Predicting Developmental Status from 12 to 24 Months in Infants at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Preliminary Report

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Suzanne L. Macari, Yale Child Study Center; Daniel Campbell, Yale University; Grace W. Gengoux, Yale University; Celine A. Saulnier, Emory University; Ami Klin, Emory University; Katarzyna Chawarska, Yale University
• Language: English
• Date: 2012-12-01
• Publisher: Springer Verlag (Germany)
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1521-0
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
• ISSN: 0162-3257
• Volume: 42
• Issue: 12
• Start Page: 2636
• End Page: 2647
• Grant/Funding Information: This study was supported by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development P01 HD003008; Project 1 (PI: KC); National Institutes of Mental Health R01 MH 087554-01 (PI: KC); Simons Foundation 187398 (PI: AK).
• Keywords: REGRESSION; 2ND YEAR; CHILDREN; COMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT; Autism; TODDLERS; VALIDITY; Pervasive developmental disorder; High risk studies; Social Sciences; Psychology; LEVEL; EMERGENCE; SIBLINGS; Psychology, Developmental; Longitudinal studies; Infancy; DIAGNOSIS
• Research Categories: Psychology, Developmental; Health Sciences, Mental Health

Abstract

The study examined whether performance profiles on individual items of the Toddler Module of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule at 12 months are associated with developmental status at 24 months in infants at high and low risk for developing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A nonparametric decision-tree learning algorithm identified sets of 12-month predictors of developmental status at 24 months. Results suggest that identification of infants who are likely to exhibit symptoms of ASD at 24 months is complicated by variable patterns of symptom emergence. Fine-grained analyses linking specific profiles of strengths and deficits with specific patterns of symptom emergence will be necessary for further refinement of screening and diagnostic instruments for ASD in infancy.