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Chetcuti L, Varcin KJ, Boutrus M, Smith J, Bent CA, Whitehouse AJO, Hudry K. Feasibility of a 2-minute eye-tracking protocol to support the early identification of autism. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5117. [PMID: 38429348 PMCID: PMC10907367 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55643-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
We tested the potential for Gazefinder eye-tracking to support early autism identification, including feasible use with infants, and preliminary concurrent validity of trial-level gaze data against clinical assessment scores. We embedded the ~ 2-min 'Scene 1S4' protocol within a comprehensive clinical assessment for 54 consecutively-referred, clinically-indicated infants (prematurity-corrected age 9-14 months). Alongside % tracking rate as a broad indicator of feasible assessment/data capture, we report infant gaze data to pre-specified regions of interest (ROI) across four trial types and associations with scores on established clinical/behavioural tools. Most infants tolerated Gazefinder eye-tracking well, returning high overall % tracking rate. As a group, infants directed more gaze towards social vs. non-social (or more vs. less socially-salient) ROIs within trials. Behavioural autism features were correlated with increased gaze towards non-social/geometry (vs. social/people) scenes. No associations were found for gaze directed to ROIs within other stimulus types. Notably, there were no associations between developmental/cognitive ability or adaptive behaviour with gaze towards any ROI. Gazefinder assessment seems highly feasible with clinically-indicated infants, and the people vs. geometry stimuli show concurrent predictive validity for behavioural autism features. Aggregating data across the ~ 2-min autism identification protocol might plausibly offer greater utility than stimulus-level analysis alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lacey Chetcuti
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kandice J Varcin
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Maryam Boutrus
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Jodie Smith
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Catherine A Bent
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Kristelle Hudry
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Smith J, Sulek R, Van Der Wert K, Cincotta-Lee O, Green CC, Bent CA, Chetcuti L, Hudry K. Parental Imitations and Expansions of Child Language Predict Later Language Outcomes of Autistic Preschoolers. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:4107-4120. [PMID: 35976507 PMCID: PMC9382601 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05706-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Both the amount and responsiveness of adult language input contribute to the language development of autistic and non-autistic children. From parent-child interaction footage, we measured the amount of adult language input, overall parent responsiveness, and six discrete parent responsive behaviours (imitations, expansions, open-ended questions, yes/no questions, comments and acknowledgements) to explore which types of responsiveness predicted autistic preschoolers' language five months later, after controlling for adult language input. We found expansions and particularly imitations to be more important for later language than overall responsiveness. This study emphasises the need to capture what exactly about parent language input influences child language acquisition, and adds to the evidence that imitating and expanding early language might be particularly beneficial for autistic preschoolers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodie Smith
- School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Plenty Road and Kingsbury Drive Bundoora, Melbourne, 3086, Australia.
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, La Trobe University, Plenty Road and Kingsbury Drive Bundoora, Melbourne, 3086, Australia.
