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 49 OF 56 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSLPSurvey2025Community views of neurodiversity, models of disability and autism intervention: Mixed methods reveal shared goals and key tensions.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutism community participants linked neurodiversity support with societal change, not rejection of all individual supports. Strong social-model supporters were open to adaptive-skill teaching and treating co-occurring conditions, and preferred communication beyond speech.
• OTSLPQualitative2026Parental Perceptions of Community and Professional Attitudes Toward Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of adults with autism described community and professional attitudes as mixed. Presuming competence, collaborating with families, and accommodating differences were valued. Refusing requests, prejudice, and judging adults as too able or too disabled were described as barriers to support.
• SLPPilot2026Improving Social Communication in Autistic Adolescents Through a Clinic-Home-School Collaboration.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThree autistic adolescents improved in targeted social conversation skills after a short clinic-home-school program. They and their parents reported high satisfaction. This is a tiny pilot, so treat the gains as promising observations rather than proof the intervention works.
• SLPOther2026"Look Who's Talking": Language Patterns in Autistic and Non-Autistic Youth Across Different Conversation Partners.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic youth used longer sentences than non-autistic peers, but both groups spoke less with strangers than mothers. Mothers asked more questions with autistic children, which correlated with shorter sentences. This suggests conversational partners shape language output.
• OTSLPSurvey2026Frequency and Mental Health Condition of Students with Developmental Disabilities Among First-Year Japanese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFirst-year Japanese students screening positive for ASD or ADHD traits had significantly higher distress than peers, with 61% reporting high social anxiety versus 30% of controls. These mental health risks were already present within a month of enrollment.
• SLPCohort2026Investigating the Predictive Validity of the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 in Children at Elevated Likelihood for Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersQ-CHAT and ADOS-2 often missed later autism in toddlers with an autistic sibling, or flagged children who did not receive a diagnosis. They may help rule out autism, but should not be used alone to decide who needs assessment.
• SLPCohort2026Disparities in Receipt of Early Intervention Services by Toddlers with Autism Diagnoses: an Intersectional Latent Class Analysis of Demographic Factors.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAmong Massachusetts toddlers with autism, children in the U.S.-born White parents group received 12.0 weekly early intervention hours, versus 6.9 for children in the Latiné immigrant poverty group. Service hours did not simply match child needs.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptom Profiles in Fragile X Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and Neurofibromatosis Type 1.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with rare genetic syndromes do not share one autism symptom profile. Clinical observation and parent reports often disagreed, with some children showing high repetitive behaviors but normal social interaction, or vice versa. This mismatch means assessment tools must be interpreted together rather than separately.
• SLPCohort2026A Longitudinal Study of Head Circumference Trajectories in Autism and Autistic Traits.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism had larger head circumference than controls, but the difference disappeared when height was considered. Children with elevated autistic traits showed no initial difference and only a small lower head circumference after accounting for sex.
• SLPOther2026Prediction by Young Autistic Children from Visual and Spoken Input.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn a lab task with changing rules, autistic toddlers matched on cognition adjusted to new linguistic cues faster than neurotypical peers. This suggests a preference for recent experience over prior learning, though it is unclear if this helps or hinders real-world language acquisition.
• SLPRCT2026Cultural Adaptation of RUBI Intervention with Korean Families (K-RUBI): A Mixed Method Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersKorean mothers reported greater confidence and knowledge after eight weeks of telehealth parent training, but the study did not prove the program reduced their children's challenging behaviors compared with a waitlist group.
• OTSLPQualitative2026"He Just Wants Someone to Hear Him and Listen to Him": Barriers and Facilitators to Autistic Youth with Anxiety Receiving Quality Mental Healthcare.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic youth and caregivers described how therapy fails when it ignores sensory needs, rigid schedules, and lack of rapport. They valued providers who use visual aids, incorporate special interests, and allow time for trust. Telehealth helped some avoid office meltdowns but hindered connection for others.
