Autism Screening Questionnaire Research Articles

Feasibility and acceptability of the Indian Autism Screening Questionnaire in clinical and community settings.

We developed and tested the Indian Autism Screening Questionnaire (IASQ), which was reported to be reliable and valid as compared to the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale -2 (CARS2). The present study describes the feasibility, acceptability, sociodemographic and developmental details of IASQ study participants in 5 settings- a psychiatry outpatients' clinic (n = 145), a specialised paediatric clinic (n = 24), a speciality disability centre (n = 174), a primary school (n = 41) and a government housing colony (n = 255). The IASQ could be easily administered and understood. Consistent with prior reports, the male-female ratio of participants with autism was 3.8:1. Developmental complications were reported more frequently in clinical settings, while delivery by Caesarean section was commoner among community-dwelling higher socioeconomic status mothers (53% of the officers' sample). Mothers of participants with autism more frequently reported Caesarean section birth for the proband (χ2 = 41.61, p < .0001) and prenatal and postnatal complications. Binary logistic regression confirmed that perinatal complications in the mother and father's (older) age at birth of the participant were associated with autism. The IASQ is a reliable, practical tool for screening for autism in clinical and non-clinical settings in India.

Early detection of autism using digital behavioral phenotyping.

Early detection of autism, a neurodevelopmental condition associated with challenges in social communication, ensures timely access to intervention. Autism screening questionnaires have been shown to have lower accuracy when used in real-world settings, such as primary care, as compared to research studies, particularly for children of color and girls. Here we report findings from a multiclinic, prospective study assessing the accuracy of an autism screening digital application (app) administered during a pediatric well-child visit to 475 (17-36 months old) children (269 boys and 206 girls), of which 49 were diagnosed with autism and 98 were diagnosed with developmental delay without autism. The app displayed stimuli that elicited behavioral signs of autism, quantified using computer vision and machine learning. An algorithm combining multiple digital phenotypes showed high diagnostic accuracy with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.90, sensitivity = 87.8%, specificity = 80.8%, negative predictive value = 97.8% and positive predictive value = 40.6%. The algorithm had similar sensitivity performance across subgroups as defined by sex, race and ethnicity. These results demonstrate the potential for digital phenotyping to provide an objective, scalable approach to autism screening in real-world settings. Moreover, combining results from digital phenotyping and caregiver questionnaires may increase autism screening accuracy and help reduce disparities in access to diagnosis and intervention.

Comparing the Indian Autism Screening Questionnaire (IASQ) and the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA) with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale-Second Edition (CARS2) in Indian settings.

Participants were recruited from three settings: a referral clinic for neurodevelopmental conditions run by the Department of Paediatrics of a tertiary care teaching hospital (NDC OPD), the outpatient department of an institute for disability and rehabilitation (NIEPID), and from the community (CGOC). Persons between ages 3-18 were recruited following consent or assent (parent and child/adolescent). The IASQ was administered by a minimally trained administrator. It was followed by ISAA and the CARS-2 (in alternating order, by different evaluators blind to each other) (CARS2 SV (Standard Version) and CARS2 HF (High Functioning) as applicable). Sensitivity, specificity and area under the Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC) curve were calculated for IASQ and CARS2, as well as for ISAA and CARS2. Concordance between CARS2 and ISAA was calculated using kappa coefficient. A total of 285 participants (NIEPD n = 124; NDC OPD, n = 4; CGOC n = 157) (a total of 70 with autism and 215 controls) participated. IASQ and CARS2 were administered on 285 participants, while IASQ and ISAA were administered on 264 participants. When IASQ was compared to CARS2, sensitivity was 97%, specificity 81%, PPV 63%, NPV 99% at cut off 1 while these values were 97%, 92%, 79% and 99% respectively at cut off 2. There was high concordance between CARS2 and ISAA (Kappa 0.907, p<0.0001). IASQ has satisfactory sensitivity, specificity and concordance when compared with CARS2; it can be used for screening children with autism in community. The ISAA also showed a high concordance with CARS2, as it had with the older version of CARS.

Is traditional back translation enough? Comparison of translation methodology for an ASD screening tool.