| | - Rhylee Sulek
- School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Kailia Van Der Wert
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, La Trobe University, Plenty Road and Kingsbury Drive Bundoora, Melbourne, 3086, Australia
| | - Olivia Cincotta-Lee
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, La Trobe University, Plenty Road and Kingsbury Drive Bundoora, Melbourne, 3086, Australia
| | - Cherie C Green
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, La Trobe University, Plenty Road and Kingsbury Drive Bundoora, Melbourne, 3086, Australia
| | - Catherine A Bent
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, La Trobe University, Plenty Road and Kingsbury Drive Bundoora, Melbourne, 3086, Australia
| | - Lacey Chetcuti
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, La Trobe University, Plenty Road and Kingsbury Drive Bundoora, Melbourne, 3086, Australia
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Kristelle Hudry
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, La Trobe University, Plenty Road and Kingsbury Drive Bundoora, Melbourne, 3086, Australia
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Berends D, Bent CA, Vivanti G, Dissanayake C, Hudry K. Developmental Skills Moderate the Association Between Core Autism Features and Adaptive Behaviour in Early Childhood. J Autism Dev Disord 2023:10.1007/s10803-023-05932-9. [PMID: 37142900 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-05932-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE While research indicates that both the core features of autism and associated developmental skills influence adaptive behaviour outcomes, results to date suggest greater influence of the latter than the former, and little attention has been given to how the interaction of both together might impact functional disability. Seeking to expand understanding of associations between young children's core social autism features, developmental skills, and functional ability/disability, we specifically tested whether early developmental skills might have a moderating effect on the association between early social features and subsequent functional disability. METHODS Data from 162 preschool children were available for this study. These included time-1 measures of social autism features (ADOS-Social Affect score) and developmental skills (MSEL-Developmental Quotient; DQ), and a measure of functional ability/disability (VABS-Adaptive Behaviour Composite; ABC) available at follow-up 1-year later (time-2). RESULTS Time-1 ADOS-SA and MSEL-DQ scores were concurrently associated with one another, and both prospectively associated with time-2 VABS-ABC scores. Examination of partial correlations (i.e., controlling for MSEL-DQ) demonstrated that the association of time-1 ADOS-SA and time-2 VABS-ABC was accounted for by shared variance with DQ. Formal moderation analysis returned a non-significant overall interaction term, but showed a lower-bound region of significance whereby the association of time-1 ADOS-SA with time-2 VABS-ABC was significant for children with baseline DQ ≤ 48.33. CONCLUSION Our results add to a body of empirical evidence consistent with an understanding of the needs of and resources available to autistic people through a 'cognitive compensation' lens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Berends
- Department of Psychology Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Catherine A Bent
- Department of Psychology Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Giacomo Vivanti
- A.J.Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Cheryl Dissanayake
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kristelle Hudry
- Department of Psychology Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
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Hudry K, Smith J, Pillar S, Varcin KJ, Bent CA, Boutrus M, Chetcuti L, Clark A, Dissanayake C, Iacono T, Kennedy L, Lant A, Robinson Lake J, Segal L, Slonims V, Taylor C, Wan MW, Green J, Whitehouse AJO. The Utility of Natural Language Samples for Assessing Communication and Language in Infants Referred with Early Signs of Autism. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2023; 51:529-539. [PMID: 36602626 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-022-01010-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Natural Language Sampling (NLS) offers clear potential for communication and language assessment, where other data might be difficult to interpret. We leveraged existing primary data for 18-month-olds showing early signs of autism, to examine the reliability and concurrent construct validity of NLS-derived measures coded from video-of child language, parent linguistic input, and dyadic balance of communicative interaction-against standardised assessment scores. Using Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT) software and coding conventions, masked coders achieved good-to-excellent inter-rater agreement across all measures. Associations across concurrent measures of analogous constructs suggested strong validity of NLS applied to 6-min video clips. NLS offers benefits of feasibility and adaptability for validly quantifying emerging skills, and potential for standardisation for clinical use and rigorous research design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristelle Hudry
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia.
| | - Jodie Smith
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
- School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Sarah Pillar
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Kandice J Varcin
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Catherine A Bent
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Maryam Boutrus
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living With Autism, Brisbane, QLD, 4068, Australia
| | - Lacey Chetcuti
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living With Autism, Brisbane, QLD, 4068, Australia
