1
|
Perry RC, Johnson MH, Charman T, Pascoe G, Tolmie A, Thomas MSC, Dumontheil I, Jones EJH. Twenty-four-month effortful control predicts emerging autism characteristics. Dev Sci 2024:e13560. [PMID: 39239736 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Longitudinal research can assess how diverging development of multiple cognitive skills during infancy, as well as familial background, are related to the emergence of neurodevelopmental conditions. Sensorimotor and effortful control difficulties are seen in infants later diagnosed with autism; this study explored the relationships between these skills and autism characteristics in 340 infants (240 with elevated familial autism likelihood) assessed at 4-7, 8-10, 12-15, 24, and 36 months. We tested: (1) the relationship between parent-reported effortful control (Rothbart's temperament questionnaires) and sensorimotor skills (Mullen Scales of Early Learning), using random intercept cross-lagged panel modelling; (2) whether household income and maternal education predicted stable individual differences in cognition; (3) sensorimotor and effortful control skills as individual and interactive predictors of parent-reported autism characteristics (Social Responsiveness Scale) at 3 years, using multiple regression; and (4) moderation of interactions by familial likelihood. Sensorimotor skills were longitudinally associated with effortful control at the subsequent measurement point from 12-15 months. Socioeconomic status indicators did not predict stable between-infant differences in sensorimotor or effortful control skills. Effortful control skills were longitudinally related to 3-year autism characteristics from the first year of life, with evidence for an interaction with sensorimotor skills at 24 months. Effects of effortful control increased with age and were particularly important for infants with family histories of autism. Results are discussed in relation to different theoretical frameworks: Developmental Cascades and Anterior Modifiers in the Emergence of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. We suggest a role for 24-month effortful control in explaining the emergent autism phenotype. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Sensorimotor skills longitudinally predicted effortful control from 12-15 months onward but effortful control did not longitudinally predict sensorimotor skills during infancy. Measures of effortful control skills taken before the age of 1 predicted continuous variation in autism characteristics at 36 months, with associations increasing in strength with age. Effortful control (measured at 12-15 and 24 months) was a stronger predictor of 36-month autism characteristics in infants with elevated familial likelihood for autism. The relationship between 24-month sensorimotor skills and 36-month autism characteristics was stronger in infants with weaker effortful control skills.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roisin C Perry
- IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, London, UK
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, UK
| | - Mark H Johnson
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tony Charman
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Greg Pascoe
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew Tolmie
- IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, London, UK
| | - Michael S C Thomas
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, UK
| | - Iroise Dumontheil
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Emily J H Jones
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhang X, Song XK, So WC. The Development of Gesture Skills in Chinese Autistic Children: The Predictive Roles of Age and Language Ability. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2024; 67:2583-2599. [PMID: 39038241 DOI: 10.1044/2024_jslhr-23-00241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Gesture delay in autistic infants and toddlers has been widely reported. The developmental trajectory of gesture production during early childhood is understudied. Thus, little is known about the possible changes of gesture production over time. The present study aimed to document the development of gesture production in autistic children and examine whether child-based factors (chronological age and initial language skills) predicted gesture development. METHOD A total of 33 Chinese-speaking autistic children (Mage = 56.39 months, SD = 8.54 months) played with their parents at four time points over a 9-month period. Their speech was transcribed, and their gestures were coded from parent-child interaction. Multilevel modeling analysis was used to investigate the development of gesture and its associated factors. RESULTS The total number of gestures produced by autistic children decreased over time. Among different factors, children's initial age significantly and negatively predicted children's gesture production, while initial language positively predicted children's gesture production. CONCLUSIONS Gesture delay persists in preschool age. The decline in gesture production was associated with children's age and initial language ability. These findings shed light on the difficulties surrounding gesture use in autistic children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhang
- Department of Educational Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Xue-Ke Song
- Department of Educational Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing-Chee So
- Department of Educational Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Iao LS, Shen CW, Wu CC. A Longitudinal Study of Joint Attention, Motor Imitation and Language Development in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Taiwan. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:2651-2662. [PMID: 37142905 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-05950-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
This longitudinal study examined early predictors of language development in 74 young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Taiwan. Participants were assessed twice (initial age between 17 and 35 months) on responding to joint attention (RJA), initiating joint attention (IJA), motor imitation with objects (object imitation; OI) and without objects (manual imitation; MI), and receptive and expressive language. The two assessments were 18 months apart. Results showed that both RJA and MI concurrently and longitudinally predicted receptive and expressive language across the two assessments. These findings were not entirely consistent with the limited and mixed findings of Western longitudinal studies. However, they have implications for early interventions aiming to facilitate language development in children with ASD internationally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lai-Sang Iao
- Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham, NG1 4FQ, UK
| | - Ching-Wan Shen
- Department of Psychiatry, Zuoying Branch of Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, No.553, Junxiao Road, Kaohsiung, 81342, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Chin Wu
