Autism Spectrum Disorder Children Research Articles

Gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate system dysregulation in a small population of Egyptian children with autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with various symptoms, including repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, and deficits in proper communication. Earlier studies have linked these symptoms to abnormalities in the balance between excitatory (glutamatergic signaling) and inhibitory (GABAergic signaling) neurotransmission. The present study aimed to analyze the levels of different biomarkers in children with ASD compared to neurotypical (NT) controls. The study included 80 children, of whom 40 were cases (children with ASD) and 40 were age- and sex-matched NT controls. Serum levels of GABAA, and GABAB receptors, glutamate, zinc, potassium, and calcium were measured in both groups. ASD diagnosis was verified using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). There was a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the median serum levels of GABAA (0.6) and GABAB receptors (2.03) in children with ASD compared to controls. Additionally, a significant increase in median serum glutamate levels was observed in ASD children (102, P < 0.001) compared to controls. Children with ASD also showed a significant reduction (P < 0.001) in median levels of all studied blood minerals compared to controls, including potassium (3.8 vs. 4.6), calcium (9.0 vs. 9.7), and zinc (57.0 vs. 92.0). The roles of GABAB and zinc as potential pathological biomarkers were investigated due to their highly significant inverse correlations with stereotypic and repetitive behaviors (ADI-R domain), with rho = -0.393 (P = 0.012) and rho = -0.488 (P = 0.001), respectively. Further analysis of pathways regulating these biomarkers may provide deeper insights into the etiology and pathophysiology of ASD, paving the way for potential therapeutic interventions.

Qihuang needle therapy for autism spectrum disorder with sleep disorder: a multi-center randomized controlled trial

To observe the clinical efficacy of Qihuang needle therapy for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children with sleep disorder. A total of 60 ASD children with sleep disorder were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with structured education intervention, 60 min each time, once a day, 6 times a week. Qihuang needle therapy was applied at Yintang (GV24+), Baihui (GV20) and bilateral Jueyinshu (BL14), Xinshu (BL15) in the observation group, multi-direction needling was delivered and without needle retaining. The treatment was given 2 times a week, each treatment was delivered at interval of 2 days at least. Behavioral intervention was adopted in the control group. Treatment for consecutive 12 weeks was required in both groups. Before and after treatment, the scores of children's sleep habits questionnaire (CSHQ), the autism behavior checklist (ABC), the childhood autism rating scale (CARS), and the childhood autism behavior scale (CABS) were observed in the two groups. After treatment, the scores of CSHQ, ABC, CARS and CABS were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01), and the above scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Qihuang needle therapy can effectively treat ASD with sleep disorder, improve the core symptoms of ASD and the sleep quality.

Efficacy of sialic acid supplementation in early life in autism model rats

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a set of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental conditions, the etiology of which remains elusive. Sialic acid (SA) is an essential nutrient for nervous system development, and previous studies reported that the levels of SA were decreased in the blood and saliva of ASD children. However, it is not clear whether SA supplementation can alleviate behavioral problems in autism. We administered SA intervention in the VPA-induced autism model rats, evaluated behavior performance, and measured the levels of Gne and St8sia2 genes, BDNF and anti-GM1. At the same time, untargeted metabolomics was used to characterize the metabolites. It was found that the stereotypical behaviors, social preference and cognitive function were improved after SA supplementation. Additionally, the number of hippocampal neurons was increased, and the shape was normalized. Moreover, 94 differentially abundant metabolites were identified between the high dose SA and VPA groups. These changes in metabolites were correlated with pyrimidine metabolism, lysine degradation metabolism, biosynthesis of amino acids, mineral absorption, protein digestion and absorption, galactose metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolism. In conclusion, SA could ameliorate ASD-like phenotypes and change metabolites in autistic animals, which suggests that it may be a therapeutic approach for ASD.