| | - Alena Clark
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Cheryl Dissanayake
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Teresa Iacono
- Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, 3550, Australia
| | - Lyndel Kennedy
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Alicia Lant
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Jemima Robinson Lake
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Leonie Segal
- Australian Centre for Precision Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia
| | - Vicky Slonims
- Children's Neurosciences, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Carol Taylor
- Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 PL9, UK
| | - Ming Wai Wan
- Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 PL9, UK
| | - Jonathan Green
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 PL9, UK
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M25 3BL, UK
| | - Andrew J O Whitehouse
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living With Autism, Brisbane, QLD, 4068, Australia
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Smith J, Chetcuti L, Kennedy L, Varcin KJ, Slonims V, Bent CA, Green J, Iacono T, Pillar S, Taylor C, Wan MW, Whitehouse AJO, Hudry K. Caregiver sensitivity predicts infant language use, and infant language complexity predicts caregiver language complexity, in the context of possible emerging autism. Autism Res 2022; 16:745-756. [PMID: 36563289 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
While theory supports bidirectional effects between caregiver sensitivity and language use, and infant language acquisition-both caregiver-to-infant and also infant-to-caregiver effects-empirical research has chiefly explored the former unidirectional path. In the context of infants showing early signs of autism, we investigated prospective bidirectional associations with 6-min free-play interaction samples collected for 103 caregivers and their infants (mean age 12-months; and followed up 6-months later). We anticipated that measures of caregiver sensitivity/language input and infant language would show within-domain temporal stability/continuity, but also that there would be predictive associations from earlier caregiver input to subsequent child language, and vice versa. Caregiver sensitive responsiveness (from the Manchester Assessment of Caregiver-Infant interaction [MACI]) predicted subsequent infant word tokens (i.e., amount of language, coded following the Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts [SALT]). Further, earlier infant Mean Length of Utterance (MLU; reflecting language complexity, also derived from SALT coding) predicted later caregiver MLU, even when controlling for variability in infant ages and clear within-domain temporal stability/continuity in key measures (i.e., caregiver sensitive responsiveness and infant word tokens; and infant and caregiver MLU). These data add empirical support to theorization on how caregiver input can be both supportive of, and potentially influenced by, infant capacities, when infants have social-communication differences and/or communication/language delays suggestive of possible emerging autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodie Smith
- School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lacey Chetcuti
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lyndel Kennedy
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kandice J Varcin
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Vicky Slonims
- Children's Neurosciences, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Catherine A Bent
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jonathan Green
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Teresa Iacono
- Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sarah Pillar
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Carol Taylor
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ming Wai Wan
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrew J O Whitehouse
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kristelle Hudry
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Bent CA, Pellicano E, Iacono T, Hudry K. Perspectives from parents of autistic children on participating in early intervention and associated research. Autism 2022:13623613221141540. [PMID: 36510841 DOI: 10.1177/13623613221141540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Support for autistic children early in life should help them to lead flourishing lives. However, many of the early intervention programmes for young autistic children are time-consuming and costly for families. These programmes are also often conducted in settings that are not closely matched to real life. We spoke to 23 parents (of 22 autistic children) to understand their experiences of their children's involvement in early intervention. Parents told us they were grateful for the opportunity, that they had 'hit the jackpot', and their children had 'gained so much' from the programme. They seemed to value the service because it made them feel safe and secure during an uncertain time in their children's lives. Parents told us they trusted staff, felt that they weren't 'doing it alone', and this 'took that pressure off' and helped them feel empowered. They also spoke of feelings of safety from being linked to the university research programme which offered 'accountability' and 'integrity'. Parents' comments showed a strong commitment to the early intervention model and staff - but also common feelings of abandonment and disempowerment as their child's time with the programme came to an end and they went 'back to the real world' and needed to find new supports for their children. These parents' insights should help to inform the design and delivery of community supports for preschool-aged autistic children and their families, which match the reality of their lived experiences.
