Agreement between concern about autism spectrum disorder at the time of referral and diagnosis, and factors associated with agreement.

Aim: This study examined the level of agreement between referral reason and diagnostic outcome for pre-school aged children showing developmental delays and differences. In particular, the level of agreement when there was concern about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was investigated.

Methods: Clinical records for children (n = 677) assessed for developmental concerns at a multidisciplinary assessment clinic in Sydney, Australia, were examined.

Measuring Inhibition and Cognitive Flexibility in Friedreich Ataxia.

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder with subtle impact on cognition. Inhibitory processes and cognitive flexibility were examined in FRDA by assessing the ability to suppress a predictable verbal response. We administered the Hayling Sentence Completion Test (HSCT), the Trail Making Test, and the Stroop Test to 43 individuals with FRDA and 42 gender- and age-matched control participants.

The test of everyday attention reveals significant sustained volitional attention and working memory deficits in friedreich ataxia.

Sustained volitional attention and working memory capacity was examined for the first time in people with Friedreich ataxia (FRDA). We administered subtests of the Test of Everyday Attention to 16 individuals with molecularly confirmed FRDA and gender-, age-, and IQ-matched controls. Clinically significant impairment in working memory and sustained volitional attention was evident.