• SLPCohort2026A Longitudinal Study of Aggression in People with Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disabilities.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAggression in autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities peaked at age 9, with 68.8% showing some aggression, then fell to 41.8% by age 18. School-age aggression, not toddler aggression, was linked to aggression at 18.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Gesture Imitation Performance and Visual Exploration in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn young children with autism, gesture imitation scores did not differ from typically developing peers, but imitation quality was linked to age and developmental skills. Looking at the demonstrator's face did not predict imitation accuracy. Meaningful gestures were harder for children with more severe autism symptoms.
• SLPCohort2026Exploring Metalinguistic Awareness in School-Aged Autistic Children: Insights from Grammatical Judgment.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children did not differ from neurotypical children on a short, picture-based sentence judgment task. Age and non-verbal reasoning were linked to scores, not autism status.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Sociodemographic and Clinical Profile of 915 Autistic Preschoolers Engaged in Intensive Early Intervention in Australia.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren entering intensive early intervention showed severe delays in adaptive and cognitive skills, with communication and expressive language being the weakest areas. Despite these high support needs, parental stress levels were similar to general autism samples rather than elevated.
• SLPOther2026Movement Coordination's Link with Common Ground During Dyadic Peer Discourse in Typically Developing and Autistic Speakers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children and adolescents could build shared understanding with peers, but they used more words and took longer than typically developing peers. Better motor skills and coordination with a partner linked to shorter, faster conversations, especially under age 10.
• OTSLPOther2026Determinants of Positive Evolution of Symptoms in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) during the COVID-19 Lockdown in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (DRC).Journal of autism and developmental disordersDuring lockdown, 42.6% of parents reported positive changes in their child's autism symptoms. Parents spending more than 8 hours daily with the child and improvements in language or autonomy were associated with positive evolution. Conversely, parental depression and child comorbidities were linked to no change or deterioration.
• OTSLPOther2026The Mediating Role of Social Interactions and Early Psychopathological Symptoms in the Relationship Between Empathy and Prosociality in Young Children with ASD and Neurotypical Peers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAnxious children with autism showed more prosocial behaviour than less anxious peers, while anxiety did not predict prosociality in neurotypical children. Parents reported lower empathy and social interaction in children with autism, but similar levels of anxiety between groups.
• SLPSystematic Review2026Gender Diversity, Gender Dysphoria/Incongruence, and the Intersection with Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Updated Scoping Review.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutism diagnoses appear in 0.61% of all participants across 99 studies, while gender diversity appears in 0.14%. Research remains heavily focused on adults and lacks data on those with intellectual disability. Current assessment methods often fail to capture non-binary identities or accommodate varied communication needs.
• SLPOther2026A Multi-Method Approach for the Identification of Social Functioning Profiles in Autistic Adolescents and Young Adults Without Intellectual Disability.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adolescents without intellectual disability split into two social profiles: one more withdrawn, the one less engaged in interactions. Both had similar motivation. Parents rated the less engaged group as having worse social skills and more mental health difficulties.
• OTSLPOther2026Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Psy-Flex Among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe Chinese Psy-Flex reliably measures psychological flexibility in parents of children with autism. It takes about 5 minutes to complete and accurately distinguishes parents with high stress from those without, offering a brief tool for tracking mental health in this group.
• SLPQualitative2026"It's Really Complicated": Engaging Key Stakeholders to Inform a Novel Parent-led Sexual Health Education Program for Autistic Youth.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults and parents want sexual health education to happen at home, tailored to the child's needs and identity. They highlighted gaps in school programs, risks from online content, and the need to teach self-advocacy and safety skills explicitly.
• OTSLPCohort2026Associations of Autistic Traits and Autism with Incontinence and Constipation in a UK Birth Cohort.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with high autistic traits, especially social-communication and language coherence difficulties, had higher odds of daytime wetting and soiling at age 9. At age 14, autistic traits were also linked to constipation. Screen for continence issues in autistic children.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Facing Change and Uncertainty: Lessons Learned from Autistic Children and their Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFamilies reported both worsening and improving outcomes during lockdown. Children with sensory or social needs often struggled with lost structure, but others saw reduced anxiety and better communication from increased one-to-one time at home. Support services and school continuity were critical gaps.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Employing a Phased, Interdisciplinary Approach Across Healthcare and School Settings: mHealth Adaptations for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder At-Risk of Experiencing Obesity.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor youth with autism, participants said an obesity-prevention chatbot app should offer simple choices, safety prompts, visuals, and rewards, while fitting family life. They valued apps for teletherapy and home programs, but worried about cost, time, and parent burden.
