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 41 OF 56 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPRCT2025Investigating Social Competence in a Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial of a Theatre-Based Intervention Enhanced for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdults with autism who did ten weeks of peer-supported theatre showed better brain responses to faces and reported higher social motivation. These gains held at two-month follow-up. Direct measures of face memory and observed conversation skills did not improve.
• SLPQualitative2025Impact of Receiving Genetic Diagnoses on Parents' Perceptions of Their Children with Autism and Intellectual Disability.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents reported that a genetic diagnosis for their child with autism and intellectual disability led them to blame the child less for behavioral difficulties and to increase patience. This shift in perception also helped some extended family members and teachers understand the child's needs more fully.
• SLPPilot2025Development of a Novel Telemedicine Tool to Reduce Disparities Related to the Identification of Preschool Children with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersA new telehealth tool correctly identified autism in 63% of preschoolers when used alone. It worked better for confirming autism in minimally verbal children than for ruling it out. Caregivers were satisfied, but clinicians said they still need a full history to be sure.
• SLPOther2024Does Having a Sibling Affect Autistic People's Empathy?Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents reported autistic children without siblings as more empathic than those with siblings, but autistic adults showed no difference in self-reported or task-based empathy. The child finding likely reflects parents comparing their autistic child to siblings rather than a real empathy gap.
• OTSLPRCT2024Psychometric Properties of the Dutch Contextual Assessment of Social Skills (CASS): An Independent Observational Outcome Measure of Social Skills in Autistic Adolescents.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe 7-item Dutch CASS is a more reliable measure of social skills in autistic adolescents than the 4-item version. It correlates with self-reported assertion and social communication, but not with restricted interests, confirming it measures social interaction specifically.
• SLPCohort2024From Alert Child to Sleepy Adolescent: Age Trends in Chronotype, Social Jetlag, and Sleep Problems in Youth with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSleep problems in autistic adolescents shift as they age. Night waking and co-sleeping decrease, but daytime sleepiness increases. This rise in sleepiness is linked to a later biological clock, which is more pronounced in those with severe social communication deficits.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Motor Control Adherence to the Two-thirds Power Law Differs in Autistic Development.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children aged 4 to 8 showed steeper velocity changes when drawing curves on an iPad compared to typically developing peers. They also exhibited higher jerk, indicating less smooth movement. These kinematic differences did not correlate with overall fine motor scores.
• SLPSurvey2025Attitudes Toward and Usage of Evidence-Based Mental Health Practices for Autistic Youth in Bangladesh and Germany: A Cross-Cultural Comparison.Journal of autism and developmental disordersClinicians in Germany used more types of evidence-based treatment for autistic children and adolescents than clinicians in Bangladesh. German clinicians said approaches appealed more when useful and colleague-supported. Bangladeshi clinicians said requirements and job security mattered more.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Barriers to Healthcare for Latinx Autistic Children and Adolescents.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor Latinx families with autistic children, cost barriers were highest among those with commercial insurance, while language barriers were highest among Spanish speakers. Spanish-speaking caregivers reported significant gaps in knowing services existed, digital access issues, and lower educational attainment compared to English speakers.
• SLPOther2025Developing a Measure of Key Adult Outcomes in Adults with Developmental Disabilities: Conceptual Model and Item Generation of the REALS (Relationships, Employment, Autonomy, and Life Satisfaction).Journal of autism and developmental disordersCognitive interviews with 43 autistic adults, adults with other developmental disabilities, and caregivers led to major revisions of a new outcome measure. The original response scales were confusing and the three-month timeframe was too short for many tasks, so items were simplified and restructured.
• SLPSurvey2025Differences Between Black and White Caregivers in the Association Between Autism Diagnostic Process Satisfaction and Service Use.Journal of autism and developmental disordersBlack and White caregivers reported similar overall satisfaction with the autism diagnostic process and similar overall service use. Higher satisfaction was linked to more services among Black caregivers only.
• SLPOther2025Sibling Relationships in Families of Autistic and Typical Children: Similarities and Differences in the Perspectives of Siblings and Mothers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSiblings of autistic children described their relationships as typical-like, with affection and quarrels, while mothers reported less intimacy and less quarreling. The two views can differ, so ask both before judging the relationship.