Early identification of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in non-English speaking children often relies on translation of English ASD screening measures. Most measures employ a forward-back translation approach, despite data suggesting that this method may result in poor psychometric properties. Some studies in non-ASD fields have suggested that a rigorous method of translation with cultural adaptation may yield better psychometric properties, but no studies in the ASD field have compared the two approaches directly. This investigation compares these two translation methodologies to determine if they produce psychometrically similar or dissimilar measures. Three hundred and eighty US-based Spanish-speaking caregivers of children 8-16 months old were randomly assigned to complete either a forward-back Spanish translation or a rigorous translation with cultural adaptation of a parent-report ASD screening tool. Measurement invariance analyses determined that the two translations were psychometrically dissimilar. Additional qualitative explanatory methods using cognitive interviews examined textual differences and participant preferences between non-invariant items. LAY SUMMARY: Autism screening questionnaires created in English need to be translated into other languages so non-English speaking parents can fill them out accurately. Traditionally, researchers have not considered cultural differences when they translate these questionnaires. When we compared a direct translation to a translation with cultural adaptations, the two questionnaires were statistically different. Parents interpreted and responded to the same questions differently, depending on which version they filled out.

Brief report: Validity and reliability of the Nigerian Autism Screening Questionnaire.

Informant-report measures for screening symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are needed for low-resource settings if early identification is to be prioritized because early developmental concerns are likely to be expressed by parents and other caregivers. This paper describes the initial psychometric evaluation of the Nigeria Autism Screening Questionnaire (NASQ). Parents and other caregivers completed the NASQ on 12,311 children ages 1 to 18 in a Nigerian population sample as part of the World Bank National General Household Survey conducted in the country in 2016. Factor analyses indicated a parsimonious three-factor structure with social communication/interaction, repetitive sensory motor, and insistence on sameness dimensions. Measurement invariance was excellent across age and sex. Reliability of the subscales and total scale was good, and item response theory analyses indicated good measurement precision in the range from below average to high scores, crucial for screening, and tracking ASD symptoms. Studies with gold standard ASD diagnostic instruments and clinical confirmation are needed to evaluate screening and diagnostic accuracy. The NASQ appears to be a reliable instrument with a clear factor structure and potential for use in screening and tracking ASD symptoms in future Nigerian samples.

Psychometric properties of a screening tool for autism in the community-The Indian Autism Screening Questionnaire (IASQ).

Currently available screening questionnaires for Autism spectrum disorders were tested in developed countries, but many require additional training and many are unsuitable for older individuals, thus reducing their utility in lower/ middle- income countries. We aimed to derive a simplified questionnaire that could be used to screen persons in India. We have previously validated Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA), that is now mandated for disability assessment by the Government of India. This detailed tool requires intensive training and it is time consuming. It was used to derive a new screening questionnaire: 1) items most frequently scored as positive by participants with autism in original ISAA validation study were modified for binary scoring following expert review. 2) In a new sample, clinically diagnosed individuals with/without autism were administered the screening tool and ISAA following written informed consent. Its psychometric properties were determined. A 10-item scale named Indian Autism Screening Questionnaire (IASQ) was prepared in Hindi and English. Thereafter 145 parents/caregivers of participants (autism, n = 90, other psychiatric disorders, n = 55) (ages 3-18), were administered IASQ and ISAA (parents/caregivers plus observation) by separate interviewers, blind to each other and to diagnosis. At a cutoff of 1, sensitivity was 99%, specificity 62%, Positive Predictive Value 81%, and Negative Predictive Value 95%. Test-retest reliability was r = 0.767 (CI = 0.62-0.86) and interrater reliability- Krippendorff"s-alpha was 0.872. The area under Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC) was 95%. There was a significant difference on IASQ-scores between participants with and without a clinical diagnosis of Autism (t = 14.57, p<0.0001). The IASQ is a simple, easy to use screening tool with satisfactory reliability and validity, that can be administered to caregivers in 15 minutes and provides information about DSM 5 criteria for autism. It may be applicable outside India, following additional adaptation, for community-based studies.

Protocol for Development of the Indian Autism Screening Questionnaire: The Screening Version of the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism.

