Differential Performance of Social Communication Questionnaire Items in African American/Black vs. White Children.

Screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an essential early step in the identification process and inaccurate screening may lead to significant delays in the onset of treatment. Past research has highlighted discrepancies in the performance of ASD screening tools such as the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) among certain racial and ethnic groups. The current study explored the functioning of the SCQ among African American/Black and White respondents based on item level performance on the measure.

The role of intellectual disability with autism spectrum disorder and the documented cooccurring conditions: A population-based study.

Previous research has identified that patterns of cooccurring conditions (CoCs) associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) differ based on the presence of intellectual disability (ID). This study explored the association of documented CoCs among 8-year-old children with ASD and ID (ASD+ID, n = 2416) and ASD without ID (ASD-ID, n = 5372) identified by the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, surveillance years (SYs) 2012 and 2014. After adjusting for demographic variables, record source, surveillance site, and SY, children with ASD+ID, as compared with children with ASD-ID, were more likely to have histories of nonspecific developmental delays and neurological disorders documented in their records but were less likely to have behavioral and psychiatric disorders.

Characteristics of the autism spectrum disorder gastrointestinal and related behaviors inventory in children.

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are one of the prevalent co-occurring issues in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), though the range of symptom frequency estimates varies dramatically across studies, which can limit the further research of GI issues in ASD as well as potential treatment strategies. The wide range of prevalence estimates is partly due to the lack of standardized, validated measures of GI symptoms among people with ASD. The goal of this study was to (1) develop a measure, which included non-verbal and mealtime behaviors, to assess for GI symptoms and (2) evaluate its psychometric characteristics.

Association between atopic diseases and neurodevelopmental disabilities in a longitudinal birth cohort.

Reports on the association between the prevalence of atopic diseases and neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDs) have been inconsistent in the literature. We investigated whether autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit-hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), and other NDs are more prevalent in children with asthma, atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergic rhinitis (AR) compared to those without specific atopic conditions. A total of 2580 children enrolled at birth were followed prospectively, of which 119 have ASD, 423 have ADHD, 765 have other NDs, and 1273 have no NDs.

Sensory features in autism: Findings from a large population-based surveillance system.

Sensory features (i.e., atypical responses to sensory stimuli) are included in the current diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder in a rural community in Bangladesh: A mid-childhood assessment.

Population-based studies employing standardized diagnostics are needed to determine the burden of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in low-resource settings. A community-based study was conducted among 8-11 year old children in rural, northwestern Bangladesh to establish the prevalence of ASD. A standardized screening and diagnosis protocol was adapted and deployed comprising the social communication questionnaire (SCQ), and the autism diagnostic observation schedule 2, (ADOS-2), and the autism diagnostic interview, revised (ADI-R), respectively.

Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 4 Years - Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2018.

Problem/condition: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Period Covered: 2018.

Description Of System: The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network is an active surveillance program that estimates ASD prevalence and monitors timing of ASD identification among children aged 4 and 8 years.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years - Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2018.

Problem/condition: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Period Covered: 2018.

Description Of System: The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network conducts active surveillance of ASD.

Progress and Disparities in Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 2002-2016.

Objective: Early identification can improve outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We sought to assess changes in early ASD identification over time and by co-occurring intellectual disability (ID) and race/ethnicity.

Method: Using data for 2002-2016 from a biennial population-based ASD surveillance program among 8-year-old children in the United States, we defined identification as a child's earliest recorded ASD diagnosis or special education eligibility.

Peri-Pregnancy Cannabis Use and Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Offspring: Findings from the Study to Explore Early Development.

The association of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with self-reported maternal cannabis use from 3 months pre-conception to delivery ("peri-pregnancy") was assessed in children aged 30-68 months, born 2003 to 2011. Children with ASD (N = 1428) were compared to children with other developmental delays/disorders (DD, N = 1198) and population controls (POP, N = 1628). Peri-pregnancy cannabis use was reported for 5.

Association of CaMK2A and MeCP2 signaling pathways with cognitive ability in adolescents.

The glutamatergic signaling pathway is involved in molecular learning and human cognitive ability. Specific single variants (SNVs, formerly single-nucleotide polymorphisms) in the genes encoding N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits have been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders by altering glutamate transmission. However, these variants associated with cognition and mental activity have rarely been explored in healthy adolescents.

Co-Occurrence of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease.

Objective: The objective of this study is to retrospectively determine the co-occurrence, associated characteristics, and risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) in a pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD) clinic population.