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McGowan K, Berends D, Hudry K, Vivanti G, Dissanayake C, Bent CA. Brief report: bidirectional association of core autism features and cognitive abilities in early childhood. J Autism Dev Disord 2022:10.1007/s10803-022-05618-8. [PMID: 35917020 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05618-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We explored associations among the core behavioural features and developmental/cognitive abilities of 155 autistic children, assessed between ages 13-67 months and again around 1-year later to understand predictive directionality. Bidirectional, cross-domain association was apparent, albeit with stronger direction of effect from earlier cognition to later autism features (than vice versa). Exploratory sub-domain analysis showed that early non-verbal developmental/cognitive abilities (only) predicted subsequent social- and restricted/repetitive autism features, whereas early social features (only) predicted both subsequent verbal and non-verbal abilities. Although observational study design precludes causal inference, these data support contemporary notions of the developmental interconnectedness of core autism presentation and associated abilities-that behavioural autism features may influence cognitive development, but are likely also influenced by an individuals' cognitive capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsie McGowan
- Department of Psychology Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Daniel Berends
- Department of Psychology Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kristelle Hudry
- Department of Psychology Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
- , Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Giacomo Vivanti
- A.J.Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Cheryl Dissanayake
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Catherine A Bent
- Department of Psychology Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
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Whitehouse AJO, Varcin KJ, Pillar S, Billingham W, Alvares GA, Barbaro J, Bent CA, Blenkley D, Boutrus M, Chee A, Chetcuti L, Clark A, Davidson E, Dimov S, Dissanayake C, Doyle J, Grant M, Green CC, Harrap M, Iacono T, Matys L, Maybery M, Pope DF, Renton M, Rowbottam C, Sadka N, Segal L, Slonims V, Smith J, Taylor C, Wakeling S, Wan MW, Wray J, Cooper MN, Green J, Hudry K. Effect of Preemptive Intervention on Developmental Outcomes Among Infants Showing Early Signs of Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Outcomes to Diagnosis. JAMA Pediatr 2021; 175:e213298. [PMID: 34542577 PMCID: PMC8453361 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.3298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) typically commences after diagnosis. No trial of an intervention administered to infants before diagnosis has shown an effect on diagnostic outcomes to date. OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of a preemptive intervention for ASD beginning during the prodromal period. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This 2-site, single rater-blinded randomized clinical trial of a preemptive intervention vs usual care was conducted at 2 Australian research centers (Perth, Melbourne). Community sampling was used to recruit 104 infants aged 9 to 14 months showing early behaviors associated with later ASD, as measured by the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance-Revised. Recruitment occurred from June 9, 2016, to March 30, 2018. Final follow-up data were collected on April 15, 2020. INTERVENTIONS Infants were randomized on a 1:1 ratio to receive either a preemptive intervention plus usual care or usual care only over a 5-month period. The preemptive intervention group received a 10-session social communication intervention, iBASIS-Video Interaction to Promote Positive Parenting (iBASIS-VIPP). Usual care comprised services delivered by community clinicians. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Infants were assessed at baseline (approximate age, 12 months), treatment end point (approximate age, 18 months), age 2 years, and age 3 years. Primary outcome was the combined blinded measure of ASD behavior severity (the Autism Observation Scale for Infants and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, second edition) across the 4 assessment points. Secondary outcomes were an independent blinded clinical ASD diagnosis at age 3 years and measures of child development. Analyses were preregistered and comprised 1-tailed tests with an α level of .05. RESULTS Of 171 infants assessed for eligibility, 104 were randomized; 50 infants (mean [SD] chronological age, 12.40 [1.93] months; 38 boys [76.0%]) received the iBASIS-VIPP preemptive intervention plus usual care (1 infant was excluded after randomization), and 53 infants (mean [SD] age, 12.38 [2.02] months; 32 boys [60.4%]) received usual care only. A total of 89 participants (45 in the iBASIS-VIPP group and 44 in the usual care group) were reassessed at age 3 years. The iBASIS-VIPP intervention led to a reduction in ASD symptom severity (area between curves, -5.53; 95% CI, -∞ to -0.28; P = .04). Reduced odds of ASD classification at age 3 years was found in the iBASIS-VIPP group (3 of 45 participants [6.7%]) vs the usual care group (9 of 44 participants [20.5%]; odds ratio, 0.18; 95% CI, 0-0.68; P = .02). Number needed to treat to reduce ASD classification was 7.2 participants. Improvements in caregiver responsiveness and language outcomes were also observed in the iBASIS-VIPP group. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Receipt of a preemptive intervention for ASD from age 9 months among a sample of infants showing early signs of ASD led to reduced ASD symptom severity across early childhood and reduced the odds of an ASD diagnosis at age 3 years. TRIAL REGISTRATION http://anzctr.org.au identifier: ACTRN12616000819426.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. O. Whitehouse
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia,University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia,Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism, Long Pocket, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kandice J. Varcin
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia,School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sarah Pillar
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Wesley Billingham
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Gail A. Alvares
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Josephine Barbaro
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism, Long Pocket, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia,Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Catherine A. Bent
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Daniel Blenkley
- Perinatal Mental Health and Parenting Research Unit, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Maryam Boutrus
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia,Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism, Long Pocket, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia,School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Abby Chee
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Lacey Chetcuti