• SLPSurvey2026College Students Recognize Characteristics of Autism, but Struggle to Differentiate Between Characteristics of Autism and Other Disabilities.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCollege students recognized autism traits as diagnostic more accurately than they rejected ADHD, anxiety and learning-disability traits. When they mislabeled those traits as autism, they were often more confident, not less.
• SLPCohort2026Mathematical Proficiency in Adolescents with ASD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with ASD showed lower math scores overall than peers, but performance varied widely by individual. Some had age-appropriate skills, while others struggled specifically with procedures and algebra, suggesting the need for personalized educational assessments.
• OTSLPOther2026Exploring the Interpersonal Goals of Autistic and Neurotypical Adolescents Who Bully Others.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adolescents who valued closeness and friendship were more likely to be identified as bullies, unlike neurotypical peers who bullied to gain status. This suggests some bullying in autism may stem from social misunderstanding rather than intent to harm.
• SLPQualitative2026Breastfeeding Journeys: Comparing Mothers' Experiences with Autistic and Neurotypical Infants.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMothers described distinct breastfeeding difficulties with infants later diagnosed with autism, including poor latch, lack of effort, and rigid positioning needs. These issues were absent in their neurotypical children. The study reports themes, not evidence that breastfeeding problems diagnose autism.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Healthcare Providers' Perspectives on Autistic Adolescents Transitioning to Independent Driving.Journal of autism and developmental disordersProviders rely on ad-hoc strategies like role-playing and referrals to guide autistic adolescents toward driving. They report lacking a gold standard resource or autism-specific driver education, leaving them to improvise assessments of readiness and safety in real time.
• OTSLPSurvey2026Parental Burnout in Israeli Parents of Children with ASD During Wartime: The Role of Child Behavior, Parental Emotion Regulation, Stress, and Social Support.Journal of autism and developmental disordersDuring war, parents of children with autism reported higher burnout and stress than parents of typically developing children. Unlike the other group, their burnout was not buffered by social support or emotion regulation. Instead, disruptions to their child's therapy and school routines were the strongest predictors of distress.
• SLPCohort2026The Narrative Coherence of Autistic Children's Accounts of an Experienced Event in Response to Different Interviewer Prompts: A Longitudinal Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children produced narratives as coherent as their peers after two months, but provided fewer chronological details when asked specific 'who/what/when' questions. They excelled at descriptive detail. Open-ended prompts elicited the most coherent accounts for both groups.
• SLPCohort2026Analysis of Disparities in Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Military Health System Pediatrics Population.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMilitary children diagnosed within military treatment facilities were diagnosed at younger ages than those diagnosed in the community, with no significant gender disparities. Non-White children were diagnosed at younger average ages than White children, contrary to typical disparities.
• OTSLPQualitative2026A "Round, Bruising Sort of Pain": Autistic Girls' Social Camouflaging in Inclusive High School Settings.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic girls in inclusive schools reported camouflaging all day, finding it exhausting. They valued time alone and adult autism awareness most, while rating social skills classes as least helpful. Neurodivergent friends were described as essential for navigating school.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Parents' Early Concerns about Their Child with Autism: Relation to Age of Diagnosis.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSpecific early signs like not responding to name or losing skills predicted earlier autism diagnosis. General language delays or repetitive behaviors did not. A higher number of concerns was associated with later diagnosis in the final model, suggesting specificity matters more than volume.
• SLPRCT2026AutInsight: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of a Consumer-Informed Parent Support Program for Parents of Autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents in AutInsight reported feeling more in tune with their autistic child and said the child engaged more with them. Observed parent-child interaction did not improve. This was a small pilot.
• OTSLPOther2026Hair Cortisol in Young Children with Autism and Their Parents: Associations with Child Mental Health, Eating Behavior and Weight Status.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism had higher hair cortisol than peers, but their own stress levels did not link to their eating, weight, or behavior. Parent-reported stress, however, correlated with child problem behavior and emotional eating, suggesting parental well-being is a stronger marker than the child's biology.
