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Villagrasa AC, Gozalbo NP, González BV, López-Zamora M. The Comprehension of Grammatical Structures in a Pediatric Population with ASD and Epilepsy: A Comparative Study. J Autism Dev Disord 2024:10.1007/s10803-024-06291-9. [PMID: 38393436 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06291-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and epilepsy represent a comorbidity that negatively influences the proper development of linguistic competencies, particularly in receptive language, in the pediatric population. This group displays impairments in the auditory comprehension of both simple and complex grammatical structures, significantly limiting their performance in language-related activities, hampering their integration into social contexts, and affecting their quality of life. The main objective of this study was to assess auditory comprehension of grammatical structures in individuals with ASD and epilepsy and compare the results among the three groups. A non-experimental cross-sectional study was designed, including a total of 170 participants aged between 7 and 9 years, divided into three groups: a group with ASD, a group with epilepsy, and a comorbid group with both ASD and epilepsy (ASDEP). The comprehension of grammatical structures was assessed using the CEG and CELF-5 instruments. Statistical analyses included MANOVA and ANOVA to compare scores between groups to verify associations between study variables. The results indicate that the group with ASD and epilepsy performed worse compared to the ASD and epilepsy-only groups, respectively. Additionally, a significant and directly proportional association was observed among all variables within the measures of grammatical structure comprehension. The neurological damage caused by epilepsy in the pediatric population with ASD leads to difficulties in understanding oral language. This level of functioning significantly limits the linguistic performance of these children, negatively impacting their quality of life and the development of core language skills.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nadia Porcar Gozalbo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Internacional de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Miguel López-Zamora
- Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación, Facultad de Psicología y Logopedia, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain.
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Cirnigliaro L, Valle MS, Casabona A, Randazzo M, La Bruna F, Pettinato F, Narzisi A, Rizzo R, Barone R. The Developmental Autism Early Screening (DAES): A Novel Test for Screening Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2023:10.1007/s10803-023-06184-3. [PMID: 38109035 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06184-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
This study was undertaken to set a novel developmental screening test for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using the Griffiths Scales of Child Development (Griffith III) (Green et al., 2016; Stroud et al., 2016), in order to intercept the early atypical developmental patterns indicating ASD risk in the first 3 years of age. An observational and interactive ASD screener, the Developmental Autism Early Screening (DAES), was developed by detecting Griffiths III items differentiating toddlers with ASD risk from those with global developmental delay (DD) or neurotypical development. The DAES was validated with ASD-specific diagnostic instruments (ADOS-2) and the cut-off score based on sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value that best differentiates between ASD and non-ASD children was identified. We enrolled a total sample of 297 subjects, including children at risk for ASD or DD and neurotypical children. At a cut-off score of 12.5, the DAES had a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 98.4%, positive predictive value of 96.3% and negative predictive value of 96.9% for identifying children at risk for ASD from non-ASD participants (DD/neurotypical children). The DAES total score correlated significantly with the ADOS-2 calibrated severity scores (CSS) (R = 0.53, p < 0.001). Three ASD risk ranges were identified according to DAES total and ADOS-2 CSS: Little-to-no risk (CSS: 1-3, DAES: 1-7); Mild-to-moderate risk (CSS: 4-5, DAES: 8-14); Moderate-to-severe risk (CSS: 6-10, DAES ≥ 15). The DAES provides a direct approach based on developmental profiles to stratify risk for ASD in early childhood ensuring at risk children the most appropriate diagnostic procedures and targeted intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Cirnigliaro
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Policlinico Via Santa Sofia, 78, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Stella Valle
- Laboratory of Neuro-Biomechanics, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonino Casabona
- Laboratory of Neuro-Biomechanics, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Martina Randazzo
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Policlinico Via Santa Sofia, 78, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Francesca La Bruna
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Policlinico Via Santa Sofia, 78, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Fabio Pettinato
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Policlinico Via Santa Sofia, 78, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Renata Rizzo
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Policlinico Via Santa Sofia, 78, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Rita Barone
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Policlinico Via Santa Sofia, 78, 95123, Catania, Italy.
- Reseach Unit of Rare Diseases and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Troina, Italy.
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Tobarra‐Sanchez E, Riglin L, Agha SS, Stergiakouli E, Thapar A, Langley K. Preschool development, temperament and genetic liability as early markers of childhood ADHD: A cohort study. JCPP ADVANCES 2022; 2:e12099. [PMID: 36478889 PMCID: PMC9716640 DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Background ADHD is associated with multiple adverse outcomes and early identification is important. The present study sets out to identify early markers and developmental characteristics during the first 30 months of life that are associated with ADHD 6 years later. Methods 9201 participants from the prospective Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort were included. Outcome measures were parent-rated ADHD symptom scores (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ) and ADHD diagnosis (Development and Wellbeing Assessment, DAWBA) at age 7. Seventeen putative markers were identified from previous literature and included: pre- and peri-natal risk factors, genetic liability (ADHD polygenic risk scores, PRS), early development, temperament scores and regulatory problems. Associations were examined using regression analysis. Results Univariable regression analysis showed that multiple early life factors were associated with future ADHD outcomes, even after controlling for sex and socio-economic status. In a multivariable linear regression model; temperament activity scores (B = 0.107, CI = 0.083-0.132), vocabulary delay (B = 0.605, CI = 0.211-0.988), fine motor delay (B = 0.693, CI = 0.360-1.025) and ADHD PRS (B = 0.184, CI = 0.074-0.294) were associated with future symptoms (R 2 = 10.7%). In a multivariable logistic regression model, ADHD PRS (OR = 1.39, CI = 1.10-1.77) and temperament activity scores (OR = 1.09, CI = 1.04-1.16) showed association with ADHD diagnosis. Conclusion As well as male sex and lower socio-economic status, high temperament activity levels and motor and speech delays in the first 30 months of life, are associated with childhood ADHD. Intriguingly, given that genetic risk scores are known to explain little of the variance of ADHD outcomes, we found that ADHD PRS added useful predictive information. Future research needs to test whether predictive models incorporating aspects of early development and genetic risk scores are useful for predicting ADHD in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Tobarra‐Sanchez
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry SectionDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences and MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and GenomicsSchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK,Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardCardiffUK
| | - Lucy Riglin
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry SectionDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences and MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and GenomicsSchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Sharifah S. Agha
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry SectionDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences and MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and GenomicsSchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK,Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardCardiffUK
| | - Evie Stergiakouli
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology UnitUniversity of BristolBristolUK,Population Health SciencesBristol Medical SchoolUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Anita Thapar
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry SectionDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences and MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and GenomicsSchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Kate Langley
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry SectionDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences and MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and GenomicsSchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK,School of PsychologyCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
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Aguilar-Mediavilla E, Pérez-Pereira M, Serrat-Sellabona E, Adrover-Roig D. Introduction to Language Development in Children: Description to Detect and Prevent Language Difficulties. CHILDREN 2022; 9:children9030412. [PMID: 35327784 PMCID: PMC8947529 DOI: 10.3390/children9030412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Aguilar-Mediavilla
- Institute of Educational Research and Innovation, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma, Spain;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-971172566
| | - Miguel Pérez-Pereira
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | | | - Daniel Adrover-Roig
- Institute of Educational Research and Innovation, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma, Spain;
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