White matter microstructure as a potential contributor to differences in resting state alpha activity between neurotypical and autistic children: a longitudinal multimodal imaging study

We and others have demonstrated the resting-state (RS) peak alpha frequency (PAF) as a potential clinical marker for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with previous studies observing a higher PAF in school-age children with ASD versus typically developing (TD) children, as well as an association between the RS PAF and measures of processing speed in TD but not ASD. The brain mechanisms associated with these findings are unknown. A few studies have found that in children more mature optic radiation white matter is associated with a higher PAF. Other studies have reported white matter and neural activity associations in TD but not ASD. The present study hypothesized that group differences in the RS PAF are due, in part, to group differences in optic radiation white matter and PAF associations. The maturation of the RS PAF (measured using magnetoencephalography(MEG)), optic radiation white matter (measured using diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)), and associations with processing speed were assessed in a longitudinal cohort of TD and ASD children. Time 1 MEG and DTI measures were obtained at 6–8 years old (59TD and 56ASD) with follow-up brain measures collected ~ 1.5 and ~ 3 years later. The parietal-occipital PAF increased with age in both groups by 0.13 Hz/year, with a main effect of group showing the expected higher PAF in ASD than TD (an average of 0.26 Hz across the 3 time points). Across age, the RS PAF predicted processing speed in TD but not ASD. Finally, more mature optic radiation white matter measures (FA, RD, MD, AD) were associated with a higher PAF in both groups. Present findings provide additional evidence supporting the use of the RS PAF as a brain marker in children with ASD 6–10 years old, and replicate findings of an association between the RS PAF and processing speed in TD but not ASD. The hypothesis that the RS PAF group differences (with ASD leading TD by about 2 years) would be explained by group differences in optic radiation white matter was not supported, with brain structure-function associations indicating that more mature optic radiation white matter is associated with a higher RS PAF in both groups.

Oral Hygiene Status in Children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background/Objectives: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face challenges in maintaining oral hygiene due to sensory sensitivities, behavioral difficulties, and limited access to specialized dental care. This study aimed to assess the oral hygiene status of children with ASD and compare it with neurotypical peers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 74 children with ASD and 74 neurotypical children. Dental exams measured oral hygiene and caries prevalence using the DMFT/dmft, Oral Hygiene Index (OHI), and Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI). Tooth brushing frequency and dental visits were also recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U test and Fisher’s exact test. Results: Children with ASD had significantly poorer oral hygiene and higher caries rates compared to controls. Boys with ASD had higher DMFT scores, indicating more caries. Additionally, ASD children brushed their teeth less often and had fewer dental visits. Preventive treatments were underutilized in this group despite a higher need. Conclusions: Children with ASD face notable oral health challenges, including poor hygiene, higher caries prevalence, and limited preventive care. These findings highlight the need for tailored interventions, improved parental education, and specialized dental care strategies for this population.

Reduced Context Effect on Lexical Tone Normalization in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Speech-Specific Mechanism.

Existing literature has demonstrated that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit atypical use of contextual information in their surroundings. However, there is limited understanding regarding their integration of contextual cues in speech processing. This study aims to explore how Mandarin-speaking children with and without ASD identify lexical tones in speech and nonspeech contexts, and to determine whether the size of context effect would be modulated by children's cognitive abilities. Twenty-five children with ASD and 25 typically developing (TD) children were asked to identify Mandarin lexical tones preceded by three types of contexts (speech, nonspeech, and nonspeech-flattened contexts). We also tested child participants' verbal intelligence, nonverbal intelligence, and working memory capacity. Results revealed that the context effect was only observed in the speech contexts, where Mandarin-speaking children with ASD exhibited a reduced context effect compared to TD children. Moreover, TD children with higher verbal intelligence demonstrated a diminished context effect. However, nonverbal intelligence and working memory capacity were not significantly associated with the size of context effect in either group. These findings revealed a subtle yet important difference between ASD and TD children's utilization of speech contexts in lexical tone identification, and validated a speech-specific mechanism underpinning children's lexical tone normalization.

