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 30 OF 56 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPPilot2023Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Group Intervention for Parents of Children with Disabilities (Navigator ACT): An Open Feasibility Trial.Journal of autism and developmental disorders69 of 86 parents who started an acceptance and commitment therapy group attended at least four of five sessions, and they rated it highly. Preliminary scores suggested parent anxiety and depression improved and child difficulties decreased, but no control group means effectiveness is not established.
• SLPCohort2023Childhood Academic Performance: A Potential Marker of Genetic Liability to Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersUnaffected siblings of children with autism showed lower childhood performance in language usage and capitalization compared to controls. These subtle language differences were linked to higher autism severity in their affected sibling and specific personality traits in their mothers.
• OTSLPOther2023The Social Support Network of Adults with an Autism Spectrum Condition: An Exploration Using the Network in Action-Questionnaire.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdults with autism reported few network members and wanted more friends or better contact. Family members listed more network members than patients did, but the two often disagreed on what help was needed. Use patient self-report to guide treatment goals, not proxy estimates.
• SLPPilot2023Regulating Together: Emotion Dysregulation Group Treatment for ASD Youth and Their Caregivers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersYouth with autism and emotion regulation difficulties showed improved reactivity and skill knowledge after a 5-week group program with caregivers. Improvements were maintained at 10-week follow-up. This pilot suggests feasibility and promise, but a randomized trial is needed to confirm the treatment works.
• SLPOther2023Autistic Adults Show Similar Performance and Sensitivity to Social Cues on a Visual Perspective Taking Task as Non-autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults performed similarly to non-autistic adults on a task requiring them to judge which side of a table an object was on from another person's viewpoint. Both groups were slower when taking another's perspective, but autistic status did not impair this ability.
• SLPRCT2023Feasibility and Initial Efficacy of an Adapted Telepractice Listening Comprehension Intervention for School-Aged Children with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism attending remote listening comprehension sessions showed significant improvement in understanding spoken paragraphs, but no change in vocabulary or narrative retell. Adding a parent-led read-aloud component did not produce better outcomes than the child sessions alone.
• OTSLPCohort2023Social and Behavioural Outcomes of School Aged Autistic Children Who Received Community-Based Early Interventions.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAt school age, autistic children who had received group early intervention and standard community early intervention were largely similar. Both showed moderate to low adaptive behaviour and social skills; less play disruption was reported for the group intervention children.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Impact of social-, health-, and disability-related factors on pregnancy outcomes in women with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A population-based latent class analysis.Disability and health journalWomen with intellectual disabilities face higher pregnancy risks, but the level depends on their specific profile. Those with significant medical, psychiatric, and physical comorbidities had the greatest risk of complications like preterm birth and caesarean delivery.
• OTSLPSurvey2022A survey of autistic adults, relatives and clinical teams in the United Kingdom: And Delphi process consensus statements on optimal autism diagnostic assessment for adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults and relatives reported mixed UK diagnostic experiences. Many had referral help, but 65.3% waited over 12 weeks; some sensory or information needs were unmet. Clinicians agreed on 11 statements for adult autism assessment services, expert recommendations, not tested interventions.
• SLPSurvey2023Parent-reported Early Atypical Development and Age of Diagnosis for Children with Co-occurring Autism and ADHD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersEarly parent-reported signs were similar across autism, ADHD, and co-occurring groups, but children with both received ADHD earlier and autism later. Language and social reports differed more by the end of infancy than early on.
• OTSLPCohort2023Measuring Changes in Social Skills Throughout an Intervention Program for Children with ASD, Contributions from Polar Coordinate Analysis.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism showed fewer total social behaviors after a ten-session group program, but the quality of interactions improved. High-level interactions and positive nonverbal cues increased, while low-level functional requests decreased. The study lacked a control group, so changes cannot be definitively attributed to the intervention.
• SLPQualitative2023'Someone like-minded in a big place': Autistic young adults' attitudes towards autistic peer support in mainstream education.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic young adults said they would have wanted a school space with other autistic or neurodivergent peers. They valued calm sensory-friendly settings, shared activities, autistic adult support, and pupil-led groups. No participant said they would have preferred neurotypical peer mentors.