Introduction:Autism is included as a certifiable disability in the Indian Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016. The Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA), developed by the Government of India and mandated for certifying disability, is a detailed instrument that needs trained mental health experts and takes time to administer. The current project was planned to develop a simple, easy to use screening tool based on the ISAA to identify possible cases in the community.Methods:The project is planned in three phases. During the first phase, data collected during the development of the ISAA (N = 433/436 children with autism) will be used to identify questions answered as frequently, mostly, and always. During the second phase, the psychometric properties of the screening tool based on these items will be evaluated among research participants recruited from hospitals and special schools (n = 100). In the third phase, the screening questionnaire will be administered in the community (n = 500).Results:The most frequently answered questions will be selected for inclusion in the proposed screening tool. The number of items in the screening tool will be kept as few as possible, with yes or no responsesDiscussion:Indian Autism Screening Questionnaire (IASQ) will be tested as a screening version of ISAA, which can be used by community health workers, teachers, or school counselors. The IASQ will not provide a diagnosis of autism. A positive screening result should be followed by a thorough assessment by a trained specialist. Analyzing the psychometric properties of the test can help ensure cost-effective screening of the community to identify autism.

Autistic traits in first-episode psychosis: Rates and association with 1-year recovery outcomes.

AimThere is a growing appreciation that subthreshold but clinically elevated levels of autistic traits are clinically relevant. This study examined autistic traits in Singaporean patients with first‐episode psychosis and their association with 1‐year psychosis recovery.MethodsThe relationship between baseline patient characteristics, autistic traits (measured with autism screening questionnaires) and psychosis recovery outcomes at 1‐year were examined in 180 adults in the Early Intervention Psychosis Programme in Singapore.ResultsOut of 180 participants, 50 (27.8%) had clinically elevated above screening‐cut off levels of autistic traits on the self‐reported 10‐item Autism Spectrum Quotient and 8 (4.4%) on the staff‐rated Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults Screening Questionnaire. At baseline, those with more autistic traits were more likely to be unemployed, economically inactive (ie, students or homemakers); and to have diagnoses of mood disorder with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder or psychotic disorder not otherwise specified as compared to schizophrenia spectrum and delusional disorder diagnoses. Although most participants showed improvements in their clinical outcomes at 1‐year, those with higher autistic traits improved less in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale general psychopathology scale and in Global Assessment of Functioning symptomatology.ConclusionsAutistic traits are common in those with first‐episode psychosis and may be associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Validated screening tools should be developed in this population to support earlier reporting.

Autism spectrum symptoms in children with congenital blindness

Autism spectrum symptoms in children with congenital blindness Abstract. Objective: Previous studies reported increased rates of autistic symptoms in children with impaired visual abilities (IV). However, the application of existing screening questionnaires for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) proved problematic, as intact visual abilities are typically required. The current study examines the general applicability of three autism-screening questionnaires in children with congenital blindness. Methods: Autistic symptoms were assessed in 15 children with congenital blindness, 15 children with ASD (without IV), and 20 typically developing controls (aged from 8 to 14 years), using the Social Communication Questionnaire, the Marburg Rating Scale for Asperger's Syndrome, and the Social Responsiveness Scale. Results: Items assessing motor, mimic/gesture-related, or joint attention deficits were identified as highly prevalent in children with congenital blindness. These children scored, in general, higher on ASD-screening questionnaires than typically developing controls but lower than sighted children with ASD. Depending on the screening questionnaire used, between 23 % and 67 % of the sample with congenital blindness reached clinical cutoff scores for ASD. SRS total score was negatively correlated to cognitive empathy and verbal IQ in those children. Conclusions: Mothers of children with congenital blindness reported increased autistic symptoms in ASD-screening questionnaires. ASD and IV might share a broad range of symptoms. Future development and validation of screening instruments specifically adapted to the needs of persons with impaired visual abilities seem necessary.