- Department of Psychology, Kaohsiung Medical University, No.100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No.100, Tz-You 1st Rd, Kaohsiung, 80756, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chu CL, Su WS, Iao LS, Wu CC, Hou YM. Comparison between the Clancy Behavior Scale and the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers in Taiwan. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:557. [PMID: 38790552 PMCID: PMC11119399 DOI: 10.3390/children11050557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
(1) Background: Precise diagnosis and early intervention are crucial for toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to achieve a better prognosis. This study investigated the efficacy of the Clancy Behavior Scale (CBS) and Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) in detecting ASD among toddlers under 30 months of age. (2) Methods: A total of 215 toddlers (117 with ASD and 98 with development delays) aged between 18 and 29 months participated in this study. All the primary caregivers of these toddlers were recruited to complete the CBS and M-CHAT. (3) Results: The findings indicated that the accuracy of the CBS and M-CHAT was promising, and the short forms of these two instruments performed better than their full versions. The CBS:9 critical items presented a sensitivity of 0.75 and a specificity of 0.74, while the M-CHAT:14 brief items showed a sensitivity of 0.72 and a specificity of 0.85. (4) Conclusions: The diagnostic accuracy of high-risk ASD toddlers improved via the combination of CBS and M-CHAT, particularly when the information gathered from these two instruments were consistent. The findings may provide implications for enhancing the early detection of ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Lin Chu
- Department of Educational Psychology & Counseling, National Pingtung University, Pingtung 900391, Taiwan;
| | - Wen-So Su
- Department of Psychology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807378, Taiwan;
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807377, Taiwan
| | - Lai-Sang Iao
- Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK
| | - Chin-Chin Wu
- Department of Psychology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807378, Taiwan;
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807377, Taiwan
| | - Yuh-Ming Hou
- Department of Psychiatry, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chai-Yi 60002, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Balboni G, Widaman KF, Esposito G. Enhancing research practice in developmental disabilities. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2023; 137:104499. [PMID: 37023636 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Balboni
- Department of Philosophy, Social and Human Sciences, and Education, University of Perugia, Italy.
| | - Keith F Widaman
- School of Education, University of California at Riverside, USA
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yao PY, Iao LS, Wu CC. Language development trajectories in young children with developmental disabilities in Taiwan. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2023; 136:104470. [PMID: 36889171 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Language development is critical to various outcomes in young children with developmental disabilities (DD), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and non-ASD delays. However, language development trajectories in young children with DD in non-Western populations remain unclear. AIMS To investigate the language development trajectories of young children with DD in Taiwan. We investigated the relationship between trajectory class assignment and diagnostic outcomes (ASD or non-ASD delays) at 3 years after enrollment in the study and the differences in early abilities among children in different trajectory classes. METHODS AND PROCEDURES The participants were 101 young children with DD (mean age: 21.88 months; follow-up: 1.5 and 3 years after enrollment). Growth mixture modeling analyses were conducted to receptive language developmental quotients (RLDQ) and expressive language developmental quotients (ELDQ) on the basis of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS Three RLDQ trajectories were identified, namely age expected, delayed catch-up, and delayed, and two ELDQ trajectories were identified, namely delayed improve and delayed. Trajectory class assignment was related to diagnostic outcomes. Children who demonstrated more proficient skills at the early time point, demonstrated improved language outcomes 3 years later. However, adaptive functioning did not differ between the two ELDQ trajectory classes. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Language development in young children with DD in Taiwan is heterogeneous. Delayed receptive and expressive language development trajectories relate to later ASD diagnoses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Yu Yao
- Department of Psychiatry, Kuang-Tien General Hospital, No. 117, Shatian Rd., Taichung, 433401, Taiwan
| | - Lai-Sang Iao
- Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare St., Nottingham NG1 4FQ, United Kingdom
| | - Chin-Chin Wu
- Department of Psychology, Kaohsiung Medical University, No.100, Shin-Chuan 1st Rd., Kaohsiung, 807378, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No. 100, Tzyou 1st Rd., Kaohsiung, 807378, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Singla R, Mishra A, Lin H, Lorsung E, Le N, Tin S, Jin VX, Cao R. Haploinsufficiency of a Circadian Clock Gene Bmal1 ( Arntl or Mop3) Causes Brain-Wide mTOR Hyperactivation and Autism-like Behavioral Phenotypes in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:6317. [PMID: 35682995 PMCID: PMC9181331 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 50-80% of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) exhibit sleep problems, but the contribution of circadian clock dysfunction to the development of ASDs remains largely unknown. The essential clock gene Bmal1 (Arntl or Mop3) has been associated with human sociability, and its missense mutation is found in ASD. Our recent study found that Bmal1-null mice exhibit a variety of autism-like phenotypes. Here, we further investigated whether an incomplete loss of Bmal1 function could cause significant autism-like behavioral changes in mice. Our results demonstrated that heterozygous Bmal1 deletion (Bmal1+/-) reduced the Bmal1 protein levels by ~50-75%. Reduced Bmal1 expression led to decreased levels of clock proteins, including Per1, Per2, Cry 1, and Clock but increased mTOR activities in the brain. Accordingly, Bmal1+/- mice exhibited aberrant ultrasonic vocalizations during maternal separation, deficits in sociability and social novelty, excessive repetitive behaviors, impairments in motor coordination, as well as increased anxiety-like behavior. The novel object recognition memory remained intact. Together, these results demonstrate that haploinsufficiency of Bmal1 can cause autism-like behavioral changes in mice, akin to those identified in Bmal1-null mice. This study provides further experimental evidence supporting a potential role for disrupted clock gene expression in the development of ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rubal Singla
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.); (H.L.); (E.L.); (N.L.); (S.T.)