• SLPCohort2025Coherence of Parental Representations Following Therapy for Autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of autistic children did not show improved overall coherence after a 10-week child CBT program, but they did report lower concern and higher acceptance. Changes in coherence predicted better general behavioural symptoms in children, not specific internalizing or externalizing problems.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Employment profiles of autistic people: An 8-year longitudinal study.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost autistic adults in this Dutch study were either stably unemployed or stably employed. Higher education and being male predicted stable employment. Co-occurring conditions and later age of diagnosis also shaped these groups. Employment status changed little for most people over eight years.
• SLPCase-Control2025Valence and Intensity of Emotional Expression in Autistic and Non-Autistic Toddlers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic toddlers spent more time with neutral facial expressions and less time showing positive affect than non-autistic peers. Differences in the intensity of their emotional expressions were small. This suggests the main difference is how often emotions are shown, not how strongly they are shown.
• SLPRCT2025Practitioner Adherence and Competence in MEYA, a Free Online Self-Instruction Program in Modular Psychotherapy and Counseling for Children's Autism-Related Clinical Needs.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSeven therapists using a free online training tool increased how well they followed evidence-based steps for autistic children. Most found the tool acceptable and reported some improvement in child goals, but the study was too small to prove the training works.
• SLPCohort2025The Association between Threatened Miscarriage and Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Offspring by Age 14 Years.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn a UK birth cohort, threatened miscarriage in early pregnancy was linked to higher odds of a child being diagnosed with autism or ADHD by age 14. The association held after adjusting for maternal age, smoking, income and other factors, but genetic confounding cannot be ruled out.
• OTSLPSurvey2024The characterization of feeding challenges in autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFeeding challenges in autistic children often start earlier than diagnosis. Caregiver reports show that early difficulties with transitions and ongoing diet restriction predict more severe sensory and behavioral feeding issues later, suggesting these are key markers for early intervention.
• SLPPilot2024Feasibility of the Autism Navigator® JumpStart to Coaching in Everyday Activities course in South Africa.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceSixteen of 26 South African autism service providers finished a web-based caregiver coaching course in an average of 5.58 months. Completers rated it feasible, but language barriers and slow completion are practical concerns.
• OTSLPSurvey2024What are the autism research priorities of autistic adults in Scotland?Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults in Scotland prioritized mental health, diagnosis, and lifespan services, while ranking genetic and behavioral intervention research lowest. They explicitly rejected therapies aimed at making them less autistic, favoring support that improves daily life and accessibility instead.
• OTSLPCohort2025Examining the Process and Impact of Social Problem Solving in Autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn autistic children, identifying that a social problem exists predicted better parent-reported social skills more strongly than choosing good goals or solutions. Therapists should prioritize helping children recognize when a social conflict is happening before teaching specific resolution strategies.
• SLPSystematic Review2025Parental Perspectives on Early Life Screening and Genetic Testing for ASD: A Systematic Review.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents generally view genetic testing for autism positively, citing benefits like early intervention and understanding causes. However, the most common barriers were lack of provider recommendation and high cost, leaving many families unaware of testing options.
• SLPCase Series2025The Lighter Touch: Less-Restriction in Sequentially Implemented Behavioral Sleep Interventions for Children with Rare Genetic Neurodevelopmental Conditions.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor eight children with rare genetic conditions, sleep problems improved when behavioral interventions were tried in order from least to most restrictive. Circadian changes alone resolved issues for one child, but most needed added strategies, including modified extinction, to stop night wakings.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Validating the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Sets for Autism in a Sample of Australian School-Aged Children on the Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregiver ratings matched autism core sets for attention and social tasks, but missed key facilitators like assets and motivation. Many ICF terms were unclear to parents, requiring simplified definitions before clinical use.