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism, Long Pocket, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia,Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alena Clark
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Emma Davidson
- Child and Adolescent Health Service, Child Development Service, West Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Stefanie Dimov
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cheryl Dissanayake
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism, Long Pocket, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia,Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jane Doyle
- Child and Adolescent Health Service, Child Development Service, West Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Megan Grant
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cherie C. Green
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Megan Harrap
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Teresa Iacono
- Living with Disability Research Centre, College of Science, Health, and Engineering, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lisa Matys
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Murray Maybery
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Daniel F. Pope
- Perinatal Mental Health and Parenting Research Unit, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle Renton
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia,Child and Adolescent Health Service, Child Development Service, West Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Catherine Rowbottam
- Child and Adolescent Health Service, Child Development Service, West Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Nancy Sadka
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leonie Segal
- Australian Centre for Precision Health, Allied Health and Human Movement, University of South Australia, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Vicky Slonims
- Children’s Neurosciences, Evelina London Children’s Hospital/Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jodie Smith
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Carol Taylor
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Scott Wakeling
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ming Wai Wan
- Perinatal Mental Health and Parenting Research Unit, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - John Wray
- Child and Adolescent Health Service, Child Development Service, West Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Matthew N. Cooper
- CliniKids, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jonathan Green
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom,Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Kristelle Hudry
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism, Long Pocket, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia,Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
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9
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Smith J, Sulek R, Green CC, Bent CA, Chetcuti L, Bridie L, Benson PR, Barnes J, Hudry K. Relative predictive utility of the original and Autism-Specific Five-Minute Speech Samples for child behaviour problems in autistic preschoolers: A preliminary study. Autism 2021; 26:1188-1200. [PMID: 34519569 DOI: 10.1177/13623613211044336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Parental Expressed Emotion refers to the intensity and nature of emotion shown when a parent talks about their child, and has been linked to child behaviour outcomes. Parental Expressed Emotion has typically been measured using the Five-Minute Speech Sample; however, the Autism-Specific Five-Minute Speech Sample was developed to better capture Expressed Emotion for parents of children on the autism spectrum. In each case, parents are asked to talk for 5 min about their child and how they get along with their child. Parents' statements are then coded for features such as number of positive and critical comments, or statements reflecting strong emotional involvement. While both the Five-Minute Speech Sample and Autism-Specific Five-Minute Speech Sample have been used with parents of autistic school-aged children, their relative usefulness for measuring Expressed Emotion in parents of preschool-aged children - including their links to child behaviour problems in this group - is unclear. We collected speech samples from 51 parents of newly diagnosed autistic preschoolers to investigate similarities and differences in results from the Five-Minute Speech Sample and Autism-Specific Five-Minute Speech Sample coding schemes. This included exploring the extent to which the Five-Minute Speech Sample and Autism-Specific Five-Minute Speech Sample, separately, or together, predicted current and future child behaviour problems. While the two measures were related, we found only the Autism-Specific Five-Minute Speech Sample - but not the Five-Minute Speech Sample - was related to child behavioural challenges. This adds support to the suggestion that the Autism-Specific Five-Minute Speech Sample may be a more useful measure of parental Expressed Emotion in this group, and provides a first step towards understanding how autistic children might be better supported by targeting parental Expressed Emotion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rhylee Sulek
- La Trobe University, Australia
- Griffith University, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jacqueline Barnes
- Birkbeck, University of London, UK
- University of Wollongong, Australia
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10
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Smith J, Sulek R, Abdullahi I, Green CC, Bent CA, Dissanayake C, Hudry K. Comparison of mental health, well-being and parenting sense of competency among Australian and South-East Asian parents of autistic children accessing early intervention in Australia. Autism 2021; 25:1784-1796. [PMID: 33896231 DOI: 10.1177/13623613211010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT We know that parents of autistic children experience poorer mental health and lower well-being than parents of non-autistic children. We also know that poorer mental health among parents of autistic children has been observed across different cultures. Most research focuses on Western cultures, so we know little about parental mental health and well-being of parents from different cultural backgrounds; yet, it is likely that cultural background contributes to how parents view their child's condition and respond to the diagnosis. Here, we compared mental health, quality of life and well-being between families raising an autistic child from Australian backgrounds to families from South-East Asian backgrounds. All children in the current study were receiving the same community-based early intervention. When compared to the general population, parents had poorer mental health overall, but there were no differences between the two groups of parents. However, parents from South-East Asian backgrounds reported higher well-being and fewer difficulties associated with their child's autism. These findings suggest that cultural background likely influences not only parent's view of, and response to, their child's autism, but also their own sense of well-being. As researchers and clinicians working with families of autistic children, we should more explicitly consider family's cultural background within our work.