Motor developmental delay in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders in China and its association with core symptoms and maternal risk factors: a multi-center survey

BackgroundMotor disturbance, as a related symptom of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), has not received the attention it deserves. We aimed to investigate the different degrees of motor developmental delay and influencing factors in Chinese preschool children with ASD, in order to enhance people’s awareness of motor developmental delay in ASD children.MethodsWe recruited 1,256 ASD children aged 2–6 years from the China Multi-Center Preschool Autism Project (CMPAP). We investigated the overall status of neurodevelopment in preschool children with ASD through the Revised Children Neuropsychological and Behavior Scale (CNBS-R2016) and the Gesell Developmental Scale (GDS). The multivariate ordered logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between different degrees of motor developmental delay and demographic, core symptoms of ASD, and maternal risk factors, which were evaluated using the questionnaires, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (SRS-2).ResultsThe proportions of delayed development in various neurodevelopmental domains was significantly imbalanced in preschool children with ASD. The proportions of gross and fine motor developmental delay were as high as 39.6% and 68.4% respectively. ASD children in different age subgroups all exhibited gross and fine motor developmental delay. The CARS and SRS-2 total scores of ASD children with mild, moderate-severe gross or fine motor developmental delay were significantly higher than those with normal motor skills development (P < 0.05). ASD children aged ≥ 5 years, or higher CARS and SRS-2 total scores, or gestational age in the 28–36+ 6 weeks were more likely to suffer from gross motor developmental delay (OR values were 5.504, 1.083, 1.846 respectively) and fine motor developmental delay (OR values were 2.216, 1.074, 1.011, 1.661 respectively).ConclusionGross and fine motor developmental delay were difficulties that most preschool children with ASD may face, and ASD children with motor developmental delay had greater deficits in social skills. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously monitor the gross and fine motor development progress of children with ASD for facilitating early identification and individualized intervention.

Assessment of Hand Grip and Pinch Strengths in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background/objective: Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are recognized to experience challenges with muscle function. However, there is a lack of knowledge about muscle and hand grip strength in autism. Therefore, the study aims to assess the handgrip and pinch strength of ASD and typical children. Material and method: This study enrolled 45 participants of both sexes, 27 males and 18 females, aged 6–12 years old; 24 (13 females and 11 males) were typically developing children and 21 (5 females and 16 males) had ASD. The outcome measures were hand grip and pinch strength, with the handheld dynamometer assessing handgrip strength and the hydraulic pinch gauge evaluating pinch grip. The hydraulic pinch gauge measured the pinch strengths of the key, tripod, and pulp grips. Both groups were assessed on both their dominant and non-dominant sides. Result: A comparison of the ASD group with the control group revealed that children with ASD exhibited lower values of the hand grip, key pinch, tripod pinch, and pulp pinch strengths for both hands (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: The hand and pinch strengths of ASD children are lower than those of typically developing children. Therefore, the evaluation process for children with ASD should include hand and pinch strengths as a standard component. Furthermore, the rehabilitation program for ASD should prioritize enhancing hand strength.

Predicting autism spectrum disorder through machine learning

Since social interaction, speech, and behaviour are all impacted by autism spectrum disorder (ASD), early detection is essential for prompt intervention. Through the analysis of behavioural and demographic data, this study creates a machine learning-based model to predict ASD in children. The system effectively classifies ASD cases using the Random Forest and XGBoost algorithms, making it more accessible than conventional diagnostic techniques. Model training, feature selection, and data preprocessing are all part of the methodology, and accuracy, precision, and recall measures are used to assess performance. In order to improve early diagnosis and intervention for improved cognitive and social development, the model seeks to offer an objective, scalable, and user-friendly screening tool.

Nutritional and Health Status of Autistic Children: Assessing the Efficacy of Gluten-Free High-Protein Bread in Improving Biochemical Parameters

Background: The issue of the nutritional and health status of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is intricate and encompasses dietary factors. High gluten foods consumption is a significant concern due to its potential influence on health and autism symptoms. Investigating this connection can offer valuable information for enhancing the well-being of autistic children. Methods: This study investigated the effects of gluten-free, high-protein meals on autistic children by examining changes in biochemical markers pre and post a three-month regimen of thrice-daily consumption of chickpea and okra-based bread. The study involved 100 boys with ASD between the ages of 9 and 11. Their physical measurements, health problems, socioeconomic background, dietary habits, and metabolic index were examined. Results: The study found common health issues in ASD children, including lethargy, solitary eating habits, decreased appetite, and bloating. In terms of body weight, 51% were within a normal range, while 48% were overweight/obese. Significant discrepancies were observed in their consumption of energy, carbohydrates, and fats when compared to standard dietary guidelines. After the dietary change, there was a marked improvement in the levels of essential minerals and vitamins. Enhanced levels of GSH, GSSG, and CoQ10, alongside reduced NADPH, NADH, and ATP levels were noted, which were likely due to increased protein and fiber in the gluten-free bread. Conclusions: The introduction of a gluten-free and high-protein bread using chickpeas and okara demonstrated positive outcomes, enhancing essential mineral and vitamin levels. Additionally, observed biochemical changes suggest potential benefits of this dietary intervention in addressing metabolic imbalances commonly associated with ASD.