• OTSLPQualitative2024Using Q-sort method to explore autistic students' views of the impacts of their anxiety at school.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic students reported anxiety most strongly impacted schoolwork, making it hard to start, concentrate, or do their best. They also described freezing, masking feelings, and struggling to listen. These varied impacts mean a single anxiety profile does not fit all students.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Mortality risk among Autistic children and young people: A nationwide birth cohort study.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children and young people in this large New Zealand cohort faced more than double the mortality risk of their non-Autistic peers. The risk was substantially higher for females and for those with co-occurring intellectual disability, highlighting a critical need for targeted health and safety support.
• SLPQualitative2024Social media shaping autism perception and identity.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults found social media more helpful than official health sites for understanding their own experiences, especially women who lacked representation. However, they reported that online communities often felt unwelcoming due to aggressive debates over language and interventions.
• OTSLPCohort2025Friendship in Autism Spectrum Disorder Is Related to Diverse Developmental Changes Between Toddlerhood and Adolescence.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with ASD who had friends did not show worsening social communication severity and had larger gains in socialization and daily living skills. Those without friends showed worsening social communication severity. School setting, ADHD, and anxiety did not separate the groups.
• SLPOther2025The Comprehension of Grammatical Structures in a Pediatric Population with ASD and Epilepsy: A Comparative Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSpanish-speaking children with both ASD and epilepsy had the lowest scores on grammar comprehension tests, scoring lower than children with ASD alone. Children with epilepsy alone scored the highest. This suggests that the combination of these conditions significantly impairs the ability to understand complex sentences and instructions.
• SLPCohort2025Foundations of Vocal Category Development in Autistic Infants.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic infants clustered their vocal play (squeals and growls) at the same rate as typically developing infants. The amount of clustering did not predict language skills or autism severity at age two, so this early vocal pattern is not a useful marker for diagnosis.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Medical Home Care and Educational Services for Children and Youth on the Autism Spectrum: A Scoping Review.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren on the autism spectrum often need both medical home care and school services, but only five studies linked them and the evidence was mixed. Barriers included provider time, screening gaps, coordination rules, and funding.
• SLPRCT2024Using music to assist language learning in autistic children with minimal verbal language: The MAP feasibility RCT.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents teaching songs via video helped autistic children produce more words and phrases than standard therapy, with no safety issues. This pilot suggests a larger trial is feasible, but the small sample means these gains are not yet proven.
• SLPCohort2024Expression and co-regulation of negative emotion in 18-month-olds at increased likelihood for autism with diverse developmental outcomes.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAt 18 months, toddlers later diagnosed with autism did not show more negative emotion overall than toddlers with no delay, but their negative emotion was more intense. Parent calming responses were common and linked to lower chance of distress continuing.
• OTSLPOther2025Intolerance of Uncertainty and Anxiety (but not Alexithymia) Mediate the Association Between Autistic Traits and Quality of Life.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIntolerance of uncertainty and anxiety, but not difficulty identifying emotions, explained the link between autistic traits and lower quality of life. This suggests therapists should target coping with uncertainty and anxiety management to improve wellbeing, rather than focusing solely on emotional awareness.
• SLPOther2025Investigating the Effects of Transdiagnostic Processes on Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Autistic Young People: the Mediating Role of Emotion Dysregulation.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIntolerance of uncertainty strongly predicted anxiety and depression in autistic youth, largely independently of emotion dysregulation. Emotion dysregulation mediated links between cognitive inflexibility, alexithymia and depression only in non-autistic peers, suggesting distinct pathways to internalising symptoms.
• OTSLPOther2025The Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Autism Family Experience Questionnaire (AFEQ).Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe Turkish version of the Autism Family Experience Questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for assessing parents of autistic children. It measures parenting experience, family life, child development, and symptoms consistently, and correlates appropriately with autism severity and family quality of life.
• SLPSurvey2025The Social Validity of Behavioral Interventions: Seeking Input from Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults endorsed safety, communication, and quality-of-life goals, but rejected goals aimed at stopping stimming, fixations, or eye contact. They preferred any working communication method over speech alone and wanted autistic input in goal setting.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024How healthcare systems are experienced by autistic adults in the United Kingdom: A meta-ethnography.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults in the UK described healthcare professionals often misunderstanding their needs, leading to misdiagnosis or inadequate support. They reported that reducing processing demands through clear, written information, quiet environments, and predictable appointments helped them engage with services.