• OTSLPQualitative2023Caregiver Insights and Improvement Strategies for Youth with Autism Undergoing Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers rated endoscopy experiences highly but requested ASD-specific preparation guidance, mental health support, and reduced waiting times. They valued care teams that asked for their input on calming strategies and communicated directly with non-verbal children rather than just the parents.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Patterns of Special Education Eligibility and Age of First Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Identification Among US Children with ASD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren identified only through school records were evaluated and diagnosed with autism over a year later than those seen in health settings. School evaluations for developmental delay often missed specific autism traits like restricted interests, potentially delaying access to specialized services.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2022Loneliness in autistic adults: A systematic review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults described wanting connection but finding social interaction exhausting and isolating. Loneliness was not the same as being alone, so clinicians should not assume an autistic adult does not want contact.
• OTSLPOther2022A Parent-Mediated Telehealth Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder : Promoting Parents' Ability to Stimulate the Children's Learning, Reduce Parenting Stress, and Boost Their Sense of Parenting Empowerment.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 23 of 27 families, parents showed less stress, more empowerment and better therapist-rated teaching skills after a 6-month program combining telehealth, coaching, video lessons and support groups. The study had no control group, and skill changes did not track stress or empowerment.
• SLPCohort2022Adults with autism spectrum disorder and the criminal justice system: An investigation of prevalence of contact with the criminal justice system, risk factors and sex differences in a specialist assessment service.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAdults assessed for autism were less likely to have had contact with the criminal justice system than those who did not receive an autism diagnosis. However, within the autism group, being male, having ADHD, or having a psychotic disorder significantly increased the risk of such contact.
• OTSLPOther2023Greater gender diversity among autistic children by self-report and parent-report.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children self-reported more binary and nonbinary gender diversity than peers, but parents only reported more body incongruence. Parent and child reports did not correlate, meaning parents may miss the child's internal gender experience.
• SLPQualitative2023Healthcare clinician perspectives on the intersection of autism and gender dysphoria.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceClinicians working with autistic people experiencing gender dysphoria described distinct communication needs. They adapted sessions by using visual aids, reducing sensory input, and allowing longer processing time, rather than changing treatment options. These adjustments aimed to bridge the gap between clinical goals and patient expression.
• SLPOther2023Psychometric Assessment of the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory in Children with Autism in Community Settings.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory does not measure autism behaviors in a single group. In children with autism, it splits into four distinct areas: emotional reactivity, conduct problems, attention issues, and daily routine difficulties. Use these subscales separately rather than one total score.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023ASD Diagnosis and Treatment Experiences Among Mexican Heritage Families.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMexican heritage families described diagnosis pathways shaped by rural isolation, undocumented status, and provider hesitation. Many received intervention before formal diagnosis. Families reported needing to advocate strongly against service cancellations and structural barriers to access timely care.
• OTSLPSurvey2023Family Functioning and Emotional Aspects of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Southern Brazil.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFamilies of children with autism reported high stress, particularly about their child's future and the constant effort of care. Most felt unable to relax or maintain social lives. Communication difficulties and a lack of family cohesion were common. These findings describe family experiences, not treatment effects.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Utilising Interview Methodology to Inform the Development of New Clinical Assessment Tools for Anxiety in Autistic Individuals Who Speak Few or no Words.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents and clinicians described anxiety in non-speaking autistic people as increased vocalisation, challenging behaviour and avoidance. Key triggers were unpredictability and routine changes. They stressed assessing baseline behaviour and ruling out pain before diagnosing anxiety.
• SLPCohort2023Parental Depression Symptoms and Internalizing Mental Health Problems in Autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn families with autistic children, higher parental depression symptoms predicted increased child internalizing problems like anxiety and depression twelve months later. Conversely, child internalizing problems predicted increased maternal depression twelve months later. This bidirectional link was strongest for mothers.
• SLPQualitative2023Opportunities for Inclusion and Engagement in the Transition of Autistic Youth from Pediatric to Adult Healthcare: A Qualitative Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic youth, caregivers, and providers described an automatic switch to adult care at 18 as abrupt and unsupported. They wanted gradual planning, direct communication, and a warm handoff between pediatric and adult clinicians.
