Distinct sensory patterns emerge by 12 months in elevated likelihood toddlers later diagnosed with autism, with sensory sensitivity increasing significantly between 18 and 24 months, suggesting that sensory differences may exert a "cascading effect", thereby contributing to autistic outcomes.
Abstract
Background
As a core diagnostic criterion for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), sensory differences may have profound implications for the quality of life among autistic individuals. However, little is known about the developmental trajectories of sensory features in toddlers at elevated likelihood (EL) for ASD. The associations between early sensory patterns and later autistic traits also remains unclear.
Methods
A total of 127 toddlers were enrolled in a China cohort study. At 24 months, 125 toddlers were classified into three groups: EL toddlers diagnosed with ASD (EL-ASD, n = 18), EL toddlers not meeting diagnostic criteria for ASD (EL-nonASD, n = 38), and low likelihood toddlers without ASD (LL, n = 69). Prospective longitudinal assessments of sensory patterns were conducted using the Toddler Sensory Profile-2 (TSP-2). Sensory patterns were compared among groups from 12 to 24 months by Linear Mixed-effects Models and Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons. The associations between early sensory patterns and later autistic traits were also examined.
Results
A significant group × time interaction for sensory sensitivity across 12-24 months (F = 9.87, p < 0.001), and a marked increase in sensory sensitivity in EL-ASD toddlers between 18 and 24 months (p < 0.001). EL-ASD toddlers exhibited significantly higher sensory registration, auditory processing and touch processing scores at 12 months compared to LL group. Elevated sensory registration scores at 12 months were positively associated with social affect (B = 0.14, p = 0.036), restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs; B = 0.12, p = 0.003), and total scores (B = 0.25, p = 0.005) at 24 months among EL-ASD toddlers. Additionally, elevated sensory avoiding scores at 18 months were positively associated with social affect (B = 0.33, p = 0.045) and total scores (B = 0.30, p = 0.046) at 24 months.
Conclusions
Distinct sensory patterns emerge by 12 months in elevated likelihood toddlers later diagnosed with autism, with sensory sensitivity increasing significantly between 18 and 24 months. Notably, early hypo- and hyper-responsivity predict later social communication difficulties and RRBs, suggesting that sensory differences may exert a "cascading effect", thereby contributing to autistic outcomes.
CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER
www.chictr.org.cn/; No: ChiCTR2100049811; Date:2021.08.10.
Sensory differences constitute core diagnostic features of autism. The cascading effect model posits that early sensory differences may be prospectively associated with subsequent autistic traits, whereas empirical evidence in infancy remains scarce. This study aims to characterize trajectory differences of early sensory profiles and examine the cascading effect on subsequent autistic traits in infants later diagnosed with autism. In this prospective longitudinal study, 134 Chinese infants were followed from 12 to 36 months of age. Trajectory differences in four sensory profiles (sensitivity, avoiding, registration, and seeking) were compared between diagnostic groups using the Toddler Sensory Profile-2. The cascading effect were examined through Structural Equation Modeling and temporally ordered path analysis to test direct and indirect effects of early sensory differences on subsequent autistic traits via the mediation of social skills in autism. Compared to typical development, infants later diagnosed with autism exhibited significantly elevated sensory sensitivity and sensory avoiding, along with elevated sensory registration scores at 12 months, with sensory sensitivity showing differential trajectories over time (F = 3.25, p = 0.004). Elevated sensory avoiding at 18 months exerted an indirect effect on social-communication at 36 months via the mediating role of social skills at 24 months (B = 0.08, p = 0.007). Additionally, temporally ordered path analysis revealed that elevated sensory avoiding at 18 months negatively predicted social skills at 24 months (β = -0.19, p = 0.030). Notably, in an exploratory analysis, increased sensory seeking at 18 months positively predicted adaptive skills at 36 months (B = 0.97, p = 0.031). Sensory differences emerge as early as 12 months in infants who later receive an autistic diagnosis, with sensory sensitivity demonstrating distinct developmental trajectories. These findings provide prospective evidence to support the cascading effect model in autism, identifying early sensory avoiding as an important early correlate of subsequent social-communicative development. Furthermore, early sensory seeking behaviors may facilitate subsequent adaptive functioning, highlighting the heterogeneous developmental pathways within autism. www.chictr.org.cn; Trial No: ChiCTR2100049811; Trial Date:2021.08.10.
Shi-Huan Wang, Cong You, Kai-Yun Chen et al.· Journal of Neurodevelopmenta...· 0 citations
Behavioral observation through examiner-child structured interactive play, particularly metrics related to eye contact, effectively differentiates toddlers with iASD.
Dan Ai, Binyue Hu, Qiuhong Wei et al.· BMC Psychiatry· 0 citations
PURPOSE
Autism is both a developmental and heterogeneous condition, with individual variation in the timing and shape of autistic symptom trajectories over time, as recognised by the concept of 'chronogeneity'. Prospective infant autism family history studies are well-suited to examining developmental trajectory variability, a key aspect of autism trait heterogeneity.