Method: We investigated the co-occurrence and features of NDD in pediatric SCD through a retrospective cohort study conducted between July 2017 and January 2019. The participants were patients with SCD younger than 18 years of age identified from our institutions' clinic rosters and medical records databases.

Maternal prepregnancy weight and gestational weight gain in association with autism and developmental disorders in offspring.

Objective: Maternal prepregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain (GWG) are examined in relation to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disorders (DD) in offspring in a multisite case-control study.

Methods: Maternal prepregnancy BMI, obtained from medical records or self-report, was categorized as underweight, normal weight, overweight, obesity Class 1, or obesity Class 2/3. GWG was standardized for gestational age (GWG z score), and the rate (pounds/week) was categorized per adherence with clinical recommendations.

Randomized controlled trial of sulforaphane and metabolite discovery in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Background: Sulforaphane (SF), an isothiocyanate in broccoli, has potential benefits relevant to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through its effects on several metabolic and immunologic pathways. Previous clinical trials of oral SF demonstrated positive clinical effects on behavior in young men and changes in urinary metabolomics in children with ASD.

Methods: We conducted a 15-week randomized parallel double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial with 15-week open-label treatment and 6-week no-treatment extensions in 57 children, ages 3-12 years, with ASD over 36 weeks.

Gastrointestinal Symptoms in 2- to 5-Year-Old Children in the Study to Explore Early Development.

Gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) are commonly reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This multi-site study evaluated the prevalence of GIS in preschool-aged children with ASD/(n = 672), with other developmental delays (DD)/(n = 938), and children in the general population (POP)/(n = 851). After adjusting for covariates, children in the ASD group were over 3 times more likely to have parent-reported GIS than the POP group, and almost 2 times more likely than the DD group.

A Distinct Three-Factor Structure of Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors in an Epidemiologically Sound Sample of Preschool-Age Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Prior studies investigating restricted and repetitive behavior (RRB) subtypes within autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have found varied factor structures for symptom groupings, in part, due to variation in symptom measurement and broad sample age ranges. This study examined RRBs among 827 preschool-age children, ages 35 to 71 months, through an exploratory factor analysis of RRB items from the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) collected through the Study to Explore Early Development. The factor structures of RRBs among children with confirmed ASD versus those with non-autism developmental concerns were qualitatively compared.

Prevalence of intellectual disability among eight-year-old children from selected communities in the United States, 2014.

Background: Children with intellectual disability (ID), characterized by impairments in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, benefit from early identification and access to services. Previous U.S.

Community-based service use in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder and associations with insurance status.

Background: ASD-related services can improve outcomes for children, but less is known about service outside of school settings during preschool age. We aimed to describe amount and category of community-based service use among 3-5-year-old children with ASD and examine differences by health insurance.

Methods: We used cross-sectional data on 792 children with ASD diagnoses in the Study to Explore Early Development, a community-based study of neurodevelopment with enrollment between 2012-2016.

Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years - Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2016.

Problem/condition: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Period Covered: 2016.

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

Disparities in Documented Diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder Based on Demographic, Individual, and Service Factors.

The objectives of our study were to (a) report how many children met an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) surveillance definition but had no clinical diagnosis of ASD in health or education records and (b) evaluate differences in demographic, individual, and service factors between children with and without a documented ASD diagnosis. ASD surveillance was conducted in selected areas of Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Children were defined as having ASD if sufficient social and behavioral deficits and/or an ASD diagnosis were noted in health and/or education records.

Injury-related treatments and outcomes in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder: Study to Explore Early Development (SEED).

Background: Evidence about injury management and outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is limited.

Method: Cross-sectional analyses included children aged 30-68 months with at least one medically attended injury. Standardized diagnostic instruments determined ASD cases.

DSM-5 criteria for autism spectrum disorder maximizes diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in preschool children.

Purpose: The criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were revised in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The objective of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of DSM-IV-Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) and DSM-5 definitions of ASD in a community-based sample of preschool children.

Methods: Children between 2 and 5 years of age were enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development-Phase 2 (SEED2) and received a comprehensive developmental evaluation.

Multiple epigenetic biomarkers for evaluation of students' academic performance.

Several reports have shown that methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), phospho-cAMP response element-binding protein (p-CREB) and microRNAs may be important in regulating academic performance because of their roles in neuropsychiatry and cognitive diseases. The first goal of this study was to explore the associations among MeCP2, BDNF, CREB and academic performance. This study also examined the pathway responsible for the effects of MeCP2, BDNF, p-CREB and microRNAs on academic performance.