Study protocol for an evaluation of ASDetect - a Mobile application for the early detection of autism

BackgroundAutism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) can be reliably diagnosed by 24 months of age. However, despite the well-known benefits of early intervention, there is still a research-practice gap in the timely identification of ASC, particularly in low-resourced settings. The Social Attention and Communication Surveillance (SACS) tool, which assesses behavioural markers of autism between 12 to 24 months of age, has been implemented in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) settings, with excellent psychometric properties. ASDetect is a free mobile application based on the SACS, which is designed to meet the need for an effective, evidence-based tool for parents, to learn about children’s early social-communication development and assess their child’s ‘likelihood’ for ASC.Study aimsThe primary aim of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of ASDetect in the early detection of children with ASC. A secondary aim is to assess ASDetect’s acceptability and parental user experience with the application.MethodsFamilies are recruited to download the application and participate in the study via social media, health professionals (e.g., MCH nurses, paediatricians) and word of mouth. All participating caregivers complete a demographic questionnaire, survey regarding their user experience, and the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2), an autism screening questionnaire; they are also invited to participate in focus groups. Children identified at ‘high likelihood’ for ASC based on the ASDetect results, the SRS-2 or parental and/or professional concerns undergo a formal, gold-standard, diagnostic assessment. Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses will be used to assess psychometric properties of ASDetect. Thematic analyses will be used to explore themes arising in the focus groups to provide insights regarding user experiences with the app. Multiple regression analyses will be carried out to determine the extent to which demographic factors, parental stress and beliefs on health surveillance and child results on ASDetect are associated with the parental user-experience of the application.DiscussionWith a strong evidence-base and global access, ASDetect has the potential to empower parents by providing them with knowledge of their child’s social-communication development, validating and reassuring any parental concerns, and supporting them in communicating with other health professionals, ultimately enhancing child and family outcomes and well-being.

Comparison of Parent Questionnaires, Examiner-Led Assessment and Parents\u2019 Concerns at 14 Months of Age as Indicators of Later Diagnosis of Autism

Parents participating in a prospective longitudinal study of infants with older siblings with autism completed an autism screening questionnaire and were asked about any concerns relating to their child’s development, and children were administered an interactive assessment conducted by a researcher at 14 months. Scores on the parent questionnaire were highest for children later diagnosed with autism. Parental concerns and scores from the examiner-led assessment distinguished children with later developmental difficulties (both autism and other developmental atypicalities) from those who were developing typically. Children about whom parents expressed concern scored higher on both the questionnaire and the interactive assessment than those without concerns. There were no significant associations between total or individual item scores from the questionnaire and interactive assessment.

Cognitive abilities and speakers’ adaptation of a new acoustic form: A case of a /o/-raising in Seoul Korean*

The vowel /o/ in Seoul Korean has been undergoing a sound change by altering the acoustic weighting of F2 and F1. Studies documented that this on-going change redefined the nature of a /o/-/u/ contrast as F2 differences rather than as F1 differences. The current study examined two cognitive factors namely <italic>executive function capacity </italic>(EF) and <italic>autistic traits</italic>, in terms of their roles in explaining who in speech community would adapt new acoustic forms of the target vowels, and who would retain the old forms. The participants, 55 college students speaking Seoul Korean, produced /o/ and /u/ vowels in isolated words; and completed three EF tasks (Digit N-Back, Stroop, and Trail-Making Task), and an Autism screening questionnaire. The relationships between speakers’ cognitive task scores and their utilizations of F1 and F2 were analyzed using a series of correlation tests. Results yielded a meaningful relationship in participants’ EF scores interacting with gender. Among the females, speakers with higher EF scores were better at retaining F1, which is a less informative cue for females since they utilized F2 more than they did F1 in realizing /o/ and /u/. In contrast, better EF control among male speakers was associated with more use of the new cue (F2) where males still utilized F1 as much as F2 in the production of /o/ and /u/ vowels. Taken together, individual differences in acoustic realization can be explained by individuals’ cognitive abilities, and their progress in the sound change further predicts that cognitive ability influences the utilization of acoustic information which is non-primary to the speaker.

The Measurement of Adult Pathological Demand Avoidance Traits

Pathological (“extreme”) demand avoidance (PDA) involves obsessively avoiding routine demands and extreme emotional variability. It is clinically linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The observer-rated EDA Questionnaire (EDA-Q) for children was adapted as an adult self-report (EDA-QA), and tested in relation to personality and the short-form Autism Screening Questionnaire (ASQ). Study 1 (n = 347) found the EDA-QA reliable, univariate, and correlated with negative affect, antagonism, disinhibition, psychoticism, and ASQ scores. Study 2 (n = 191) found low agreeableness, greater Emotional Instability, and higher scores on the full ASQ predicted EDA-QA. PDA can screened for using this tool, occurs in the general population, and is associated with extremes of personality. Future studies will examine if PDA occurs in other clinical populations.