METHODS
We examined autistic trait trajectories in a large sample of infants with autism and/or ADHD family history (N = 384) followed from infancy to mid-childhood. Using group-based multi-trajectory modelling, we identified classes with distinct trajectories across three autism trait measures taken at six, five, and four timepoints, respectively, between 5 months and 9 years.
RESULTS
A 5-class solution provided the best fit. Three classes included 50-75% children meeting autism diagnostic criteria at 3 years or mid-childhood, with distinct differences in timing, onset, and developmental patterns of autistic traits. Two classes were predominantly typically developing, with one characterised as 'slow starters'. Background characteristics including autism/ADHD family history, sex, maternal education, and household income (but not ethnicity) predicted class membership. Mid-childhood outcomes-IQ, adaptive function, autism and ADHD traits, anxiety and behavioural difficulties-differed across trajectory classes.
CONCLUSION
The timing and developmental course of autistic traits-independent of trait level-relate meaningfully to infant and family characteristics, diagnostic timing, and mid-childhood outcomes. These findings support chronogeneity as a valuable framework for understanding autism heterogeneity in family history studies. The trajectory classes identified here are descriptive; future studies should examine their replicability, and explanatory and mechanistic value.
T. Charman, Tessel Bazelmans, G. Pasco et al.· Journal of Autism and Develo...· 0 citations
Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) likely share some common developmental pathways, suggesting the potential for overlapping early risk factors, including aspects of temperament. We employed a transdiagnostic, data-driven approach to identifying temperament-based subgroups at 12 and 18 months across infants at elevated and low genetic likelihood for autism and ADHD. Results revealed general continuity in early temperament; many infants remained in a well-regulated/socially engaged subgroup (73%), and some (27%) showed shifts over time toward heightened negative reactivity, greater inhibition, and/or reduced social engagement during the toddler period. Not all infants/toddlers who later met criteria for autism or showed preschool concerns for ADHD demonstrated negative-reactive/inhibitory temperament traits during early development. However, certain temperament profiles were associated with autism and ADHD traits regardless of clinical outcome. Findings contribute to a better understanding of early transdiagnostic markers and the nuanced developmental pathways related to autism and ADHD.
Girija Kadlaskar, Ana-Maria Iosif, S. Ozonoff et al.· Clinical psychological scien...· 1 citation
People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have unique sensory experiences. For both research and clinical purposes, tools that measure sensory features in autism are valuable; however, a gold-standard tool does not yet exist. The Sensory Experience Questionnaire (SEQ) 3.0 is a well-established caregiver-/parent-report questionnaire for autistic children and other neurodivergent individuals. This study aimed to develop and psychometrically validate the Japanese version of the SEQ 3.0 (SEQ-J). After validation, we examined the differences in sensory response patterns among children with ASD, those with other neurodevelopmental conditions, and typically developing (TD) children to determine whether the SEQ assesses ASD-specific sensory features. We recruited 154 children with ASD (44 with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] and 66 with other conditions) and 156 TD children, aged 6-12 years. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed an acceptable model fit for four content factors (sensory hyper- and hyporesponsiveness, sensory interests, repetitive and seeking behaviors, and enhanced perception) and six method factors (five sensory modalities and social context) in both children with and without ASD. We performed representational similarity analyses (RSAs) on all 10 SEQ factors, comparing both between- and within-group data. The RSAs revealed no difference in within-group similarities between the ASD group with no other developmental conditions and ASD + ADHD groups, but a significant difference in the overall configuration of scores between diagnostic groups compared to other group combinations. These findings support the psychometric validity of the SEQ-J for measuring sensory response patterns specific to children with ASD. Additionally, the structural configuration of SEQ subscores may be useful for investigating sensory features across diagnostic conditions, including ASD.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with a variety of mental health conditions, including dissociation. In addition to high rates of trauma exposure, vulnerability for dissociation in autism may be heightened by social differences, cognitive inflexibility, and sensory sensitivities. This study examined dissociative symptoms across levels of autistic traits using existing clinical data from 716 individuals receiving mental health care (“clients”) in Australia. Clients completed the Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation-60 (MID-60), the Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R), and the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q) or Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5). Clients were grouped according to their RAADS-R scores, measuring autistic traits. Analyses first compared those with high autistic traits (HA; ≥120; n=338) to below-threshold autistic traits (BA; <120; n=378). The latter group was then subdivided into those with moderate autistic traits (MA; 65-119; n=214) and low autistic traits (LA; <65; n=164) for more comprehensive analysis. HA clients had the highest scores on all trauma and dissociation measures and subscales, and clinically elevated dissociation was significantly more prevalent among HA clients (68%) than BA clients (33%; OR = 4.42) and LA clients (15%; OR = 12.59). MA clients also scored higher than LA clients in almost all domains. Autistic traits and dissociation severity were significantly correlated overall and for all subscales, with the strongest correlations found for the RAADS-R Sensory-Motor domain. All relationships remained significant after controlling for ACEs. This highlights the need for routine screening and tailored interventions addressing both autistic traits and dissociation.
Katherine E. Reuben, M. Kate, David L. Hegarty et al.· Journal of Trauma & Dissocia...· 0 citations
We use cookies to run the site and, with your consent, for analytics and to show ads.
See our Cookie Policy.