Analysis and Prediction of Emotional and Interaction Patterns in Autistic and non-Autistic Children with VGG and Inception Models

A neurological and developmental ailment that impacts children's behavioral and intellectual development is known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It frequently results in recurrent habits, narrow interests, communication problems, and trouble interacting with others. ASD's severity and long-term repercussions can be reduced with an early diagnosis. Traditional diagnostic methods are subjective, time-consuming, and require specialized expertise, leading to delays in intervention. The paper addresses the challenge of accurately diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children. The aim is to develop an automated system using machine learning to predict and analyze the autistic children. By collecting and analyzing behavioral, cognitive, and physiological data, the system will identify key features that distinguish ASD. Multiple machine learning models will be developed and evaluated for accuracy and reliability. The final outcome will be a user-friendly diagnostic tool to assist healthcare professionals in early and precise ASD detection, improving early intervention and developmental outcomes.

Research on the interface design of ASD children intervention APP based on Kano-entropy weight method.

In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) among children in China. To enhance the efficacy of ASD intervention apps and streamline the design process for designers, this study proposes an interface design research method for ASD intervention apps based on the Kano-entropy weight method. First, the basic research process for ASD children is extracted by combining the characteristics of the Kano model and the entropy method. Additionally, representative app samples currently available on the market are collected and organized. Subsequently, the representative needs of ASD children are subjected to analysis and synthesis. Secondly, the data obtained from the questionnaires are organized, and the entropy method is employed to calculate the weight of the need indicators. Subsequently, the characteristics of the intervention apps and the magnitude of the weight values are employed in the analysis of different categories of needs. The case design practice is conducted with a focus on strengthening the effectiveness of the intervention apps from a human-computer interaction perspective, with a particular emphasis on relevant ASD children's intervention training. The study employs the Kano-entropy weight method to analyze the demand indicators for ASD intervention apps in terms of content, usability, and visual design through survey analysis. This study compiled 26 pieces of user demand information, extracted 17 specific indicators, and classified them into three types: content-based, operable, and visual. The interface design of the intervention app focuses on improving emotional abilities. Further enrich the content of the ASD children's intervention app, improve its operation, enhance visual appeal, provide reference and basis for subsequent related designs, and improve the effectiveness of intervention training. The objective is to enhance the efficacy of the apps from the perspective of human-computer interaction. This endeavor seeks to furnish pertinent theoretical references for the design of navigation interfaces for intervention apps and to provide effective assistance to educators and designers.

Clinical characteristics and socio-demographic profile of autism spectrum disorder in a paediatric population from a tertiary care hospital of Gujarat

Background: To study the clinical characteristics and socio-demographic profile of autism spectrum disorder in children with mild, moderate and severe autism. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study spanned 1 year, targeting children aged 18 months to 12 years. Children aged 18 months to 3 years were screened for ASD using the M-CHAT questionnaire. Those 3 years and older were diagnosed with ASD using the INDIAN SCALE FOR ASSESSMENT OF AUTISM (ISAA) and classified into Mild, Moderate and Severe grades. Of 52 children, 47 were diagnosed by ISAA and 5 screened positive by M-CHAT. The study evaluated variables like antenatal, natal and family history of parents, child's past and social history and observed behavior, correlating these with ASD severity. Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 3 years (range: 18 months to 12 years) with a female-to-male ratio of 1:4.2. Most children were moderately (46.8%) or mildly (38.3%) affected and 14.8% were severely affected. Clinical treatment and sociodemographic data were collected. No significant differences were found in mode of conception, childbirth type, labor complications or parents' history. The test was statistically significant for screen time, language delay, food selectivity, some behavioural issues in child &amp; education of parents with the outcome of therapy. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of early diagnosis and intervention, the increasing complexity of behavioural and sensory issues with ASD severity, the potential role of antenatal and perinatal factors and the association between specific behavioural issues and autism symptom severity.

