Publications by authors named "Abbie Solish"

Article Synopsis
  • * Conducted in Toronto and nearby pediatric practices from June 2016 to March 2020, the research involved blinded assessments of children under 5.5 years old with developmental concerns who had not yet been diagnosed with ASD.
  • * Results showed that pediatricians had a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 79% compared to a multidisciplinary team; they had a positive predictive value of 89% but a lower negative predictive value of 60%, indicating variability in their diagnostic accuracy.
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Evidence supports early intervention for toddlers with ASD, but barriers to access remain, including system costs, workforce constraints, and a range of family socio-demographic factors. An urgent need exists for innovative models that maximize resource efficiency and promote widespread timely access. We examined uptake and outcomes from 82 families participating in a parent-mediated intervention comprising group-based learning and individual coaching, delivered either in-person (n = 45) or virtually (n = 37).

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Background: Youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience high rates (approximately 50-79%) of comorbid anxiety problems. Given the significant interference and distress that excessive anxiety can cause, evidence-based intervention is necessary in order to reduce long-term negative effects. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has demonstrated efficacy for treating anxiety disorders across the lifespan, both in individual and group formats.

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Objective: The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been found to be remarkably stable but few studies have followed children not initially diagnosed with ASD beyond 3 years of age to examine late or delayed diagnoses. The present study used a prospective familial-risk design to identify children who had undergone multiple comprehensive assessments in preschool and were determined to be negative for ASD only to meet criteria for ASD when tested in middle childhood.

Method: Data were pooled across 3 research teams studying later-born siblings of children with ASD.

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