• SLPQualitative2024Revisiting the Link: A qualitative analysis of the diverse experiences of gender dysphoria as a subset of pervasive social dysphoria co-occurring with autism in Japan.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic transgender participants described gender distress as part of a wider burden from all social norms, not just gender incongruence. Five had no alternative gender identity, resisting the concept of gender itself. Clinicians should validate diverse experiences rather than assuming gender incongruence is required for a diagnosis.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Developmental associations between motor and communication outcomes in Fragile X syndrome: Variation in the context of co-occurring autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceEarly fine motor skills predicted receptive communication in all children with Fragile X. However, the link between motor development and expressive communication differed by autism status. Children without autism relied on early motor levels, while those with autism relied on how quickly their motor skills improved.
• OTSLPOther2025K-12 Life Skills Education, Independence, and Employment of Autistic Individuals: Giving Voice to Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults valued job site training and practicing real life skills. They wanted less academic work and more help with social skills, money, and finding jobs. They did not link specific school methods to getting hired. Their experiences highlight gaps in current education.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Validation of the Arabic Version of Feeding Handicap Index for Children with Developmental Disabilities (A-FHI-C).Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of children with autism, cerebral palsy, or intellectual disability reported significantly more severe feeding problems on the new Arabic Feeding Handicap Index than parents of typically developing children. The questionnaire showed strong consistency and stability, making it a reliable tool for assessing feeding impacts in Arabic-speaking families.
• SLPOther2025The Connection Between Sleep Problems and Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties in Autistic Children: A Network Analysis.Journal of autism and developmental disordersDepression, anxiety and behavioural difficulties were the most connected symptoms in autistic children with sleep problems. The data were collected at one time point, so this does not show that treating these symptoms improves sleep.
• SLPSurvey2025Exploring Factors of Diagnostic Timing Among Black Autistic Youth.Journal of autism and developmental disordersBlack families whose autism diagnosis came later noticed signs much later, waited longer after noticing signs, and were more likely to report a misdiagnosis. Reported racial barriers did not differ by diagnosis timing.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Continuation of Pediatric Care after Transfer to Adult Care Among Autistic Youth Overlap of Pediatric and Adult Care.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost autistic young adults keep using pediatric services after starting adult primary care. Over half had direct pediatric visits, including therapy. Clinicians should expect ongoing pediatric involvement rather than assuming a clean break at the first adult appointment.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Motivation to participate in structured physical activity for autistic youth: A systematic scoping review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic youth are less motivated for structured physical activity when they feel incompetent, socially excluded, or overwhelmed by sensory noise. They participate more when given choices from known activities and explicit instructions. Mainstream group-based approaches often thwart these needs.
• SLPSurvey2024Exploring the association between social camouflaging and self- versus caregiver-report discrepancies in anxiety and depressive symptoms in autistic and non-autistic socially anxious adolescents.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn 82 socially anxious adolescents, camouflaging was linked to their own higher anxiety and depression reports, not to closer agreement with caregivers. Adolescents reported more symptoms than caregivers.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Community Priorities for Outcomes Targeted During Professional Supports for Autistic Children and their Families.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCommunity priorities for autistic children focus on wellbeing and understanding, not changing autistic traits. Practitioners rated reducing sensory seeking and social skills training as inappropriate more often than parents did. All parent-focused outcomes were considered appropriate and medium-to-high priority.
• SLPSurvey2025Clinician Opinions Regarding the Usefulness of the BOSA for ASD Assessment in a Service for Children Aged Under 12 Years.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost clinicians found the BOSA less helpful than the ADOS-2 for diagnosis, citing issues with parent administration. However, they valued observing parent-child interactions and noted the BOSA might help specific cases like selective mutism.
• SLPPilot2025EMT en Español Para Autismo: A Collaborative Communication Intervention Approach and Single Case Design Pilot Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTwo Spanish-speaking caregivers learned to coach their autistic toddlers using a home-based intervention. Both used the strategies more often after training. The children communicated more, though gains depended heavily on speech-generating devices and could not be separated from other supports.