.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren referred for autism assessment but not diagnosed showed functional profiles at school entry nearly identical to those who were diagnosed. Both groups scored significantly lower than typically developing peers across social, emotional, and communication domains, suggesting comparable support needs despite differing funding eligibility.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2022White matter microstructural and morphometric alterations in autism: implications for intellectual capabilities.Molecular autismWhite matter differences in autism were driven almost entirely by participants with intellectual impairment or minimal verbal ability. In intellectually able autistic adults, brain structure looked similar to controls. This suggests previous studies excluding these groups missed the main biological signal.
• SLPCohort2022Maternal age, autistic-like traits and mentalizing as predictors of child autistic-like traits in a population-based cohort.Molecular autismMaternal age was linked to child autistic-like traits in a U-shape. Children of mothers aged 20 or younger had higher parent-rated scores than children of mothers aged 25-29. Maternal autistic traits were also linked to child traits.
• SLPCohort2022Parents' Concerns Are Associated with Early Intervention Evaluation and Eligibility Outcomes.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPParents’ concerns were tied to children being evaluated and found eligible for early intervention, but not to receiving services six months later. Only 22.9% of referrals reached services.
• SLPOther2022Diagnostic validity of Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, second edition (K-ADOS-2) in the Korean population.Molecular autismThe Korean ADOS-2 correctly identified autism across toddler to adult modules and usually avoided false autism labels among non-autistic people. Use it alongside caregiver and clinical information.
• SLPCase-Control2022Attentional influences on neural processing of biological motion in typically developing children and those on the autism spectrum.Molecular autismChildren with autism identified human motion as accurately as peers, but their brains did not automatically prioritize it. They only showed typical neural responses when explicitly asked to judge if the motion looked human. This suggests attention, not perception, drives social differences.
• SLPSystematic Review2022Representativeness of autistic samples in studies recruiting through social media.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutism studies recruiting through social media often had more women than men, later diagnoses, higher education, lower unemployment, and far fewer people with intellectual disability than expected. These samples may not represent all autistic people.
• SLPOther2022Facing up to others' emotions: No evidence of autism-related deficits in metacognitive awareness of emotion recognition.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic adults recognized emotions less accurately than non-autistic adults but were just as good at judging whether their own answers were right. Their slower responses likely reflect caution rather than a deficit in understanding their own limitations.
• SLPOther2022Investigating Markers of Rapport in Autistic and Nonautistic Interactions.Autism in adulthoodAutistic pairs reported similar rapport to nonautistic pairs despite using less backchanneling. Mixed pairs reported significantly lower rapport and less mutual gaze. This suggests rapport does not depend on typical social cues like frequent nodding or eye contact.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Experiences of Sensory Overload and Communication Barriers by Autistic Adults in Health Care Settings.Autism in adulthoodAutistic adults reported significant distress from background noise and feeling misunderstood in health care. Qualitative feedback highlighted that providers often misread nonverbal cues or lacked autism knowledge. Simple environmental changes and literal communication can reduce barriers.
• OTSLPCohort2022Exploring Sensory Subgroups in Typical Development and Autism Spectrum Development Using Factor Mixture Modelling.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregiver reports on a sensory questionnaire separated autistic children into different patterns. Two more atypical patterns had more anxiety and sleep problems at the first visit; later differences were weaker. It did not test treatment.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Pandemic intake questionnaire to improve quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of outpatient neurologic and developmental care at the Kennedy Krieger institute during the COVID-19 pandemic.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesGuardians of children with neurodevelopmental disorders reported worsened mood, behavior, sleep, and therapy-access problems during the pandemic. A pre-visit questionnaire surfaced these concerns, and Five out of six program directors found it helpful.
• SLPCohort2022Caring for Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder: Factors Associating with Health- and Care-Related Quality of Life of the Caregivers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregiver quality of life was linked to their own mental health and coping skills, not to their child's autism severity. Internalizing problems predicted health-related quality of life, while parenting stress predicted care-related quality of life.
• SLPCohort2023Structural and Pragmatic Language Impairments in Children Evaluated for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost children evaluated for autism had language impairments, with pragmatic deficits more common than structural ones. Structural language skills strongly predicted pragmatic competence. Early language delay was linked to current structural deficits but not to social or pragmatic impairment.