Autism Screening Questionnaire: Abnormal Symbolic or Imaginative Play

Autism Screening Questionnaire:Abnormal Symbolic or Imaginative Play Oliver de la Paz (bio) 1. Does your child flap his hands or other finer flapping? Does he self-stimulate? In ecstatic moments it is a kind of rememberingthe body is the body. For example, these are armsfor grasping. These hands are forholding and touching the known and unknown.And how remarkable it all is—scintillate the waywonder surges towards the filaments. 2. Does he bang his head? On the inside, the retort of feeling accumulatesas weight. It is like smoke had risento the cellar and suddenly became thick and resinous.A song heard while submerged in a pool. 3. Does he self-mutilate? Inflict pain or injury? Huddled close against the thrum of rainfallon our roof and his fingers hookinto my eye-sockets. It is alwaysthis: his fingers seek emptiness to fill, chorusof nails pressed into my flesh thrust into the seamof our borders. My body. His pain. Our pain. 4. Does he toe walk? Possess clumsy body posture? Foal-sure and big-footed he tumblesacross the laminate. Shakyflicker of sense up the spinal pathways.Synaptic leaps sayingmove or glide. The effort of nervesto shape the body's urgenciesstuttering into what's stuck. [End Page 73] 5. Does he arrange toys in rows? Because design is a prism of the mind.Because placement is in relation to.Because the polyglot of form needs order.Because blue car next to green carnext to red car all along the highway.Because the serpentine of die cast metalrelentlessly gleams. Because formis relentless, relentlessly infinite. 6. Does he smell, bang, lick, or inappropriately use toys? Unbuffered tang. Metallic with a murmurof salt. An ersatz flavor fevering plastics.Having tasted sugar. Having knownsugar when knowing is a haunt.A shape in the mouth that is not a souffléand not a seed. This palpable fat.This gummy warmth.This tender unknown. 7. Does he focus interest on toy parts such as car wheels? Every object has a purpose. Every purpose hums its will.Plastic tires in close orbits. Firestones nearly spuninto the eye. As if the urge to become the eyewas the tire's concern.The idea that the thingcould move beyond the membranesof the self to become fully boy. To be sewn intothe boy's mind. And having been possessed,intensely by the thing, upon the thing's cessation, grief. 8. Is he obsessed with objects or topics? The Amanita genus is his favorite and includes the "death cap."You will know a death cap by its off-colored patches,the remnants of what was once a veil that had surroundedthe mushroom when it was young. We had livedin a place of quiet, surrounded by every manner of fungusand he would stand in the rain until drenched lookingat the same clump of mushrooms. Fairy rings. Polypore shelves.Sleek and concealed little spore bearers hidden under leaves. [End Page 74] Lobes of chanterelles. The coral-like hemispheres of morelsthinking in their darkness. 9. Does he spin objects, himself? Is he fascinated with spinning objects? Pinwheels staked along the sidewalk.Their abiding gyres a mess of colors. He seemsto take them as evidence ofthe refuge. An embrace behind the eyes.A wild ecstasy trammeled by a center. It homes him in.His being wound down as one winds a clock to takeample measure of what is infinitesimallydaunting and thus pulled in by the swirl. 10. Are his interests restricted? (Does he watch the same video over and over?) In the dark. In the night. In the glow of the day. Audible fuzzof the screen like passing rain. Shuddering spray of TV light.Its pixelated filaments pierce the gloom, splits the gap that veilsin from out. The image makes a testament constantly upheld. 11. Does he have difficulty stopping a repetitive "boring" activity or conversation? The toy truck's wheels rotate clockwise then counter.In...