• SLPCase Report2023Mathematics Learning Through Online Video-Based Instruction for an Autistic Child.Journal of autism and developmental disordersOne autistic 5-year-old learned addition, subtraction, and number comparison quickly using online video modeling and virtual manipulatives. She generalized these skills to physical objects like macaroni. This single case suggests the method works for this child, but does not prove it works for others.
• SLPSurvey2023Using EMDR with autistic individuals: A Delphi survey with EMDR therapists.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceTherapists agreed on three core principles for using EMDR with autistic clients: flexibility, clear communication, and responding to the individual. They rejected a single scripted autism protocol, favouring a 'therapeutic toolbox' approach where adaptations depend on the client's specific needs and presentation.
• SLPCohort2023Spoken Language Change in Children on the Autism Spectrum Receiving Community-Based Interventions.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost preschool children on the autism spectrum entering community early intervention with minimal speech stayed at the same spoken-language phase over about seven months; only a few moved to word combinations, and the study did not show clear group improvement.
• SLPOther2023Dialogic Priming and Dynamic Resonance in Autism: Creativity Competing with Engagement in Chinese Children with ASD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism repeated words as often as peers but combined them into new sentences less often. When they did create new sentences, they mostly built on their own previous words rather than their mother's.
• OTSLPSurvey2023Autistic People's Perinatal Experiences II: A Survey of Childbirth and Postnatal Experiences.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic parents reported birth and postnatal care was harder than for non-autistic parents. They were more likely to feel overwhelmed by sensory input, find home visits stressful, and feel professionals did not understand their needs or take their concerns seriously.
• SLPRCT2023A randomized controlled trial into the effects of probiotics on electroencephalography in preschoolers with autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceProbiotics were associated with lower front-of-head high-frequency activity and higher front-of-head connectivity in 46 preschoolers with autism, but no clear probiotic-related overall change was shown.
• OTSLPQualitative2022'It's being a part of a grand tradition, a grand counter-culture which involves communities': A qualitative investigation of autistic community connectedness.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults described community connectedness as having three distinct parts: a feeling of belonging, specific friendships, and political advocacy. Online spaces and autistic-led events were key for connection, while internalised stigma or a weak autistic identity acted as barriers.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Inequities in Receipt of the North Carolina Medicaid Waiver Among Individuals with Intellectual Disability or Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren and racial minorities were significantly less likely to receive North Carolina's Medicaid I/DD Waiver than adults and White patients. Waiver recipients had 31% lower odds of emergency department visits. These disparities suggest current access systems fail vulnerable groups.
• SLPQualitative2022'We've come a very, very, long way' Overcoming stigma of autism: An interpretative phenomenological analysis within the UK Jewish community.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceTen UK Jewish parents, rabbis, and educators reported that stigma towards autism has decreased significantly, with children no longer hidden. However, fear of stigma persists in some strictly Orthodox sectors due to matchmaking concerns. Lack of knowledge remains a greater barrier than active prejudice.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Modelling quality of life in children with intellectual disability using regression trees.Developmental medicine and child neurologyDaytime sleepiness and low community participation were the strongest factors linked to poorer quality of life in children with intellectual disability. Eye contact during communication also mattered. These findings suggest clinicians should prioritize screening for sleep issues and facilitating social engagement.
• SLPCohort2023Volumetric Analysis of Amygdala and Hippocampal Subfields for Infants with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersInfants later diagnosed with autism had larger amygdala and hippocampus CA1-3 volumes at 6 months, and these differences persisted at 12 and 24 months. Using these volumes to predict later autism was correct in 60.7% of cases.
• OTSLPQualitative2023"[I] don't wanna just be like a cog in the machine": Narratives of autism and skilled employment.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic professionals described disclosure as a high-stakes gamble that could secure accommodations or cost them their jobs. Success relied on bypassing traditional interviews, trauma-informed support, and workplaces that allowed them to be openly autistic.
