Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 4 Years - Early Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, Seven Sites, United States, 2010, 2012, and 2014.

Problem/condition: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is estimated to affect up to 3% of children in the United States. Public health surveillance for ASD among children aged 4 years provides information about trends in prevalence, characteristics of children with ASD, and progress made toward decreasing the age of identification of ASD so that evidence-based interventions can begin as early as possible.

Period Covered: 2010, 2012, and 2014.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years - Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2012.

Problem/condition: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Period Covered: 2012.

Description Of System: The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network is an active surveillance system that provides estimates of the prevalence and characteristics of ASD among children aged 8 years whose parents or guardians reside in 11 ADDM Network sites in the United States (Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin).

Lipoprotein-X disease in the setting of severe cholestatic hepatobiliary autoimmune disease.

Severe cholestatic disease and hyperlipidemia are both commonly encountered by medical professionals. This article reviews the current pathophysiological model of lipoprotein-X syndrome related to 3 cases from 2 academic medical centers in the United States.

Brief Report: Prevalence of Self-injurious Behaviors among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder-A Population-Based Study.

Self-injurious behaviors (SIB) have been reported in more than 30 % of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in clinic-based studies. This study estimated the prevalence of SIB in a large population-based sample of children with ASD in the United States. A total of 8065 children who met the surveillance case definition for ASD in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network during the 2000, 2006, and 2008 surveillance years were included.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years--Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2012.

Problem/condition: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Period Covered: 2012.

Description Of System: The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network is an active surveillance system that provides estimates of the prevalence and characteristics of ASD among children aged 8 years whose parents or guardians reside in 11 ADDM Network sites in the United States (Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin).

Identifying Infants and Toddlers at High Risk for Persistent Delays.

Objectives: Little is known about the extent to which a developmental delay identified in infancy persists into early childhood. This study examined the persistence of developmental delays in a large nationally representative sample of infants and toddlers who did not receive early intervention.

Methods: In a sample (n ≈ 8700) derived from the early childhood longitudinal study, birth cohort, we examined developmental changes between 9 and 24 months.

Computing theoretical rates of part C eligibility based on developmental delays.

Part C early intervention is a nationwide program that serves infants and toddlers who have developmental delays. This article presents a methodology for computing a theoretical estimate of the proportion of children who are likely to be eligible for Part C services based on delays in any of the 5 developmental domains (cognitive, motor, communication, social-emotional and adaptive) that are assessed to determine eligibility. Rates of developmental delays were estimated from a multivariate normal cumulative distribution function.

The Study to Explore Early Development (SEED): a multisite epidemiologic study of autism by the Centers for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Research and Epidemiology (CADDRE) network.

The Study to Explore Early Development (SEED), a multisite investigation addressing knowledge gaps in autism phenotype and etiology, aims to: (1) characterize the autism behavioral phenotype and associated developmental, medical, and behavioral conditions and (2) investigate genetic and environmental risks with emphasis on immunologic, hormonal, gastrointestinal, and sociodemographic characteristics. SEED uses a case-control design with population-based ascertainment of children aged 2-5 years with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children in two control groups-one from the general population and one with non-ASD developmental problems. Data from parent-completed questionnaires, interviews, clinical evaluations, biospecimen sampling, and medical record abstraction focus on the prenatal and early postnatal periods.

Caregiver report of executive functioning in a population-based sample of young children with Down syndrome.

The current study describes everyday executive function (EF) profiles in young children with Down syndrome. Caregivers of children with Down syndrome (n  =  26; chronological ages  =  4-10 years; mental ages  =  2-4 years) completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool (BRIEF-P; G. A.

A longitudinal study of outcome measures for children receiving early intervention services.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) as measures of change in children who received early intervention services.

Methods: Thirty-four children were stratified into 2 groups according to the presence of gross motor delay. The PEDI and MSEL were administered 3 times: at an average age of 18, 31, and 53 months of age.

Screening for autism spectrum disorders in children with Down syndrome: population prevalence and screening test characteristics.

Objective: We assessed the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and screening test characteristics in children with Down syndrome.

Method: Eligible children born in a defined geographic area between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2003, were recruited through a population-based birth defects registry and community outreach, then screened with the modified checklist for autism in toddlers or social communication questionnaire, as appropriate. Screen-positive children and a random sample of screen-negative children underwent developmental evaluation.

Prevalence of developmental delays and participation in early intervention services for young children.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to use a nationally representative longitudinal sample of children born in the United States in 2001 to estimate rates of eligibility for Part C early intervention, to estimate rates of access to services for developmental delays, and to examine factors that are associated with access to services.

Methods: Data for this study were collected as part of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort, which obtained data from participants when children were 9 and 24 months of age. Descriptive analyses were used to generate national estimates of the prevalence of developmental delays that would make children eligible for Part C services and rates of participation in early intervention services.

Use of a teacher nomination strategy to screen for autism spectrum disorders in general education classrooms: a pilot study.

Given a rising prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), this project aimed to develop and pilot test various teacher nomination strategies to identify children at risk for ASD in a timely, reliable, cost-effective manner. Sixty participating elementary school teachers evaluated 1323 children in total. Each teacher nominated students who most fit a description of ASD-associated characteristics, and completed the Autism Syndrome Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) on every child in the classroom.

Reliability and validity of the gross motor function classification system for cerebral palsy.

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to evaluate interrater reliability using videotapes and criterion-related and construct validity of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), aspects of reliability and validity not previously published.

Methods: Two experienced pediatric physical therapists rated 30 videotapes of children with cerebral palsy (CP) or Down syndrome (DS) to test interrater reliability. Criterion-related validity was evaluated by comparing GMFCS levels with tests of motor and nonmotor development.

Meat as a first complementary food for breastfed infants: feasibility and impact on zinc intake and status.

Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the feasibility and effects of consuming either meat or iron-fortified infant cereal as the first complementary food.

Methods: Eighty-eight exclusively breastfed infants were enrolled at 4 months of age and randomized to receive either pureed beef or iron-fortified infant cereal as the first complementary food, starting after 5 months and continuing until 7 months. Dietary, anthropometric, and developmental data were obtained longitudinally until 12 months, and biomarkers of zinc and iron status were measured at 9 months.