Early Play Behaviors of Infants at Elevated Likelihood for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Importance: Although research has examined early identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), few studies have found behavioral markers during midinfancy associated with later ASD diagnosis.

Objective: To examine infants' play behaviors and atypical positions at age 6 mo and later outcome classification among infants at elevated likelihood (EL) and typical likelihood (TL) for ASD. Atypical positions refer to movement patterns indicative of motor delays or deviations, including atypical extension and flexion, poor weight shift and rotation, hypertonicity or hypotonicity, and the presence of primitive reflex patterns.

Occupational Balance Among Parents of Typically Developing Children and Parents of Children With Disabilities.

Importance: Parenting may influence perceptions of occupational balance (OB), particularly among parents of children with disabilities (PCWD).

Objective: To compare OB among PCWD and parents of typically developing children (PTDC), identify potential predictors of OB, and examine the association between OB and family quality of life (FQOL).

Design: Cross-sectional group-comparison design.

Development of the comprehensive observations of proprioception (COP): validity, reliability, and factor analysis.

Objective: We developed an observational tool, the Comprehensive Observations of Proprioception (COP), for identifying proprioceptive processing issues in children with developmental disabilities.

Method: Development of the COP underwent three phases. First, we developed items representing proprioceptive functions on the basis of an extensive literature review and consultation with occupational therapists.

Proprioceptive processing difficulties among children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities.

OBJECTIVE. Sensory processing difficulties among children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have been extensively documented. However, less is known about this population's ability to process proprioceptive information.