• SLPOther2023Training Syntax to Enhance Theory of Mind in Children with ASD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism and typically developing peers improved on false-belief and complement tasks after tablet training using animated stories and 'says that' sentences. Low-verbal false-belief gains remained 4 to 6 weeks later. Less severe autism and higher non-verbal reasoning were linked to more benefit.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Developmental referrals of pre-school children in a diverse community in England: The importance of parental migration for referral rates.Child: care, health and developmentIn a Bristol community paediatric service, children with two migrant parents were three times more likely to be referred for developmental concerns than those with two UK-born parents. Somali children had six times the referral rate for autism compared to white or mixed-heritage peers.
• OTSLPOther2023Eliciting Expressions of Emotion: An Exploratory Analysis of Alexithymia in Adults with Autism Utilising the APRQ.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdults with autism used fewer emotion words when describing hypothetical scenarios than neurotypical adults, even when their self-reported alexithymia scores were low. This suggests standard questionnaires may miss emotional expression difficulties in autism.
• SLPOther2023A PROMIS®ing New Measure for Quantifying Emotion Dysregulation in Toddlers and Preschoolers: Development of the Emotion Dysregulation Inventory-Young Child.Journal of autism and developmental disordersA new parent-report measure for emotion dysregulation in toddlers with autism showed strong reliability and sensitivity to symptoms in a small pilot. Scores were significantly higher in children with autism than those without, particularly for reactivity.
• SLPOther2023The implementation of the screening tool for autism in toddlers in Part C early intervention programs: An 18-month follow-up.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceA one-day STAT workshop increased early intervention providers' confidence in autism screening, and 30 of 60 providers used the screener. It did not measure whether toddlers were diagnosed or referred sooner.
• SLPOther2023Emoji Identification and Emoji Effects on Sentence Emotionality in ASD-Diagnosed Adults and Neurotypical Controls.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults misidentified sad, fearful, and surprised emoji more often than non-autistic adults. When reading neutral text, autistic adults rated sentences with sad emoji as significantly more negative than non-autistic adults did. Happy emoji influenced both groups equally.
• SLPSurvey2023Understanding the Contributions of Trait Autism and Anxiety to Extreme Demand Avoidance in the Adult General Population.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAnxiety consistently predicted extreme demand avoidance traits in adults. In the larger second study, autistic traits were equally important. These are self-reported traits in the general population, not clinical diagnoses.
• OTSLPRCT2022Supporting peer engagement for low-income preschool students with autism spectrum disorder during academic instruction: A pilot randomized trial.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceTeachers trained to embed social communication strategies into small group academic instruction used them more consistently. While all students improved in joint engagement and language, only the treatment group showed significantly increased peer engagement. This suggests the approach specifically targets peer interaction during classroom activities.
• SLPCohort2023Speech Development Across Subgroups of Autistic Children: A Longitudinal Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with more consonants in their speech at baseline were the only ones who became verbal over 12 months. Those with few consonants stayed minimally verbal. Use consonant inventory and receptive vocabulary to guide prognosis and intervention targets.
• SLPOther2023Building Family Capacity: supporting multiple family members to implement aided Language modeling.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn one family, training the mother to coach five relatives in aided language modeling increased their use of the child's speech-generating device. The child's independent device use rose modestly, though she still preferred signing. This shows a possible method, not proven efficacy.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Microanalysis of Daily Living Skills in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder without an intellectual disability.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with autism and average intelligence showed daily living skills far below age expectations. Money management, cooking, and hygiene were major challenges. Communication was a relative strength, but overall adaptive skills lagged significantly behind cognitive ability.
• SLPOther2023Sex Differences on the ADOS-2.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic females scored lower than males on most social communication items during ADOS-2 assessments. This difference disappeared when controlling for overall symptom severity. Clinicians should not rely solely on these lower scores, as they may reflect camouflaging rather than a lack of impairment.
• SLPOther2023Parent-reported atypical development in the first year of life and age of autism diagnosis.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of children later diagnosed with autism often recalled atypical development by 6 months, especially gaze abnormalities, and more areas of atypical development were linked with earlier specialist consultation and diagnosis. Ask about first-year signs rather than waiting for concern.