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11
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Green CC, Smith J, Bent CA, Chetcuti L, Sulek R, Uljarević M, Hudry K. Differential predictors of well-being versus mental health among parents of pre-schoolers with autism. Autism 2021; 25:1125-1136. [PMID: 33472386 DOI: 10.1177/1362361320984315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Raising a child with autism has been linked to mental health difficulties. Poor parental mental health is likely influenced by various factors - including child-, parent-, and family/socioeconomic characteristics. However, little is known about what influences and promotes well-being (as opposed to mental health) among parents of young, newly diagnosed autistic children who may be particularly vulnerable. We examined child-, parent-, and family/socioeconomic factors associated with each of mental health and well-being in a sample of 136 parents of pre-school-aged children. Parental mental health was linked to both child- (i.e. autism symptom severity) and parent-related factors (i.e. personality traits reflecting a tendency to experience negative emotions). By contrast, in additional to mental health difficulties, which were linked to well-being, only other parent-related characteristics (and not child characteristics) were related to well-being. These included personality traits reflecting a tendency to be more extraverted/sociable, and also mindfulness. Other child-related and family/socioeconomic context factors (including household income, parental education level) were not linked to parental mental health or well-being in this sample. These results support the idea that poorer mental health and well-being are not simply the opposite of one another. That is, while these two factors were related, they were linked to different personal characteristics. Perhaps most importantly, the link between well-being and mindfulness - a personal characteristic that parents can improve - suggests mindfulness-based interventions may be helpful in directly supporting parental well-being in the context of raising a young child with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Rhylee Sulek
- La Trobe University, Australia.,Griffith University, Australia
| | - Mirko Uljarević
- The University of Melbourne, Australia.,Stanford University, USA
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12
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Bent CA, Barbaro J, Dissanayake C. Parents' experiences of the service pathway to an autism diagnosis for their child: What predicts an early diagnosis in Australia? Res Dev Disabil 2020; 103:103689. [PMID: 32434123 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The early identification and diagnosis of autism is critical to ensure access to appropriate early intervention and support. Few studies have examined the association between potentially modifiable characteristics of the service system and timelier diagnosis. METHODS An online survey was conducted to examine parental experiences of service pathways to an autism diagnosis for their child, and to identify child, family, and service level characteristics that predict the age and timeliness of diagnosis. Participants included 107 parents of children with autism who were diagnosed by 7 years of age and a smaller subgroup of 29 parents who were diagnosed after 7 years of age. RESULTS Parents of younger children reported that, on average, it took approximately 12 months and 8 professional consultations to receive a confirmed diagnosis for their child. Parents of older children, as well as those who reported they were a sole caregiver, or were advised by professionals to 'wait and see', reported more time between first raising concerns and diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS The findings reiterate the importance of proactive professional responses to parental concerns. They also highlight the need for standardised screening and assessment and professional development and training to build capacity in the sector to deliver timely and accurate autism diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Bent
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Australia.
