OBJECTIVE: First-degree relatives of persons with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at increased risk for ASD-related characteristics. As little is known about the early expression of these characteristics, this study characterizes the non-ASD outcomes of 3-year-old high-risk (HR) siblings of children with ASD. METHOD: Two groups of children without ASD participated: 507 HR siblings and 324 low-risk (LR) control subjects (no known relatives with ASD). Children were enrolled at a mean age of 8 months, and outcomes were assessed at 3 years. Outcome measures were Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) calibrated severity scores, and Mullen Verbal and Non-Verbal Developmental Quotients (DQ). RESULTS: At 3 years, HR siblings without an ASD outcome exhibited higher mean ADOS severity scores and lower verbal and non-verbal DQs than LR controls. HR siblings were over-represented (21% HR versus 7% LR) in latent classes characterized by elevated ADOS severity and/or low to low-average DQs. The remaining HR siblings without ASD outcomes (79%) belonged to classes in which they were not differentially represented with respect to LR siblings. CONCLUSIONS: Having removed a previously identified 18.7% of HR siblings with ASD outcomes from all analyses, HR siblings nevertheless exhibited higher mean levels of ASD severity and lower levels of developmental functioning than LR children. However, the latent class membership of four-fifths of the HR siblings was not significantly different from that of LR control subjects. One-fifth of HR siblings belonged to classes characterized by higher ASD severity and/or lower levels of developmental functioning. This empirically derived characterization of an early-emerging pattern of difficulties in a minority of 3-year-old HR siblings suggests the importance of developmental surveillance and early intervention for these children.
OBJECTIVE: First-degree relatives of persons with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at increased risk for ASD-related characteristics. As little is known about the early expression of these characteristics, this study characterizes the non-ASD outcomes of 3-year-old high-risk (HR) siblings of children with ASD. METHOD: Two groups of children without ASD participated: 507 HR siblings and 324 low-risk (LR) control subjects (no known relatives with ASD). Children were enrolled at a mean age of 8 months, and outcomes were assessed at 3 years. Outcome measures were Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) calibrated severity scores, and Mullen Verbal and Non-Verbal Developmental Quotients (DQ). RESULTS: At 3 years, HR siblings without an ASD outcome exhibited higher mean ADOS severity scores and lower verbal and non-verbal DQs than LR controls. HR siblings were over-represented (21% HR versus 7% LR) in latent classes characterized by elevated ADOS severity and/or low to low-average DQs. The remaining HR siblings without ASD outcomes (79%) belonged to classes in which they were not differentially represented with respect to LR siblings. CONCLUSIONS: Having removed a previously identified 18.7% of HR siblings with ASD outcomes from all analyses, HR siblings nevertheless exhibited higher mean levels of ASD severity and lower levels of developmental functioning than LR children. However, the latent class membership of four-fifths of the HR siblings was not significantly different from that of LR control subjects. One-fifth of HR siblings belonged to classes characterized by higher ASD severity and/or lower levels of developmental functioning. This empirically derived characterization of an early-emerging pattern of difficulties in a minority of 3-year-old HR siblings suggests the importance of developmental surveillance and early intervention for these children.
Authors: Joachim Hallmayer; Sue Cleveland; Andrea Torres; Jennifer Phillips; Brianne Cohen; Tiffany Torigoe; Janet Miller; Angie Fedele; Jack Collins; Karen Smith; Linda Lotspeich; Lisa A Croen; Sally Ozonoff; Clara Lajonchere; Judith K Grether; Neil Risch Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 2011-07-04
Authors: Stacy Shumway; Audrey Thurm; Susan E Swedo; Lesley Deprey; Lou Ann Barnett; David G Amaral; Sally J Rogers; Sally Ozonoff Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2011-12
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Authors: Annette Estes; Jeffrey Munson; Tanya St John; Stephen R Dager; Amy Rodda; Kelly Botteron; Heather Hazlett; Robert T Schultz; Lonnie Zwaigenbaum; Joseph Piven; Michael J Guralnick Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2018-04
Authors: Brittany L Lambert-Brown; Nicole M McDonald; Whitney I Mattson; Katherine B Martin; Lisa V Ibañez; Wendy L Stone; Daniel S Messinger Journal: Dev Psychol Date: 2015-05-04
Authors: Jason J Wolff; Kelly N Botteron; Stephen R Dager; Jed T Elison; Annette M Estes; Hongbin Gu; Heather C Hazlett; Juhi Pandey; Sarah J Paterson; Robert T Schultz; Lonnie Zwaigenbaum; Joseph Piven Journal: J Child Psychol Psychiatry Date: 2014-02-19 Impact factor: 8.982
Authors: Jana M Iverson; Jessie B Northrup; Nina B Leezenbaum; Meaghan V Parladé; Erin A Koterba; Kelsey L West Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2018-01