Diagnosis Of Autism Research Articles

Validating the RISE Communication Play Protocol as a Diagnostic Tool for Autism in Early Childhood: A Pilot Study.

There are few validated remote tools that can be used to assess for autism and to capture subtle changes in children's social communication over time. Recently, user-centered design principles were applied to develop a parent-mediated remote assessment, the Reciprocal Imitation and Social Engagement Child Play Protocol (RISE CPP) to enable researchers to capture micro-level behaviors in children, while promoting useability for researchers and families, reducing caregiver burden, and maintaining reliability. This paper describes a pilot study to validate the RISE CPP as a tool to support clinician diagnosis of autism. Thirty-eight caregiver-child dyads (24-41months, M = 34, SD = 4; 86% male) completed a remote parent-mediated assessment at home (RISE CPP) and an in-lab clinician-led assessment (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule; ADOS-2). Independent clinician diagnosis based on observations across the remote and in-lab assessments showed agreement for all but one child (K = .89). Clinicians completing in-person and remote assessments reported similar levels of confidence in their diagnoses, t(37) = 0.93, p = .36, d = .15. Mixed-methods analysis revealed unique benefits and challenges to the remote and in-person assessments and suggested that both assessments were acceptable to caregivers. Results provide preliminary support for the RISE CPP as a diagnostic tool. The remote administration may increase equity for clinical and research diagnostic assessments among families who are traditionally underserved and underrepresented in research.

Literature Review of the Influence of Neurovisual Disorders on the Diagnosis of Autism in Australian Children

Literature Review of the Influence of Neurovisual Disorders on the Diagnosis of Autism in Australian Children

Autism Spectrum Disorder Across the Lifespan.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects individuals worldwide throughout their lives. Copious advances in research have enhanced our understanding of autism significantly since Dr. Leo Kanner's first description of the condition in 1943. This review aims to provide an overview of our current knowledge of autism, examining its manifestations across age, race, gender, and co-occurring conditions (e.g., intellectual disability) from childhood through adulthood. We also focus on the identification and diagnosis of autism, long-term outcomes with a spotlight on adulthood, and appropriate supports and interventions across different developmental stages for autistic individuals and their families. We stress the importance of a lifespan perspective that considers the evolving needs of individuals with autism as they age, and we highlight the role of longitudinal research.

Autism screening tool validation for toddlers and young children: advantages and limitations.

Early identification is crucial for children with autism. However, many children are diagnosed later due to the lack of specific assessment tools in primary care settings. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the STAT in screening autism across different age groups while assessing its advantages and limitations. In total, 434 children aged 14-48 months visiting autism clinics from March to December 2021 were included. Subjects were grouped by age (14-23, 24-36, and 37-48 months) and categorized based on clinical evaluations and STAT results. In the age groups of 14-23 and 24-36 months, STAT results demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity compared to DSM-5 diagnoses and exhibited better consistency with ADOS-2 results. However, its performance was weaker in the 37-48 months group. False-negative results were associated with less pronounced autistic traits and higher developmental quotients. STAT presents as a promising level 2 screening tool for early autism identification in China, but its accuracy diminishes in older children with less pronounced autistic traits. These findings emphasize the need for comprehensive assessment strategies for autism diagnosis across different age groups and varying levels of support needs. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers (STAT) for early screening of autism across different age groups. It highlights STAT's effectiveness in younger age groups but emphasizes its limitations with older children and those with less pronounced autistic traits. The findings supplement existing literature by providing insights into STAT's utility in diverse populations. The impact lies in guiding clinical practice to improve the identification of autistic characteristics, particularly in resource-limited settings, potentially enhancing early support and outcomes for autistic children.

A Concurrent Validity Study of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) and the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Developmental Inventory (CDI) in Infants with an Elevated Likelihood or Diagnosis of Autism.

