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 39 OF 56 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024School absenteeism in autistic children and adolescents: A scoping review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children miss school more often than peers, especially those with co-occurring mental health conditions. Current interventions are small, uncontrolled, and lack evidence of efficacy. Schools should focus on individualized accommodations and early detection rather than relying on proven treatment programs.
• SLPOther2024Accuracy of initial diagnostic impressions of autism in toddlers and behaviors that inform these impressions.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchWhen senior clinicians suspected autism after a brief first impression, all 22 were later diagnosed with autism, but they missed 37% of toddlers who ultimately had autism. A brief non-autism impression should not rule out autism; longer evaluation is needed.
• SLPCase-Control2024Autistic and non-autistic individuals show the same amygdala activity during emotional face processing.Molecular autismAutistic and non-autistic adults showed no difference in amygdala activity and similar accuracy when matching emotional faces. The amygdala result remained when depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism traits, or disability were considered.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Social interaction links active musical rhythm engagement and expressive communication in autistic toddlers.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic toddlers showed lower active engagement with music than nonautistic peers. In autistic children, higher child music engagement linked to better social skills, while parent-child music-making linked to better expressive communication. These relationships were cross-sectional and did not prove that music interventions cause communication gains.
• OTSLPQualitative2024Made to feel different: Families perspectives on external responses to autism and the impacts on family well-being and relationships.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFamilies described being made to feel different by schools and communities. Sensory overload and bullying at school led to home meltdowns and isolation. Parents and adolescents wanted support groups and professionals who understood autism’s impact on the whole family unit.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Brain glutathione and GABA+ levels in autistic children.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchBrain scans found no difference in glutathione or GABA levels between autistic and non-autistic children. Higher GABA in motor and thalamus regions correlated with ADHD inattention scores, but this secondary finding was not adjusted for multiple comparisons.
• SLPOther2024No association between alexithymia and emotion recognition or theory of mind in a sample of adolescents enhanced for autistic traits.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn adolescents, alexithymia did not explain why autistic traits relate to poor emotion recognition or theory of mind. Autistic traits alone predicted these difficulties. One unpre-registered subgroup finding suggested alexithymia linked to lower theory of mind in non-autistic youth only, but this did not hold after adjusting for verbal IQ.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Characterising the social interaction style of autism in young adult males with fragile X syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRYoung men with fragile X syndrome and autism split evenly between active and passive social styles. Crucially, neither style predicted their cognitive, language, or adaptive skills. A passive presentation does not mean lower ability; do not underestimate a patient's capacity based on how they initiate social interaction.
• SLPCase Series2024Clinical impact and in vitro characterization of ADNP variants in pediatric patients.Molecular autismAll 15 children with ADNP variants had global developmental delay. Eight had autism, and 13 had distinctive facial features. In lab tests, most mutations disrupted how the protein sits in the cell nucleus, but not by blocking its entry signal alone.
• SLPOther2024Prevalence of bias against neurodivergence-related terms in artificial intelligence language models.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchCommon AI language models linked autism and neurodivergence terms with negative words such as slurs, violence, or uptight. Sentences about severe autism were rated especially negatively. This is about AI text tools, not evidence about therapy.
• SLPOther2024Evidence-b(i)ased practice: Selective and inadequate reporting in early childhood autism intervention research.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceCompleted early autism intervention trials were often unpublished or unreported: only 6 of 84 posted results. 95 of 385 eligible reports could not be included in meta-analysis. Only 10 of 56 registered studies were free of selective reporting signs.
• SLPCohort2024Vowel distinctiveness as a concurrent predictor of expressive language function in autistic children.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn 27 autistic children, how distinct their vowel sounds were predicted expressive language skills, but only for those with limited speech. For children with stronger language, understanding of speech was the better predictor. This acoustic measure helps identify which children may struggle to develop spoken words.