Variation in the Content of Three Tandem Repeats (Ribosomal, Satellite III and Telomeric) in the DNA of Blood Leukocytes of Children with Mental Disorders, as a Potential Marker for the Differential Diagnosis of Childhood Schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Variation in the Content of Three Tandem Repeats (Ribosomal, Satellite III and Telomeric) in the DNA of Blood Leukocytes of Children with Mental Disorders, as a Potential Marker for the Differential Diagnosis of Childhood Schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Brief Report: Eating Habits and Social Setting: Comparing Children with Autism and Typically Developing Children.

Eating problems are commonly reported as co-occurring conditions in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are also prevalent among typically developing (TD) children. While it has been shown that eating problems in TD children are influenced by social settings, this factor has not been extensively studied in children with ASD. This study compared the perspectives of parents and preschool teachers on the eating habits of both ASD and TD children. The study included children aged 29-81months, 34 TD children, and 31 children diagnosed with ASD who attended special education preschool classes specifically designed for them. The findings revealed that parental and preschool teacher reports were generally consistent, but parents tended to report more severe eating problems for both groups of children. Thus, pointing to the impact of social settings on eating in ASD. Additionally, the reports indicated that eating problems were more severe in children with ASD compared to TD children. These findings underscore the significant influence of social settings on children's eating behavior. It is essential for education and treatment teams to recognize that eating habits may vary between home and preschool environments. They should be attentive to parents' concerns regarding their children's eating habits at home and provide appropriate support and guidance.

The global prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The objective of this review was to analyze quantitative data on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to increase the accuracy of estimates of the prevalence of ASD. This review, which was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, included studies conducted from January 2008 to June 2024 on children aged 3 to 18 years that used standardized measurement tools and reported cut-off scores for ASD. The prevalence of ASD was the primary outcome analyzed in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The PubMed, Clinical Key, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were reviewed for relevant studies. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO and followed the Cochrane collaboration guidelines. Data was manually entered into Excel and analyzed using Stata software ver. 17. A total of 66 studies reported on the prevalence of ASD, screening 21,313,061 children worldwide. Among these, 25 studies were conducted in Europe, 22 in Asia, and 13 in America. Additionally, 3 studies each were reported from Africa and Australia. According to a meta-analysis, 0.77% of children globally are diagnosed with ASD, with boys comprising 1.14% of this group. Notably, Australia showed the highest prevalence rate, with an effect size of 2.18, highlighting it as a critical area for public health focus. ASD represents a significant global health burden. Early detection, increased awareness among parents, and prompt intervention are crucial for mitigating developmental problems in children later in life. It is essential for health policymakers to acknowledge the prevalence and growing trends of ASD in order to implement effective interventions.

TRANSTORNO DO ESPECTRO AUTISTA E SUA RELAÇÃO COM A EPIGENÉTICA: UMA REVISÃO DOS IMPACTOS NO DESENVOLVIMENTO INFANTIL

Objective: To analyze how epigenetic mechanisms influence the development of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in childhood and analyze the implications of these influences for diagnosis and therapeutic approaches. Methods: An integrative literature review conducted in December 2024, using databases such as PubMed, SCIELO, and Acervo+ Index Base. The search utilized descriptors such as "Autism Spectrum Disorder”, “Autistic Disorder”, “Epigenomics”, “Multifactorial Inheritance” e “Developmental Disabilities", combined with the Boolean operator “AND”. Articles published between 2014 and 2024, with full text available in Portuguese, were included, while duplicated, incomplete, or out-of-period studies were excluded. Results: The final sample consisted of 9 articles, which indicated a significant relationship between prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal risk factors and the development of ASD. Key factors such as exposure to pesticides, prematurity, advanced parental age, and perinatal complications were highlighted. Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone modifications were associated with changes in neurological development. Conclusion: Epigenetics plays a central role in understanding ASD by linking genetic and environmental factors to neurological development. Future studies are needed to further explore the mechanisms involved and promote personalized diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, contributing to the quality of life for affected children and their families.