Infants at elevated likelihood for or later diagnosed with autism typically have smaller vocabularies than their peers, as shown by the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) and the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Developmental Inventory (CDI). However, the extent to which MSEL and CDI scores align remains unclear, especially across clinical and non-clinical populations. This study examined whether the concurrent validity of the MSEL and CDI differs based on autism likelihood and diagnosis. Data from 720 14-month-old infants were analysed, grouped by likelihood (elevated vs. typical) and diagnosis at 36 months (diagnosed vs. not diagnosed). Vocabulary scores were compared across both likelihood and diagnostic groups. Moderate correlations were observed between the MSEL and CDI in most groups (rs range = [.34-.58]). One exception was that the expressive scores of elevated likelihood infants on the MSEL and CDI were more closely associated than the expressive scores of typical likelihood infants. Diagnosed infants had lower vocabulary scores than non-diagnosed peers on both the MSEL and CDI. The elevated likelihood group showed lower scores on the MSEL but not the CDI compared to typical likelihood infants. The moderate correlations suggest that the MSEL and CDI assess different aspects of language in infancy. These associations were weaker than previously reported in autistic children. Differences in vocabulary scores across likelihood and diagnostic groups highlight the need for further research to understand the association between these measures.

Data-Driven Characterization of Individuals With Delayed Autism Diagnosis

This study used various machine learning approaches to identify and comparatively characterize groups of individuals with delayed autism diagnosis.

Taking Off the Mask: Investigating Autism Diagnosis and Camouflaging in Adult Women

Taking Off the Mask: Investigating Autism Diagnosis and Camouflaging in Adult Women

Analysis of Disparities in Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Military Health System Pediatrics Population.

There have been disparities reported in prevalence of autism by gender, race, and socioeconomic status with older ages of diagnosis in non-White and in female children. Possible disparities in the ages of autism diagnosis are not well-established within the Military Health System (MHS) pediatric population, where we hypothesized less disparities given universal Tricare coverage for active-duty military families and theoretically equal access to the military treatment facility (MTF). We conducted retrospective cross-sectional analysis using deidentified database repository records from the MHS. We collected and analyzed demographic data on children covered by Tricare and newly diagnosed with autism within an MTF (N = 31,355) or outside of the MTF (5,579 respectively). Within the MTF, we identified younger ages of autism diagnosis in non-White children less than 18years old (p < 2.2e-16), without significant differences in ages of diagnosis by race in children less than 6years of age. There were no statistically significant differences in ages of diagnosis between males and females. Outside the MTF, we identified younger ages of autism diagnosis in males versus females with statistically significant difference in average ages of autism diagnosis between males and females less than the age of 18years (p = 4.4e-08). This difference was not seen in children less than 6years of age. Racial data was not available for diagnosis outside the MTF. The age of autism diagnosis in the military pediatric population within the MTF did not reflect historical disparities seen in non-White and in female children.

Demographic Correlates of Autism: How Do Associations Compare Between Diagnosis and a Quantitative Trait Measure?

Prevalence of autism diagnosis has historically differed by demographic factors. Using data from 8224 participants drawn from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, we examined relationships between demographic factors and parent-reported autism-related traits as captured by the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS; T score > 65) and compared these to relations with parent-reported clinician diagnosis of ASD, in generalized linear mixed effects regression analyses. Results suggested lower odds of autism diagnosis, but not of SRS T > 65, for non-Hispanic Black children (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.76, 95% CI 0.55, 1.06) relative to non-Hispanic White children. Higher maternal education was associated with reduced odds of both outcomes (OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.51, 1.05 for ASD autism diagnosis and 0.4, 95% CI 0.29, 0.55 for SRS score). In addition, results suggested a lower likelihood of autism diagnosis but a higher likelihood of an SRS score > 65 in Black girls. Findings suggest lower diagnostic recognition of autism in non-Hispanic Black children, despite a similar degree of SRS-assessed autism-related traits falling in the clinically elevated range. Further work is needed to address this disparity.

Nitric oxide and peroxynitrite as new biomarkers for early diagnosis of autism.

Autism spectrum disorder, or autism, is a neurodevelopmental disorder of the developing child's brain with a genetic causality. It can be diagnosed at about three years after birth when it begins to present itself via a range of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Nitric oxide is a crucial small molecule of life synthesized within cells of our body systems, including cells of our brain. Peroxynitrite is the product of reaction between superoxide anion and nitric oxide. It normally isomerizes into harmless nitrates or nitrites. However, when excessive superoxide anion is present, the cellular concentration of peroxynitrite can increase to a toxic level. Autism has been suggested to cause oxidative damage to brain cells. Until now, it is impossible to sample tissue from a live brain. Instead, stem cells can be derived (from an autism patient's somatic cells) which can then be differentiated and chemically directed to grow into miniature 3-dimensional tissue masses resembling specific brain regions (e.g., the cortex) called brain organoids. This review discusses utilizing nitric oxide and peroxynitrite as biomarkers and comparing their relative concentrations in stem cells and stem cell derived brain organoids of healthy and autistic individuals to develop a bioanalytical process for early diagnosis of autism.