• SLPCohort2024Risk of Autoimmune Disease in Research-Identified Cases of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Longitudinal, Population-Based Birth Cohort Study.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren with autism were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease by age 30 than their peers. This means clinicians should watch for signs of conditions like diabetes or alopecia in patients with autism.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2024Health and Education Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Developmental Disabilities.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren with autism experienced significantly more disruptions to therapy and school than peers with other disabilities. They faced greater barriers with telehealth and masking. Clinicians should anticipate that these families may have missed critical interventions and need tailored support to restart care.
• SLPCohort2024Racial and ethnic disparities in the co-occurrence of intellectual disability and autism: Impact of incorporating measures of adaptive functioning.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAdding adaptive behavior scores to IQ tests reduced the estimated prevalence of co-occurring intellectual disability in autistic preschoolers from 62.9% to 38.0%. This change also reduced racial disparities, with no group showing significantly higher odds than White children when both criteria were used.
• OTSLPQualitative2024A qualitative exploration of an autism-specific self-compassion program: The ASPAA.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults found a self-compassion program helpful for reducing self-criticism and feeling connected, but also described it as difficult and sometimes emotionally distressing. They valued autism-specific adaptations like lived-experience videos and flexible exercises, while noting sensory triggers and the need for professional support.
• SLPCohort2024The use of psychotropic medications in autistic individuals (21 years and younger) in Western Australia: A preliminary investigation.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn a Western Australian autism registry, 66 of 239 young autistic people reported psychotropic medication use. Stimulants and antidepressants were common, often for attention or challenging behaviours. Parent reports suggested some helped, but timing and reasons were unclear.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024State-of-the-art therapies for fragile X syndrome.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCurrent therapies for fragile X syndrome manage symptoms but do not cure the underlying genetic cause. Pharmacological options like stimulants and SSRIs target specific behaviors, while gene therapies remain in preclinical stages.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Sensory experiences questionnaire unravels differences in sensory profiles between MECP2-related disorders.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with MECP2 duplication show significantly higher sensory hypersensitivity and seeking than those with Rett syndrome, especially in tactile and vestibular areas. Both groups score above typical ranges, but Rett scores are more homogeneous and closer to typical levels.
• SLPOther2024Do focused interests support word learning? A study with autistic and nonautistic children.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchThe focused-interest condition did not produce a clear learning advantage for autistic children in the main analysis, but they learned new words in both interest and neutral trials. Nonautistic children learned only with neutral images.
• OTSLPCohort2024Early executive functioning predicts externalizing problems in neurodiverse preschoolers.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchPoor emotional control at age 3 predicted externalizing problems at age 5 in neurodiverse preschoolers. This link was strongest in children with lower autism symptom severity. Screening for executive functioning difficulties may help identify children who would benefit from early behavioral interventions.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024"I'm dealing with a health care system that doesn't get it": Barriers and facilitators to inclusive healthcare for autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults described healthcare as a demanding social environment where short appointments, phone-based scheduling, and sensory-heavy settings blocked care. They relied on online booking and support people to navigate systems. Providers often lacked training in adult autism, leading to misunderstandings of communication styles.
• SLPQualitative2024What do parents of nonverbal and minimally verbal autistic children think about genomic autism research?Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents of nonverbal or minimally verbal autistic children were open to genomic autism research if it supported their children and did not seek a cure. Many worried about blood samples, trust, and whether prediction would bring useful help.
• OTSLPOther2024Social competence in autism: A structural equation modeling approach.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn autistic youth, social thinking and social behavior act as separate skills. Improving one does not automatically fix the other. Therapists should target both explicitly if the goal is genuine social understanding, rather than assuming behavioral training builds cognitive insight.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Autistic preschoolers display reduced attention orientation for competition but intact facilitation from a parallel competitor: Eye-tracking and behavioral data.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic preschoolers looked less at competitive games than peers, yet performed motor and sorting tasks just as fast when competing alongside an adult. Parallel play offers immediate social facilitation benefits even when visual attention to competition is reduced.
