Etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Autistic Traits Over Time

Tactile sensitivities are common in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Psychophysically, slow, gentle stroking touch is typically rated as more pleasant than faster or slower touch. Vicarious ratings of social touch results in a similar pattern of velocity dependent hedonic ratings as directly felt touch. Here we investigated whether adults and children’s vicarious ratings vary according to ASD diagnosis and self-reported autistic traits. Adults’ scoring high on the AQ rated stroking touch on the palm as less pleasant than a Low AQ group. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, we did not find any effect of ASD diagnosis on children’s touch ratings despite parental reports highlighting significant somatosensory sensitivities. These results are discussed in terms of underpinning sensory and cognitive factors.

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Progress in Understanding the Causes of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Autistic Traits: Twin Studies from 1977 to the Present Day

Behavior Genetics of Psychopathology ◽

10.1007/978-1-4614-9509-3_2 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 33-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Angelica Ronald ◽

Rosa Hoekstra

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽

Twin Studies ◽

Autistic Traits ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorders

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Developmental trajectories of restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests in children with autism spectrum disorders

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579409990265 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 55-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 147

Author(s):

Jennifer Richler ◽

Marisela Huerta ◽

Somer L. Bishop ◽

Catherine Lord

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽

Developmental Trajectories ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Repetitive Behaviors ◽

Insistence On Sameness ◽

Restricted And Repetitive Behaviors ◽

Children With Asd ◽

Spectrum Disorders ◽

Over Time

AbstractThis study examined how restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests (RRBs) developed over time in a sample of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). One hundred ninety-two children referred for a diagnosis of autism at age 2, and 22 children with nonspectrum development disorders were evaluated with a battery of cognitive and diagnostic measures at age 2 and subsequently at ages 3, 5, and 9. Factor analysis of the RRB items on the Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised revealed two RRB factors at each wave of data collection, one comprising “repetitive sensorimotor” (RSM) behaviors and the other “insistence on sameness” (IS) behaviors. For children with ASD, RSM scores remained relatively high over time, indicating consistent severity, whereas IS scores started low and increased over time, indicating worsening. Having a higher nonverbal intelligence (NVIQ) at age 2 was associated with milder concurrent RSM behaviors and with improvement in these behaviors over time. There was no relationship between NVIQ at age 2 and IS behaviors. However, milder social/communicative impairment, at age 2 was associated with more severe concurrent IS behaviors. Trajectory analysis revealed considerable heterogeneity in patterns of change over time for both kinds of behaviors. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for our understanding of RRBs in ASD and other disorders, making prognoses about how RRBs will develop in children with ASD as they get older, and using RRBs to identify ASD phenotypes in genetic studies.

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Employment Outcomes of Transition-Aged Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A State of the States Report

American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities ◽

10.1352/1944-7558-119.1.64 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 119 (1) ◽

pp. 64-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Sloane Burgess ◽

Robert E. Cimera

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽

Employment Outcomes ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Adults With Autism ◽

Vocational Rehabilitation Services ◽

Time Period ◽

Spectrum Disorders ◽

The Cost ◽

Adults With Asd ◽

Over Time

Abstract The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the employment outcomes of transition-aged adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) served by vocational rehabilitation services (VR) over the last 10 years by state. A secondary purpose was to compare employment outcomes of individuals with ASD to those of the overall transition-aged population served by VR for the same time period. Although there was variability both within and among states, the results of this study indicate that, over time, the number of young adults with ASD seeking VR services has increased; however, employment outcomes including the percent of adults with ASD achieving employment, the number of hours worked, and wages earned have not improved for this group. The cost to provide VR services to transition-aged adults with ASD was relatively stable over time. Transition-aged adults with ASD were more likely to become successfully employed as a result of receiving VR services than the overall population of transition-aged adults served by VR. However, the employed transition-aged adults consistently worked fewer hours and earned lower wages than those in the overall population. Factors that may influence variability within and among states, and between groups, and implications for research and practice are discussed.

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