Examining Parental Stress Factors in Hong Kong Chinese Parents of Autistic and Neurodevelopmentally Atypical Children

BackgroundParenting an autistic child can be physically and mentally challenging. The approach parents take in response to these challenges can vary and may be related to the level of stress they experience. AimsThis study compared the stress levels among Hong Kong Chinese parents of autistic children, typically developing (TD) children, and those with other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), and their relationship with associated parental and child’s factors. MethodsIn this cross-sectional online survey, 314 Chinese parents completed self-reported questionnaires assessing parental stress, child's autism and other NDDs diagnosis, broad autism phenotype (BAP), coping strategies, social support, and parental psychological flexibility (PPF). Hierarchical multiple regression analyzed the contribution of these factors to parental stress, and mediation analyses examined how social support and PPF might mediate between: (1) autism diagnosis and a parental stress, and (2) BAP and parental stress. ResultsParents of autistic children reported significantly higher stress levels than other parents. The presence of child’s autism and other NDDs condition, along with greater BAP, significantly contributed to higher parental stress. Social support and PPF were strong protective factors and mediate the relationship between having an autistic child, exhibiting BAP traits, and parental stress. ConclusionsManagement for parents of autistic children, should focus on promoting social support networks and fostering psychological flexibility to alleviate the caregiving burden, especially for those exhibiting greater BAP traits.

Sex Differences in the Striatal Contributions to Longitudinal Fine Motor Development in Autistic Children.

Fine motor challenges are prevalent in autistic populations. However, little is known about their neurobiological underpinnings or how their related neural mechanisms are influenced by sex. The dorsal striatum, comprised of the caudate nucleus and putamen, is associated with motor learning and control and may hold critical information. We investigated how autism diagnosis and sex assigned at birth influence associations between the dorsal striatum and fine motor development in autistic and non-autistic children. We used multimodal assessment of striatal structures (volume and cortico-striatal white matter microstructure) and longitudinal assessment of fine motor skills, first at approximately 3 years of age (Time 1) and again 2-3 years later (Follow-up). Fine motor and magnetic resonance imaging (T1 and diffusion) data were collected at Time 1 from 356 children (234 autistic; 128 female) and at Follow-up from 195 children (113 autistic; 76 female). At Time 1, associations among fine motor skills, putamen volume, and sensorimotor-striatal fractional anisotropy (sensorimotor-affiliated dorsal striatal structures) were different in autistic boys compared to autistic girls and were not significant for non-autistic children. Further, Time 1 sensorimotor-striatal and prefrontal-striatal microstructure predicted fine motor development for autistic girls but not boys. Sensorimotor-affiliated dorsal striatum structures may contribute to concurrent motor ability and predict fine motor improvement during critical windows of development in a sex-specific and diagnosis-dependent way. Moreover, the dorsal striatum may play a key role in the distinct neural mechanisms underlying motor challenges in autistic males and females.

Predicting autism spectrum disorder through sentiment analysis with attention mechanisms: a deep learning approach

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is considered a spectrum disorder. The availability of technology to identify the characteristics of ASD will have major implications for clinicians. In this article, we present a new autism diagnosis method based on attention mechanisms for behavior modeling-based feature embedding along with aspect-based analysis for a better classification of ASD. The hybrid model comprises a convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture that integrates two bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) blocks, together with additional propagation techniques, for the purpose of classification the origins of Autism Tweet dataset; the proposed work takes Autism Tweet dataset and preprocesses them to employ n-gram to extract features of which the features of the ASD behavior are fed to generate the significant behavior for classification. The model takes into account both behavior-guided features across every aspect of the Class/ASD to provide higher accuracy using Adam optimizer. The experimental values inferred that the n-BiLSTM technique reaches maximum accuracy with 98%.