• SLPCohort2023Newborn Auditory Brainstem Responses in Children with Developmental Disabilities.Journal of autism and developmental disordersNewborn hearing tests showed delayed brain responses in infants later diagnosed with autism or speech impairment, but not in those with language impairment or general developmental delay. The test is not accurate enough to screen for these conditions alone, but suggests early neurological differences exist.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023Balancing Fidelity and Flexibility: Usual Care for Young Children With an Increased Likelihood of Having Autism Spectrum Disorder Within an Early Intervention System.Journal of autism and developmental disordersEarly intervention providers serving toddlers with autism or suspected autism report using naturalistic strategies but often lack formal training in manualized programs. Parent-led goals, contractor pay and limited guidance make training hard, so usual care is flexible but variable.
• SLPCohort2023COVID-19 Morbidity Among Individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A Matched Controlled Population-Based Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPeople with ASD had higher recorded COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates than matched controls. This is a health-record comparison, not proof that ASD caused the difference.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Executive Function in Autism: Association with ADHD and ASD Symptoms.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn children with autism, executive function problems tracked with ADHD severity, not autism severity. Flexibility and emotional control were unrelated to either diagnosis. This suggests ADHD symptoms, not autism itself, drive most observed executive function deficits.
• SLPRCT2022Brief Report: Feasibility of the Probabilistic Reversal Learning Task as an Outcome Measure in an Intervention Trial for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe probabilistic reversal learning task was feasible and acceptable for children and adolescents with autism, with over 95% completing testing. Performance improved after intervention, suggesting the task is sensitive to change in cognitive flexibility.
• OTSLPQualitative2023Clothes, Sensory Experiences and Autism: Is Wearing the Right Fabric Important?Journal of autism and developmental disordersTen autistic adults described fabrics as central to their daily comfort, not just aesthetics. They avoided abrasive textures like hessian and spandex, preferring satin and cotton. These choices helped them manage distress and maintain focus in educational settings.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023A Qualitative Exploration into the Sensory Experiences of Autistic Mothers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSeven autistic mothers described how pregnancy and childcare intensified sensory overwhelm, making touch and sound painful. Late diagnosis prevented them from understanding these reactions. They relied on downtime and online peer support, often feeling misunderstood by healthcare professionals.
• SLPQualitative2023"Sometimes I Feel Grateful…": Experiences of the Adolescent Siblings of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Malaysia.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescent siblings of children with autism in Malaysia described struggling to communicate due to a lack of specific strategies. They managed breakdowns through trial and error and internalized their distress. Four siblings who attended therapy sessions reported better understanding.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2022Serum Vitamin D, Folate and Fatty Acid Levels in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism had significantly lower vitamin D levels than controls, but folate levels showed no significant difference. The vitamin D finding had very high variability between studies, so it should not be treated as a consistent biological marker.
• SLPPilot2022Second-Order False Beliefs and Linguistic Recursion in Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAge-matched children with and without ASD did not differ in reasoning about one person's belief about another's belief. In children with ASD who initially struggled, five sessions of recursive language or working memory training improved this reasoning; interaction-only control did not.
• SLPOther2022Figure Disembedding: The Gottschaldt's Hidden Figure Test in Children with Typical Development and Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism completed the hidden figure test significantly faster than matched peers, but their accuracy was no better. Speed alone did not separate the groups reliably, and the test cannot diagnose autism.
• SLPQualitative2022From Someone Who May Cause Trouble to Someone You Can Play With: Stakeholders' Perspectives on Preschool Program Quality for Autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPreschool staff, parents and supervisors described four priorities for autistic children receiving EIBI: staff competence, inclusion, collaboration and adapted environments. They also described more confident staff and better teamwork during the programme.
• SLPOther2023Resources, Problems and Challenges of Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis and Support System in Poland.Journal of autism and developmental disordersASD diagnosis in Poland relies heavily on external observation, often missing comorbidities like anxiety or ADHD. Waiting times are long, and unauthorised screening by teachers is common. Clinicians must differentiate ASD from other disorders and advocate for comprehensive, multi-specialist assessments.
• OTSLPOther2022Self-Determination in Autistic Transition-Aged Youth without Intellectual Disability.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic youth rated their self-determination skills higher than parents did, but both groups agreed that home opportunities exceeded school ones. Fewer executive function problems and less depression linked to better self-reported skills. Discrepancies mean you need both perspectives to plan transitions.
• SLPCohort2022Comparing Early Pragmatics in Typically Developing Children and Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPreschoolers with language impairment and autism scored significantly lower on direct pragmatic language tests than typically developing peers. Scores for the two clinical groups were comparable, suggesting similar early social communication deficits in both conditions.