Longitudinal study of very low birth weight infants until 9 years of age; attention deficit hyperactivity and autistic features are correlated with their cognitive functions

BackgroundIncreasing attention has been given to neuro-developmental problems of very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) at school age. However, it remains unknown whether their neuro-cognitive function and psychiatric symptoms are mutually associated. AimThe aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of neuro-cognitive functions in VLBWIs and their relationship with psychiatric symptoms. MethodsA total of 160 VLBWIs who were born at our institute between 2001 and 2005 were recruited consecutively and followed up until nine years of age. The developmental profiles were obtained from 77 children (45 males and 32 females) at six to nine years of age using the ADHD Rating Scale—Fourth edition (ADHD-RS), Autism Screening Questionnaire—Japanese version (ASQ-J) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Third edition (WISC-III). ResultsThe full-scale intelligence quotient did not significantly differ between the male and female VLBWIs (median: 91 vs. 99, p=0.17). The males had higher total scores (median: 13 vs. 4, p<0.01) and higher scores on the subscales of Inattention (8 vs. 2, p<0.01) and Hyperactivity–Impulsivity (5 vs. 1, p<0.01) of the ADHD-RS compared with the females. The Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) of the WISC-III was inversely correlated with the total scores of the ASQ-J for all VLBWIs (n=77, rc: −0.32, 95% CI: −0.19 to −0.01, p=0.04). We also observed that the Freedom from Distractibility Index (FDI) of the WISC-III was significantly correlated with the Inattentive scores of the ADHD-RS (n=45, rc: −0.18, 95% CI: −0.35 to −0.02, p=0.03) in male, but not female VLBWIs. ConclusionsWe herein report that the VCI and FDI of the WISC-III were correlated with the autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms, respectively, in male VLBWIs.

The role of β3 integrin gene variants in Autism Spectrum Disorders — Diagnosis and symptomatology

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) represent a group of very complex early-onset neurodevelopmental diseases. In this study, we analyzed 5 SNPs (rs2317385, rs5918, rs15908, rs12603582, rs3809865) at the β3 integrin locus (ITGB3), which has been suggested as a possible susceptibility gene, both as single markers and as part of haplotypes in 209 ASD children and their biological parents. We tested for association with the following: a) DSM-IV ASD diagnosis; b) clinical symptoms common in ASD patients (repetitive behaviors, echolalia, seizures and epilepsy, mood instability, aggression, psychomotor agitation, sleep disorders); and c) dimensional scores obtained with the Autism Screening Questionnaire and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. These hypotheses were investigated using family-based tests, logistic regression models and analysis of covariance. The family-based tests showed an association with the H5 haplotype (composed by GTCGA alleles, the order of SNPs as above), which was transmitted less often than expected by chance (P=0.006; Pcorr=0.036). The analyses of the clinical symptoms showed a trend for an association with rs12603582 (P=0.008; Pcorr=0.064) and positive results for the haplotype composed of rs15908 and rs12603582 (Pglcorr=0.048; Pindcorr=0.015), both in symptoms of echolalia. Other nominal associations with different variants were found and involved epilepsy/seizures, aggression symptoms and higher ASQ scores. Although our positive results are not definitive, they suggest small effect associations of the ITGB3 gene with both ASD diagnosis and symptoms of echolalia. Other studies are nonetheless needed to fully understand the involvement of this locus on the etiology of ASDs and its different clinical aspects.

Utilizando o teste não verbal de inteligência SON-R 2 ½ - 7 [a] para avaliar crianças com Transtornos do Espectro do Autismo

http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1984686X9779A importância da avaliação de inteligência nos Transtornos do Espectro do Autismo se deve ao fato de alterações cognitivas estarem relacionadas com a severidade dos sintomas, funcionamento adaptativo, prognóstico e com o planejamento de intervenções mais eficazes. Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a adequação do teste não-verbal de inteligência SON-R2 ½ - 7 [a] para avaliação de um grupo de crianças com TEA. Participaram 18 meninos com idades entre 4 e 7 anos, diagnosticados com base nos critérios do DSM-IV-TR e que pontuaram em instrumentos de rastreamento. Foram utilizados o teste de inteligência SON-R2 ½ - 7 [a], o Inventário de Comportamentos Autísticos (ICA), o Questionário de Comportamento e Comunicação Social (SCQ) e a Escala de Comportamento Adaptativo de Vineland (VABS). Os resultados mostraram que 55,6% do grupo obteve QI inferior à média, e houve diferença significativa entre o desempenho do grupo TEA e da amostra normativa nos quatro subtestes que compõem o instrumento. Análises intra grupo indicaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os subtestes, embora tenham sido obtidas correlações positivas e significativas entre si. Correlações negativas e significativas foram observadas entre QI Total no SON-R2 ½ - 7 [a] com o ICA e o QCS; assim como foram observadas correlações positivas, significativas do QI Total com os escores obtidos na VABS. Os resultados obtidos corroboram achados prévios que indicam relações moderadasentre inteligência, severidade dos sintomas e funcionalidade, bem como a presença de perfil específico de desempenho não-verbal de crianças com TEA.