• OTSLPOther2024Smiling synchronization predicts interaction enjoyment in peer dyads of autistic and neurotypical youth.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic-neurotypical pairs synchronized smiles less than neurotypical pairs. This lower synchrony predicted less enjoyment and less desire to interact again. However, autistic-autistic pairs showed no significant difference in synchrony or enjoyment compared to other groups, suggesting shared neurotype may buffer interaction quality.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024The impact of raising a child with a developmental or physical health condition in Ethiopia.Research in developmental disabilitiesFamilies of children with developmental disabilities in Ethiopia reported significantly lower quality of life than those with physical health conditions. Caregivers of children with greater health loss also reported poorer family well-being, highlighting the need for scaled-up support.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024Contribution of the serotonergic system to developmental brain abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchThis review links autism's behavioral and sensory challenges to early disruptions in the brain's serotonin system, but it does not test any therapy. It explains why serotonin-targeting drugs like SSRIs yield mixed results: the underlying brain defects vary widely between patients.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2024Experiences of caregivers of children with autism during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsCaregivers of children with autism faced intensified stress, isolation and disrupted routines during the pandemic. Teletherapy was often unhelpful due to access barriers and engagement difficulties. Structured home routines and positive outlooks emerged as key coping strategies.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Spinal manipulation and mobilisation in paediatrics - an international evidence-based position statement for physiotherapists.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapySpinal manipulation and mobilisation should not be performed on infants or for non-musculoskeletal conditions like asthma or colic. For adolescents with neck or back pain, these techniques may be appropriate if combined with sound clinical reasoning.
• SLPQualitative2024"I do my best to do right by her": Autistic motherhood and the experience of raising a non-autistic adolescent daughter.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceSeven autistic mothers described close, supportive relationships with their non-autistic daughters, citing mutual understanding and effective problem-solving. They reported social exclusion from other parents but actively arranged social opportunities for their children, challenging deficit-based views of their parenting.
• SLPCohort2024Role of Primary Care Clinician Concern During Screening for Early Identification of Autism.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPWhen both the autism screener and the clinician's own concern flagged a toddler, families were much more likely to attend the diagnostic evaluation. Screening alone caught nearly half the autism cases, so do not skip referrals just because you lack a specific concern.
• SLPCohort2024Additive interaction between birth asphyxia and febrile seizures on autism spectrum disorder: a population-based study.Molecular autismChildren with both birth asphyxia and febrile seizures had an autism prevalence of 7.1%, compared to 0.2% in those with neither. This association was strongest in girls and children aged 7–10. The study identifies a risk marker, not a cause.
• SLPCohort2024Clinical correlates of diagnostic certainty in children and youths with Autistic Disorder.Molecular autismClinicians were most certain of an Autistic Disorder diagnosis when specific social and communication signs were present, not just when total symptom scores were high. Larger head circumference was also linked to higher certainty, suggesting physical traits may influence diagnostic confidence.
• SLPCohort2024Reproducibility between preschool and school-age Social Responsiveness Scale forms in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes program.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMost children show minimal score changes between preschool and school-age autism trait assessments. However, a significant portion of children who later score in the clinical range were not flagged during preschool. This suggests early screening may miss milder traits that emerge or become more apparent with age.
• OTSLPQualitative2024"A perfect storm": Autistic experiences of menopause and midlife.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic participants described menopause as a period of intense sensory and emotional overwhelm, often compounded by late autism diagnosis. They reported feeling dismissed by healthcare providers who lacked understanding of both autism and perimenopause, leading to significant distress and barriers to accessing support.
• OTSLPQualitative2024"I have to charge my social battery": Perspectives from autistic young adults on Quality of Life.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic young adults wanted close connections but needed time alone to recharge their social battery. They valued family, pets, peers, direct support, routines, sensory-friendly places, and pursuing interests. Generic quality-of-life measures may miss these.
• SLPCohort2024Trajectory of depressive symptoms over adolescence in autistic and neurotypical youth.Molecular autismAutistic youth reported higher depression symptoms at age 10 than neurotypical peers, but these symptoms decreased through middle adolescence. Neurotypical youth started with lower symptoms that rose sharply after age 13. The two groups' symptom levels converged around age 14.