• SLPSurvey2022Brief Report: The Broad Autism Phenotype in Swedish Parents of Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Conditions.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe Swedish Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire worked well in 119 Swedish parents. Parents of autistic children reported higher aloofness scores, but it is not ready for clinical diagnosis.
• OTSLPOther2022Monochannel Preference in Autism Spectrum Conditions Revealed by a Non-Visual Variant of Rubber Hand Illusion.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism showed reduced susceptibility to the classic rubber hand illusion. However, when the illusion relied only on touch rather than sight and touch, their proprioceptive drift matched that of typically developing peers, suggesting a preference for monochannel sensory processing.
• SLPCase-Control2022Social attention in anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorder: Role of social motivation.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAdults with autism looked at faces less than controls, but those with anorexia nervosa did not. Looking away from faces was not linked to low social motivation. For anorexia, social attention appears intact in dynamic scenes, challenging assumptions of shared autism-like deficits.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022Parent Perspectives on Supports and Barriers for Autistic Youth Transitioning to Adulthood.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of autistic teens described barriers like not knowing where to find services or finding them too expensive. They reported supports came from their child's specific interests, such as coding or welding, and from extracurricular activities that built confidence and practical skills.
• SLPRCT2022Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of the WHO Caregiver Skills Training in Public Health Services in Italy.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe WHO Caregiver Skills Training improved parent interaction skills and reduced stress, but did not significantly change child joint engagement or autism severity scores at 3 months. Parents gained confidence and children gestured more, but primary child outcomes were null.
• SLPCohort2022Context Modulates Attention to Faces in Dynamic Social Scenes in Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren and adults with autism looked at faces less than typically developing peers, but only when watching an actor perform a task or react to a moving toy. When the actor spoke directly to the camera, looking time at faces was similar between the two groups.
• SLPPilot2022Feasibility, Acceptability and Preliminary Efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Autistic Adults without Intellectual Disability: A Mixed Methods Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSeven autistic adults without intellectual disability completed an adapted Dialectical Behavior Therapy program. They reported high satisfaction and reduced emotion regulation difficulties that lasted four months. Self-harm and suicidal ideation decreased for most participants, though depression and hopelessness improvements did not sustain.
• SLPCohort2022Autism: Comorbidities and Treatment Patterns in the Real World, a Retrospective Cohort Study Among Children, Adolescents and Adults Newly Diagnosed with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAmong 36,000 newly diagnosed autistic patients, behavioral therapy was the most common treatment, received by over 70%. Comorbidities were frequent, with ADHD affecting about half. Treatment patterns varied widely, with many patients switching or combining therapies over three years.
• OTSLPQualitative2022Opportunities and Challenges in Developing Technology-Based Social Skills Interventions for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Analysis of Parent Perspectives.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents described technology as a double-edged sword for their adolescents with autism. It offered calm and creative control, but also triggered meltdowns when things went wrong and encouraged withdrawal from real-world interaction.
• OTSLPCohort2022The Mediating Effects of Alexithymia, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Anxiety on the Relationship Between Sensory Processing Differences and Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours in Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSensory processing differences were linked to restricted and repetitive behaviours in autistic adults. This link was partly explained by difficulty identifying emotions and intolerance of uncertainty, but anxiety did not mediate the relationship with insistence on sameness.
• SLPCase-Control2023Intention Attribution in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An EEG Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism matched typical peers on predicting story endings, but brain scans showed they worked harder to process unexpected ones. This suggests intention attribution is intact behaviorally, while neural responses to surprise differ.
• SLPOther2023Parent, Teacher and Observational Reports of Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Young Autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents reported more emotional and behavioral problems than teachers in 83 young autistic children. Parenting stress was linked to parent reports only. Minimally verbal children showed more observed challenging behaviors. Use home and school views together.
• SLPSurvey2022Brief Report: Training New Zealand Well Child/Tamariki Ora Nurses on Early Autism Signs Using the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance-Revised.Journal of autism and developmental disordersNurses who took a 4.5 to 5 h autism-signs workshop reported better knowledge and confidence right after training, and those gains remained at follow-up. Some confidence and acceptability ratings fell from post-workshop to follow-up. No child outcomes were measured.
• SLPCase-Control2022Peri-Pregnancy Cannabis Use and Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Offspring: Findings from the Study to Explore Early Development.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAfter accounting for maternal education, tobacco, and alcohol use, there was no significant association between mothers reporting cannabis use around pregnancy and their children having autism. The unadjusted link to developmental delay controls disappeared once these factors were considered.