Speech intonation in children with autism spectrum disorder

Objective: The prosody of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has several abnormal features. We assessed the speech tone of children with ASD and of children with typical development (TD) by using a new quantitative acoustic analysis. Methods: Our study participants consisted of 63 children (26 with ASD and 37 with TD). The participants were divided into 4 groups based on their developmental features and age. We assessed the variety of the fundamental frequency (F0) pattern quantitatively, using pitch coefficient of variation (CV), considering the different F0 mean for each word. Results: (1) No significant difference was observed between the ASD and TD group at pre-school age. However, the TD group exhibited significantly greater pitch CV than the ASD group at school age. (2) In pitch CV, range and standard deviation of the whole speech of each participant, no significant differences were observed between the type of participants and age. (3) No significant correlation was found between the pitch CV of each word and the Japanese Autism Screening Questionnaire total score, or between the pitch CV of each word and the intelligence quotient levels in the ASD group. A significant correlation was observed between the pitch CV of each word and social reciprocal interaction score. Conclusions: We assessed the speech tone of children with ASD by using a new quantitative method. Monotonous speech in school-aged children with ASD was detected. The extent of monotonous speech was related to the extent of social reciprocal interaction in children with ASD.

Translation, adaptation, and preliminary validation of the Brazilian version of the Behavior Problems Inventory (BPI-01).

Children with atypical development often present behavior problems that impair their psychosocial adaptation. To describe the cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese of the Behavior Problems Inventory (BPI-01), as well as preliminary indicators of instrument reliability and validity. The process involved translation, back-translation, and cultural adaptation of the instrument. Psychometric properties (reliability and validity) were assessed comparing scores obtained with the BPI-01, the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children and Adults, the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 6-18 (CBCL/6-18), and the Autism Screening Questionnaire (ASQ). The sample comprised 60 children (30 typically developing and 30 atypically developing). The cultural adaptation process was considered adequate. Internal consistency of the BPI-01 was satisfactory, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.65 for the self-injurious behavior scale, 0.82 for stereotyped behaviors, and 0.91 for aggressive/destructive behaviors. Considering a mean frequency of 0.5, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve revealed 80% sensitivity and 3% specificity in the stereotyped behavior scale, 50 and 10% in aggressive/destructive behaviors, and 76 and 6% in self-injurious behaviors, respectively. Low-to-moderate correlations were observed between BPI-01, ASQ, and CBCL/6-18 scores. BPI-01 showed good psychometric properties, with satisfactory preliminary indicators of reliability, convergent validity, and sensitivity for the diagnosis of atypical development.

Epidemiological study on the involvements of environmental factors and allergy in child mental health using the Autism Screening Questionnaire

Although autism is now recognized as being very common (Buie et al., 2010) and as developing due to not only genetic but also environmental factors, there is insufficient epidemiological evidence on the relationship between autism and allergy. In this study, therefore, we attempted to clarify the association of environmental factors with autism and allergy using a population-based epidemiological study and to propose a newly developed screening method with improved validity by determining the relationship between ASD (autism spectrum disorders) subscales. We examined the association among autistic score from the Autism Screening Questionnaire (ASQ Japanese version), living environment factors, and allergic disease in 1407 children aged 3–5 years old. We recognized that children with higher ASD score have significantly higher prevalence of nasal allergy and associated with significantly factors of boy and first in terms of birth order and maternal smoking. In addition, nasal allergy were observed to be associated with “reciprocal social interaction”, “language and communication”, and “repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviors” as subscales of ASD. These results suggest that autism in children were closely related to allergy and environmental factors. Investigation of allergy symptoms in addition to subscale of ASD seem to enable more efficient screening of autism tendency at an earlier stage.