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Developmental Profiles of Infants and Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorders Identified Prospectively in a Community-Based Setting

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Abstract

This prospective, longitudinal, study charted the developmental profiles of young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) identified through routine developmental surveillance. 109 children with Autistic Disorder (AD), ‘broader’ ASD, and developmental and/or language delays (DD/LD) were assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) at 12-months (n = 10 assessments), 18-months (n = 45 assessments), and 24-months (n = 99 assessments). The children with AD performed most poorly, overall, than the ASD and DD/LD groups on the MSEL. Furthermore, the children with AD/ASD displayed an uneven cognitive profile, with poorer performance on verbal (particularly receptive language) relative to nonverbal skills. There was also evidence of developmental slowing in verbal skills from 18- to 24-months for children on the spectrum, especially those with AD. Given that the poor receptive, relative to expressive, language profile emerges very early in life for children with AD/ASD, this cognitive profile may serve as an additional red flag to social attention and communication deficits. Receptive language should therefore be stringently monitored in any developmental surveillance program for autism spectrum disorders in the second year of life.

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Notes

  1. We have not included the data for one typically developing child who was referred and assessed at 18- and 24-months of age in this paper.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a Telstra Foundation Community Development Fund and the first author was supported by a Sir Robert Menzies Allied Health Scholarship. The results from this manuscript were prepared from the first author’s doctoral dissertation.

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  1. School of Psychological Science, Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia

    Josephine Barbaro & Cheryl Dissanayake

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  1. Josephine Barbaro
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  2. Cheryl Dissanayake
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Correspondence to Josephine Barbaro.

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Barbaro, J., Dissanayake, C. Developmental Profiles of Infants and Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorders Identified Prospectively in a Community-Based Setting. J Autism Dev Disord 42, 1939–1948 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1441-z

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