| | - Abhishek Mishra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.); (H.L.); (E.L.); (N.L.); (S.T.)
| | - Hao Lin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.); (H.L.); (E.L.); (N.L.); (S.T.)
| | - Ethan Lorsung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.); (H.L.); (E.L.); (N.L.); (S.T.)
| | - Nam Le
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.); (H.L.); (E.L.); (N.L.); (S.T.)
| | - Su Tin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.); (H.L.); (E.L.); (N.L.); (S.T.)
| | - Victor X. Jin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA;
| | - Ruifeng Cao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; (R.S.); (A.M.); (H.L.); (E.L.); (N.L.); (S.T.)
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Samadi SA, Noori H, Abdullah A, Ahmed L, Abdalla B, Biçak CA, McConkey R. The Psychometric Properties of the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS-3) with Kurdish Samples of Children with Developmental Disabilities. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:434. [PMID: 35327806 PMCID: PMC8947096 DOI: 10.3390/children9030434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
There is marked variation internationally in the prevalence of children identified as having autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In part, this may reflect a shortage of screening tools for the early identification of children with ASD in many countries. This study aimed to evaluate the Kurdish translation of the Gilliam autism rating scale-third edition (GARS-3), a scale commonly used in Western countries that evaluates six domains related to the ASD definition from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) 5, notably Restricted/Repetitive Behavior, deficits in Social interaction and Social Communication, as well as differences in Cognitive Style, Maladaptive Speech, and Emotional Response. GARS-3 assessments were completed through interviews with parents of 735 children, 442 (53%) of whom were diagnosed with ASD. 165 (22%) with an intellectual disability, 49 (7%) with communication disorders, and 133 (18%) typically developing children. The reliability, construct, and the predictive validity of the scale was assessed, and the scores suggestive of a child having ASD were identified. The factor structure was broadly replicated, especially on items relating to social interaction and social communication. The cutoffs for the total scores that were indicative of possible ASD had a high degree of specificity and sensitivity in distinguishing children with ASD from typically developing peers. Some children with I.D. and communication disorders may also score above the threshold, and further assessments should be sought to confirm the presence of autistic traits. Although GARS-3 could be recommended for use in Kurdistan and possibly similar cultures, further prospective research is needed to confirm a diagnosis of assessment with children who score above and below the cutoff scores identified in this study. Moreover, the development of normative data drawn from Kurdish samples of children would be advantageous, although ambitious, given the lack of diagnostic services in many low- and middle-income countries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sayyed Ali Samadi
- Institute of Nursing and Health Research, Ulster University, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, Northern Ireland, UK;
- Northern Ireland and Bahoz Centre for Children with Developmental Disabilities, Erbil 44002, The Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Iraq
| | - Hana Noori
- Evaluation Unit, Bahoz Centre for Children with Developmental Disabilities, Erbil 44002, The Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Iraq; (H.N.); (A.A.); (L.A.); (B.A.); (C.A.B.)
| | - Amir Abdullah
- Evaluation Unit, Bahoz Centre for Children with Developmental Disabilities, Erbil 44002, The Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Iraq; (H.N.); (A.A.); (L.A.); (B.A.); (C.A.B.)
| | - Lizan Ahmed
- Evaluation Unit, Bahoz Centre for Children with Developmental Disabilities, Erbil 44002, The Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Iraq; (H.N.); (A.A.); (L.A.); (B.A.); (C.A.B.)
| | - Barez Abdalla
- Evaluation Unit, Bahoz Centre for Children with Developmental Disabilities, Erbil 44002, The Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Iraq; (H.N.); (A.A.); (L.A.); (B.A.); (C.A.B.)
| | - Cemal A. Biçak
- Evaluation Unit, Bahoz Centre for Children with Developmental Disabilities, Erbil 44002, The Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Iraq; (H.N.); (A.A.); (L.A.); (B.A.); (C.A.B.)
| | - Roy McConkey
- Institute of Nursing and Health Research, Ulster University, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, Northern Ireland, UK;
| |
Collapse
|