The role of the dopamine system in autism spectrum disorder revealed using machine learning: an ABIDE database-based study.

This study explores the diagnostic value of dopamine system imaging characteristics in children with autism spectrum disorder. Functional magnetic resonance data from 551 children in the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange database were analyzed, focusing on six dopamine-related brain regions as regions of interest. Functional connectivity between these ROIs and across the whole brain was assessed. Machine learning techniques then evaluated the ability of the dopamine system's imaging features to predict autism spectrum disorder. Functional connectivity was significantly higher in autism spectrum disorder children between the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra, prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and between the substantia nigra and hypothalamus compared to typically developing children. Additionally, clustering methods identified two autism spectrum disorder subtypes, achieving over 0.8 accuracy. Subtype 1 showed higher stereotyped behavior scores than subtype 2 in both genders, with subtype-specific functional connectivity differences between male and female autism spectrum disorder groups. These findings suggest that abnormal functional connectivity in the dopamine system serves as a diagnostic biomarker for autism spectrum disorder and can support clinical decision-making and personalized treatment optimization.

Autism spectrum disorder common variants associated with regional lobe volume variations at birth: cross-sectional study in 273 European term neonates in developing human connectome project.

Increasing lines of evidence suggest cerebral overgrowth in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children in early life, but few studies have examined the effect of ASD common genetic variants on brain volumes in a general paediatric population. This study examined the association between ASD polygenic risk score (PRS) and volumes of the frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital, fronto-temporal and parieto-occipital lobes in 273 term-born infants of European ancestry in the developing Human Connectome Project. ASD PRS was positively associated with frontal (β = 0.027, pFDR = 0.04) and fronto-temporal (β = 0.024, pFDR = 0.01) volumes, but negatively with parietal (β = -0.037, pFDR = 0.04) and parieto-occipital (β = -0.033, pFDR = 0.01) volumes. This preliminary result suggests the potential involvement of ASD common genetic variants in early structural variations linked to ASD.

The language use Inventory-Persian: report of the psychometric properties

BackgroundPragmatic language assessment is a necessary component of evaluation in language impairments. Some procedures are applied to assess pragmatic abilities in childhood. Parent-report questionnaires are among the most useful instruments for evaluating pragmatics in real situations. This study aimed to translate and adapt the Language Use Inventory (LUI) into Persian and examine its psychometric properties.MethodIt was a methodological and cross-sectional study. We pursued the steps of translation and adaptation of this questionnaire into Persian according to a standard guideline. Then, 348 parents/caregivers of three groups of children consisting of typically developing (TD), late-talking children, and ones with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) 18-47-month-old Persian-speaking children completed the adapted version of the LUI. The participants were recruited into study by convenience sampling. Next, different psychometric properties including item analysis, validity (content, face, and construct), and reliability (test-retest and internal consistency) were investigated.ResultsTranslation, adaptation, and item analysis led to the deletion of 7 Items. Differential validity for age revealed the noticeably different performance among different age groups (p < 0.001). Also, Given the clinical validity, TD and ASD children performed differently in this measure(p < 0.001). In addition, the evidence of the discriminant validity was confirmed by a significant difference between TD and late-talking children (p < 0.001). Concurrent validity was also established by a moderate and positive value of the correlation between total scores of the LUI-Persian and Newsha developmental scale (r = 0.54, p = 0.01). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) indicated that the Language Use Inventory-Persian had 2 factors of verbal and nonverbal use of language. Also, the evidence for the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was attained (all the values of factor load were higher than 0.40). The internal consistency (α = 0.99) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.97) proved adequate values.ConclusionsThe Language Use Inventory-Persian with 173 items revealed the acceptable psychometric attributes for assessing pragmatics in 18-47-month-old Persian-speaking children; however, for screening pragmatic impairments, it may need further studies on clinical populations with a larger sample size to see whether the LUI items are appropriate or possible changes in the items are required.