• SLPOther2024The relationship between gamma-band neural oscillations and language skills in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their first-degree relatives.Molecular autismBrain responses to speech were stronger in autistic youth than in typical peers, and stronger responses tracked with weaker language skills. Unaffected siblings sat between the groups. This is a brain measure, not a therapy target.
• SLPCohort2024Gender diversity in autistic and neurotypical youth over adolescence and puberty: A longitudinal study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic girls assigned female at birth reported and showed higher gender diversity scores than typically developing girls, with patterns shifting during puberty. Boys assigned male at birth showed stable gender diversity scores regardless of diagnosis. Parent and self-reports did not correlate, suggesting both perspectives are needed.
• SLPOther2024Are minimally verbal autistic children's modality and form of communication associated with parent responsivity?Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchParents of minimally verbal autistic children gave similar relevant responses whether the child used spoken language, gesture, gesture-speech combinations, AAC, or less precise forms. Clinicians should assess all communication modes, not focus only on intelligible speech.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Categorizing and identifying preferred interests in autistic toddlers.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic toddlers were more likely to have parent-reported preferred interests than peers with delays or no diagnosis. However, the specific types of interests did not differ between groups. Clinicians should assess how intensely a child engages with an interest, not just what the interest is.
• OTSLPOther2024Child Age at Time of First Maternal Concern and Time to Services Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPIn children with autism, maternal race/ethnicity was not linked to first concern age, but children of non-Latino Black or non-Latino other race mothers had longer time to services. Earlier concern was linked to longer wait.
• OTSLPOther2024Profiles of minimally verbal autistic children: Illuminating the neglected end of the spectrum.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMinimally verbal autistic children are not a single group. They split into three distinct profiles: one with global delays, one with strong cognition but weak speech, and one with strong social communication but lower cognition. Treatment should match the profile, not just the word count.
• OTSLPOther2024Measuring self and informant perspectives of Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours (RRBs): psychometric evaluation of the Repetitive Behaviours Questionnaire-3 (RBQ-3) in adult clinical practice and research settgs.Molecular autismAdults waiting for autism assessment and their informants agreed on repetitive behaviours, and both lined up with clinician interview ratings. Autistic adults scored higher than non-autistic adults. Use the questionnaire to guide assessment, not to diagnose alone.
• OTSLPCohort2024Enhanced interest in letters and numbers in autistic children.Molecular autismOver a third of autistic preschoolers develop an intense interest in letters and numbers, often despite minimal speech. This interest emerges at the same age as in typical children but is non-social. Clinicians should ask parents explicitly about it.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity in early neurodevelopmental traits in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study.Molecular autismEarly difficulties in social and communication skills at age three were associated with receiving a diagnosis of almost all neurodevelopmental conditions later in childhood. These traits were not neatly aligned with specific diagnoses, suggesting broad developmental challenges predict diverse outcomes.
• SLPCohort2024Family history of psychiatric conditions and development of siblings of children with autism.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn siblings of children with autism, family history of anxiety or schizophrenia was linked to higher autistic social features. Intellectual disability, anxiety or bipolar disorder were linked to lower IQ or adaptive scores. Depression was linked to higher IQ and communication.
• SLPCohort2024Mid-childhood autism sibling recurrence in infants with a family history of autism.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAt mid-childhood, 37.1% of 159 siblings of autistic children were diagnosed by researchers, compared with 16.8% of 226 siblings assessed at 3 years. Thirty-one of 59 mid-childhood diagnoses were first made later.
• OTSLPOther2024Pepea Pamoja:† Applying the Ecological Validity Framework to co-develop a wellbeing and behavioural training program for caregivers of young children with autism in low-resource settings of Kenya and the United States.Child: care, health and developmentA 10-session group training program for caregivers of young children with autism was co-developed for Kenya and adapted back to rural Indiana. It blends autism education, caregiver wellbeing, and daily-routine behavioral strategies. It has not been tested for effectiveness.