| | - Josephine Barbaro
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Australia
| | - Cheryl Dissanayake
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Australia
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13
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Smith J, Bent CA, Green CC, Woollacott A, Hudry K. Non-native language proficiency may influence the responsiveness of bilingual parents towards young children with autism: A short report. Autism Dev Lang Impair 2020; 5:2396941519899684. [PMID: 36381552 PMCID: PMC9620455 DOI: 10.1177/2396941519899684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Although bilingualism is a common worldwide phenomenon, limited research has considered the experiences of children with autism growing up in bilingual environments. Here, we investigated the potential influence of parental bilingualism, and native vs. non-native language use, on responsiveness to children's communication attempts during parent-child interactions where the child had autism. Specifically, we investigated the amount of parent responses to child verbal communication (frequency) and the promptness of these responses (temporal synchrony). METHODS Participants were 22 monolingual and 20 bilingual parents and their children with autism aged 2-6 years, recruited from a multicultural, metropolitan city where English is the dominant language. Extending from our previous report on this sample, we identified the frequency and temporal synchrony of parent responses from filmed 10-minute free-play sessions. Monolingual parents were videoed during one free-play session in English. Bilingual parents were videoed during two free-play sessions; one in their native language and one in English. We compared the frequency and temporal synchrony of parental responses across monolingual and bilingual parent groups and, for bilingual parents, across native vs. non-native (English) language interaction samples. Finally, we examined how other measures of bilingual parents' non-native language proficiency were associated with interaction responsiveness measures. RESULTS When using their native language, bilingual parents demonstrated reduced frequency of responsiveness (even when controlling for opportunities provided by the child) and less temporal synchrony to child communication compared to English-speaking monolingual parents. Bilingual parents were also less frequently responsive (but not less temporally synchronous) during their native- compared to during their non-native (English) language interactions. Moreover, for bilingual parents, more frequent responsiveness to child communication bids when interacting in non-native English was associated with greater assessed English vocabulary knowledge. CONCLUSIONS In this sample, use of non-native English did not appear to adversely affect how often, or how quickly, bilingual parents responded to their children's verbal communication bids. However, nor did we find evidence of a native-language advantage. Rather, during English-language interactions, when these bilingual parents were responsive towards their children, this was on par with rates and timing of responsiveness shown by English-speaking monolinguals. This may partly be explained by bilinguals' non-native language proficiency, and habitual use/personal dominance patterns. IMPLICATIONS These data suggest no definitive drawback of non-native language use for synchronous responsiveness by bilingual parents interacting with young children with autism. However, our data also serve to highlight the complex, multifaceted nature of adult bilingualism, and indicate the need for more research - with large, well-characterised samples - to permit strong conclusions concerning how parental language-use choices may influence children's natural learning environments, including in the context of autism and developmental language impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cherie C Green
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alexandra Woollacott
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kristelle Hudry
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
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Vivanti G, Dissanayake C, Duncan E, Feary J, Capes K, Upson S, Bent CA, Rogers SJ, Hudry K. Outcomes of children receiving Group-Early Start Denver Model in an inclusive versus autism-specific setting: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Autism 2018; 23:1165-1175. [PMID: 30296845 DOI: 10.1177/1362361318801341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
A major topic of debate is whether children with autism spectrum disorder should be educated in inclusive or specialized settings. We examined the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of delivering the Group-Early Start Denver Model to children with autism spectrum disorder in inclusive versus specialized classrooms. We randomly assigned 44 preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder to receive the Group-Early Start Denver Model across one school calendar year in classrooms that included only children with autism spectrum disorder or mostly children who were typically developing. Blind-rated indicators of teaching quality showed similar results across settings, which were above the local benchmark. Children showed improvements across blinded proximal measures of spontaneous vocalization, social interaction, and imitation and across distal measures of verbal cognition, adaptive behavior, and autism symptoms irrespective of intervention setting. Mothers of participants experienced a reduction in stress irrespective of child intervention setting. Across both settings, age at intervention start was negatively associated with gains in verbal cognition. Delivery of Group-Early Start Denver Model in an inclusive setting appeared to be feasible, with no significant differences in teaching quality and child improvements when the program was implemented in inclusive versus specialized classrooms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Vivanti
- 1 A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, USA.,2 La Trobe University, Australia
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15
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Bent CA, Dissanayake C, Barbaro J. Mapping the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in children aged under 7 years in Australia, 2010–2012. Med J Aust 2015; 202:317-20. [DOI: 10.5694/mja14.00328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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