• OTSLPOther2026Child and Family Characteristics Associated with Symptoms of Anxiety in Autistic Children: A Biobank Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPoor sleep was the only factor linked to all four types of anxiety in autistic children. Those with the worst sleep habits had up to 9.23 times higher odds of separation anxiety compared to those with the best sleep.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2026The Knowledge and Preferences of Parents/Carers of Autistic Children and Young People about Technology Devices.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of autistic children overwhelmingly prefer tablets for support programmes, citing ease of use and familiarity. They reject virtual reality and robots due to sensory overload, cost, and unfamiliarity. These preferences reflect current household technology access rather than proven clinical effectiveness.
• SLPCohort2026Co-occurring Psychopathology in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Differences by Sex in the ECHO Cohorts.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic girls and women showed more anxiety and depression than autistic boys, especially in adolescence. Autistic boys showed more ADHD symptoms. Parents reported fewer emotional issues in autistic children with mild symptoms, possibly because those signs were missed or masked.
• OTSLPOther2026"Do My Friends Only Like the School Me or the True Me?": School Belonging, Camouflaging, and Anxiety in Autistic Students.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic students who feel they do not belong at school are more likely to hide their autistic traits. This camouflaging is linked to higher anxiety. Creating environments where students feel accepted and safe may reduce the need to mask and lower anxiety levels.
• OTSLPQualitative2026"Just Listen to Me. Help Me Explore it." An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Exploring Experiences of Gender Dysphoria, Identity And Resilience in Autistic Adolescents Assigned Female at Birth.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adolescents assigned female at birth described gender distress as both physical and social. They found social transition helpful for social distress but not body mismatch. Clinicians should listen for repeated words as signs of distress, as patients often struggle to articulate it.
• SLPOther2026The Aberrant Behavior Checklist in a Clinical Sample of Autistic Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Co-Occurring Mental Health Problems: Psychometric Properties, Factor Structure, and Longitudinal Measurement Invariance.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe Aberrant Behavior Checklist reliably measures irritability, social withdrawal, stereotypic behaviour, and inappropriate speech in autistic adults with intellectual disabilities. Do not track changes in hyperactivity or noncompliance over time, as these scores are not comparable across visits.
• SLPRCT2026Caregiver Satisfaction with Anxiety Treatment for Autistic Youth: A Mixed Methods Examination.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers valued concrete coping tools and a strong therapist relationship. They disliked travel, scheduling, and redundant questionnaires. Many wanted more sessions to consolidate gains. Caregivers in the intensive BIACA program liked involvement but found home tasks burdensome.
• OTSLPQualitative2026The Transition to Kindergarten for Hispanic and Latine Autistic Children: A Focus Group Study with Caregivers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFour mothers said early, ongoing partnership with school helped their child adjust and made advocacy easier. They said technical language and teachers' limited autism knowledge made kindergarten transitions harder. They also relied on trusted parents, therapists, and family.
• SLPCohort2026What Predicts Early Math in Autism? A Study of Cognitive and Linguistic Factors.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism scored lower on early math tests than age-matched peers, but autism severity did not predict these scores. Instead, non-verbal intelligence and grammatical comprehension were the strongest predictors of mathematical ability.
• OTSLPRCT2026Promoting Self-Determination in Young Adults with Autism: A Multicenter, Mixed Methods Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe program did not outperform waiting list on self-determination. Participants reported better goal planning and action, and caregivers reported overall self-determination rose in the intervention group, but between-group differences were absent.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026A Qualitative Analysis of Unintentional Injuries in Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMothers of autistic children identified specific behavioral traits driving injury risk: communication deficits that hide pain, fixated interests (especially water), motor coordination issues, and elopement. Safety instruction must be adapted to non-verbal strengths, using visual supports and physical barriers rather than verbal warnings alone.
• SLPSurvey2026Sociodemographic Differences Impact the Perceived Importance of Social Communication and Interaction Behaviors.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers' ratings of how important social behaviors are to them vary by race, income, and child status, especially for advanced skills like gestures. Low caregiver concern about these skills does not mean the child lacks them. It may mean the family does not value them.