Using Machine Learning to Diagnose Autism Based on Eye Tracking Technology.

Background/Objectives: One of the key challenges in autism is early diagnosis. Early diagnosis leads to early interventions that improve the condition and not worsen autism in the future. Currently, autism diagnoses are based on monitoring by a doctor or specialist after the child reaches a certain age exceeding three years after the parents observe the child's abnormal behavior. Methods: The paper aims to find another way to diagnose autism that is effective and earlier than traditional methods of diagnosis. Therefore, we used the Eye Gaze fixes map dataset and Eye Tracking Scanpath dataset (ETSDS) to diagnose Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASDs), while a subset of the ETSDS was used to recognize autism scores. Results: The experimental results showed that the higher accuracy rate reached 96.1% and 98.0% for the hybrid model on Eye Gaze fixes map datasets and ETSDS, respectively. A higher accuracy rate was reached (98.1%) on the ETSDS used to recognize autism scores. Furthermore, the results showed the outperformer for the proposed method results compared to previous works. Conclusions: This confirms the effectiveness of using artificial intelligence techniques in diagnosing diseases in general and diagnosing autism, in addition to the need to increase research in the field of diagnosing diseases using advanced techniques.

Современное состояние проблемы высокофункционального аутизма

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective.&lt;/strong&gt; Among autism spectrum disorders (ASD), high functional autism (HFA) is not considered a separate nosological entity. However, a number of foreign studies have shown that 10% of people with ASD are diagnosed with HFA. We discuss the characteristics of HFA as well as its differences from other ASD subgroups. The article also summarizes the current state of research on the HFA issue. A clearer understanding of both psychology and neurophysiology of high-functioning autism will help ensure accurate diagnosis, avoiding errors in therapy planning and support.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods.&lt;/strong&gt; We reviewed literature sources in the PubMed, MedLine, and Scientific Electronic Library databases. The main search terms were: high-functioning autism, HFA, Asperger&amp;rsquo;s syndrome, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), diagnosis and speech disorders. Forty-two articles by foreign and domestic specialists were included in the analysis.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results.&lt;/strong&gt; The developmental profile of individuals with high-functioning autism differs from that of individuals with autism and cognitive or speech impairments. It is characterized by a distinctive style of social interaction and a higher level of speech and cognitive development. A high level of intelligence helps people with HFA master social rules and adapt more effectively.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions.&lt;/strong&gt; Social impairments in individuals with high-functioning autism are difficult to identify in early childhood, partly due to the lack of developed diagnostic tools. Therefore, there is a need for more careful assessment of children suspected of having high-functioning autism, as well as the development of reliable, sensitive assessment tools for follow-up therapy and support.&lt;/p&gt;

Racial Disproportionality in Autism Over 20 Years: What It Means for Special Education Disability Classifications.

This study examines racial and ethnic disparities in autism prevalence using data from three National Longitudinal Transition Studies (NLTS) spanning two decades. This inquiry intends to explore: (1) changes in the educational labels assigned to students with a medical diagnosis of autism over time and (2) the disparities in these changes across different racial and ethnic groups. A secondary data analysis of the NLTS was conducted using the SPSS Complex Samples module. We focused on percentage distribution over time utilizing longitudinal data from the NLTS surveys. The results reveal that students diagnosed with autism are often classified under various other special education categories. There are significant disparities observed in these autism categorizations, with variations in autism prevalence across different racial and ethnic groups. These disparities notably intersect with other special education categories including other health impairments, intellectual disabilities, speech and language impairment, and emotional disability. The study suggests that racial disproportionality in the special education autism category could stem from the mechanisms of special education disability designation, which may lead to an inaccurate representation of true autism prevalence.

A qualitative exploration of the experience of autistic females in Hong Kong.

