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

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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.

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Notes

  1. A score of 2 on this item indicates: “Engaged only when the examiner works hard to get and keep the child’s interest OR child is only engaged during snack.” A score of 3 is coded when the child is: “Not engaged at all, even when examiner makes efforts to attract the child’s interest OR the child is only engaged during games involving physical contact.”.

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Acknowledgment

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). Preliminary data from this study were presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research, May 2011, San Diego. We would like to thank Karen Bearss, Amanda Steiner, Tina Goldsmith, Anne Snow, Rhea Paul, Elizabeth Schoen Simmons, Megan Lyons, and Sarita Austin for their contribution to subject characterization; Karyn Bailey, Daniela Blum, and Amy Carney for their clinical support of the families; and Amy Margolis, Martha Dye, Kerry O’Loughlin, Jessi Garzarek, Amanda Smith, Deanna Simeone, Mairin Meltvedt, Marika Coffman, Grace Chen, Jessica Bradshaw, Brittany Butler, and Jessa Reed for their assistance with data collection. We wish to express our sincere appreciation to the families and their infants for their time and participation.

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Author notes

  1. Grace W. Gengoux

    Present address: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

  2. Celine A. Saulnier & Ami J. Klin

    Present address: Marcus Autism Center, Emory University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Suzanne L. Macari, Daniel Campbell, Grace W. Gengoux, Celine A. Saulnier, Ami J. Klin & Katarzyna Chawarska

  2. Toddler Developmental Disabilities Clinic, Yale Child Study Center, 40 Temple St, Suite 7D, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA

    Suzanne L. Macari

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  1. Suzanne L. Macari
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  2. Daniel Campbell
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  3. Grace W. Gengoux
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Correspondence to Suzanne L. Macari.

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Macari, S.L., Campbell, D., Gengoux, G.W. et al. Predicting Developmental Status from 12 to 24 Months in Infants at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Preliminary Report. J Autism Dev Disord 42, 2636–2647 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1521-0

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