There are more males than females with autism. One of the reasons can be that we do not understand autistic females well. Some research in Western cultures has begun to document the lived experience of autistic females, but no such studies are conducted with Chinese autistic females. This study explored the first-person experience of living with autism in Hong Kong autistic women. We conducted qualitative interviews with 13 women with a formal diagnosis of autism or self-diagnosed as autistic. We used semi-structured interviews to discuss how they came to recognize or identify with autism, their diagnostic experience, and their understanding of autistic females. We summarized several broad themes that depicted their experience. Participants recognized autism in themselves when seeing other autistic people. They indicated mental health challenges that led them to seek help from professionals, who might sometimes reject their concerns about autism. Participants found it meaningful to have an autism diagnosis or identity, but other people's judgment would affect their self-understanding. Participants also described themselves different from the stereotypes of autism, not the same as autistic males, and were perceived by others as not autistic enough. Our findings suggested autistic women in Hong Kong faced challenges in identity development and support services. There is a need to increase awareness and knowledge about autism in professionals and the public. Understanding how unique cultural factors that influence the identity of autistic women or individuals in Chinese cultures is important to promote their well-being.

Identifying the unique determinants influencing rural families' engagement with an existing tele-assessment approach for autism identification: A qualitative study.

It is often difficult for families in rural communities to access autism evaluations for their children when they have concerns. Tele-assessment could make it easier for them to see specialists who give autism diagnoses, but we still need to figure out the best way to carry out these approaches. To understand how rural families view tele-assessment, as well as barriers they may face, we held focus groups with caregivers of children with autism and local service providers in the Southeastern United States. We met with 22 caregivers and 10 providers. We analyzed the discussions and found four key attitudes: (1) questions about whether autism assessment can really be done online; (2) level of trust in the evaluation process, especially tele-assessment; (3) beliefs about whether tele-assessment is practical for families; and (4) worries about privacy. These attitudes and beliefs are shaped by various factors at different stages, indicating that we need to improve tele-assessment by better supporting everyone involved at different stages of the tele-assessment process. This research highlights important areas for improvement to provide fair access to tele-assessment for rural families (e.g. creating education materials, conducting barrier counseling).

Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Excutive Fuction in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that imposes a serious caregiving burden on society and families. Especially for children with early detection and diagnosis of autism, more and better treatment methods are needed to improve their daily living abilities and quality of life. The existing technological means are mostly behavioral interventions, and physical factors have not been used as routine treatments. There are also few cases of transcranial magnetic therapy applied to younger ASD children. This case report describes a 4-year-old child with autism spectrum disorder who not only has developmental delays but also executive dysfunction. Therefore, he received rehabilitation treatment. He continuously received behavioral interventions and increased high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic therapy treatment. As a result, it was found that the developmental quotient of the children improved after treatment, especially in the hand eye coordination area and personal social area. At the same time, children&amp;apos;s control inhibition improved, GO test accuracy increased, and reaction time shortened. However, there was no significant change in the NOGO test accuracy and reaction time. In conclusion, high frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation may improved executive function and growth and development in children with ASD. We need to conduct more controlled trials and objective evaluation methods in the future to understand the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of transcranial magnetic therapy on executive function in children with autism.

Camouflaging in neurodivergent and neurotypical girls at the transition to adolescence and its relationship to mental health: A participatory methods research study.

Adolescent girls with diagnoses of autism, ADHD and/or developmental coordination disorder (DCD) are at higher risk for mental health problems than boys with the same diagnoses and neurotypical girls. These girls are called neurodivergent here, though neurodivergence includes a broader range of diagnoses. One possible reason for this mental health disparity could be camouflaging, a coping strategy used more by girls. Camouflaging is when the individual pretends to be neurotypical, often involving substantial effort. This study aims to understand: (a) if the use of camouflaging has started by early adolescence, (b) how components of camouflaging (assimilation, masking, and compensation) present at this age, (c) if age predicts camouflaging and (d) what is the relationship with mental health. Participatory methods: A co-production team of 15 adult neurodivergent women co-producedthe project and ranked camouflaging as their most important research theme. Neurodivergent and neurotypical girls presented similarly on two components of camouflaging namely masking and compensation, components related to presenting in a socially acceptable way and mimicry. Groups differed on the assimilation component, which is related to trying to fit in and involves the feelings of pretending/acting. Age had a medium effect on camouflaging with higher levels of camouflaging observed in older girls. Camouflaging scores strongly predicted anxiety and depression scores in both groups. The use of camouflaging, specifically assimilation, is evident in a transdiagnostic sample of 11-14year old neurodivergent girls. Importantly, the strong relationship between camouflaging and poor mental health is present at this early age, substantiating the co-production team's insights.