scholarly journals Do sex differences affect ASD symptom severity scores?

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
The Usa

Researchers in the USA have investigated whether standard diagnostic assessments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are biased against girls.

scholarly journals Modeling and Explaining Sex Differences in the Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder:

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng-Ting Chen ◽  
Marisa E. Marraccini ◽  
Rune J. Simeonsson ◽  
Xiaopeng Lu ◽  
Yen-Ping Chang
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Statistical Models ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Assessment Scores

Why is autism spectrum disorder (ASD) less prevalent among females than among males? Synthesizing existing theories, we constructed two statistical models, one for each of both classes of theories on the issue, and derived testable competing predictions for the expression hypothesis—females express less severe ASD traits so are diagnosed less—against the perception hypothesis—females’ expressions are perceived as less severe so are diagnosed less—in their associations with expected symptom severity of ASD-diagnosed individuals. Examining the predictions with the highest precision, a meta-analysis on 103,958 historical assessment scores across ages, IQ, diagnoses, and assessments indicated that diagnosed females and males show almost equally severe and non-conditioned symptoms. Given the models are direct representations of the literature, the evidence therefore lends strong support for both, but not neither of the hypotheses, showing that the diagnosis of ASD is simultaneously an expression and a perception issue of the disorder.

scholarly journals A-060 A Developmental Analysis of Auditory Processing and Symptom Severity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 850-850
Author(s):  
Cotter M ◽  
Tikir S ◽  
Molholm S
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
Related Potentials

Abstract Objective Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exhibit abnormal responses to sensory events that interfere with the development of social communication. Previous studies have demonstrated that abnormal auditory processing contributes to this response; however, it remains unclear how this deficit is related to ASD severity throughout development. This cross-sectional study examines the relationship between auditory processing and symptom severity in a developmental sample of children, hypothesizing that auditory sensory event related potentials (ERP) will be associated with ASD severity as measured by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), and that there will be interaction between age and severity. Method This study included children (ages 6-18) with ASD (n = 116, female = 21) as diagnosed by the ADOS and typically developing children (n = 142, female =76). Exclusion criteria includes Performance IQ below 85, abnormal hearing or vision, and presence of a neurological disorder. Participants performed an audiovisual reaction task in which they pressed a button on a response pad when seeing or hearing the instructed stimuli while recording electroencephalography (EEG). Results Electrophysiological indices of auditory processing were identified based on peak amplitudes of averaged N1 responses, an early auditory ERP. A positive correlation was found between severity scores and N1 peak amplitudes (N1a (r(85) = .56, p < .001) and N1b (r(85) = .44, p < .001)). Approximately 72% (R2 = .716) of symptom severity variance can be accounted for by linear combination of ERPs. A linear model demonstrated a significant age by severity interaction with N1b, B = -2.7, F(2,84) = 20.6, p < .001. Conclusions Abnormal early auditory processing is associated with symptom severity, and this effect is more pronounced throughout earlier ages.

scholarly journals Sex Differences in Functional Connectivity Between Resting State Brain Networks in Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vânia Tavares ◽  
Luís Afonso Fernandes ◽  
Marília Antunes ◽  
Hugo Ferreira ◽  
Diana Prata
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Control Networks ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Female Specific ◽  
Main Effects

AbstractFunctional brain connectivity (FBC) has previously been examined in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) between-resting-state networks (RSNs) using a highly sensitive and reproducible hypothesis-free approach. However, results have been inconsistent and sex differences have only recently been taken into consideration using this approach. We estimated main effects of diagnosis and sex and a diagnosis by sex interaction on between-RSNs FBC in 83 ASD (40 females/43 males) and 85 typically developing controls (TC; 43 females/42 males). We found increased connectivity between the default mode (DM) and (a) the executive control networks in ASD (vs. TC); (b) the cerebellum networks in males (vs. females); and (c) female-specific altered connectivity involving visual, language and basal ganglia (BG) networks in ASD—in suggestive compatibility with ASD cognitive and neuroscientific theories.

scholarly journals Sex differences in brain structure: An autism twin study on restricted and repetitive behaviors

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annelies van’t Westeinde ◽  
Élodie Cauvet ◽  
Roberto Toro ◽  
Ralf Kuja-Halkola ◽  
Janina Neufeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Brain Anatomy ◽  
Social Responsiveness ◽  
Autism Symptoms ◽  
Twin Design ◽  
Restricted And Repetitive Behaviors

AbstractFemales with autism spectrum disorder have been reported to exhibit fewer and less severe restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests compared to males. This difference might indicate sex specific alterations of brain networks involved in autism symptom domains, especially within cortico-striatal and sensory integration networks. This study used a well-controlled twin design to examine sex differences in brain anatomy in relation to repetitive behaviors. In 75 twin pairs (n=150, 62 females, 88 males) enriched for autism spectrum disorder (n=32), and other neurodevelopmental disorders (n =32), we explored the association of restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests – operationalized by the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (C domain) and the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (Restricted Interests and Repetitive Behavior subscale), with cortical volume, surface area and thickness of neocortical, sub-cortical and cerebellar networks. Cotwin control analyses revealed within-pair associations between RRBI symptoms and the right intraparietal sulcus and right orbital gyrus in females only. These findings endorse the importance of investigating sex differences in the neurobiology of autism symptoms, and indicate different etiological pathways underlying restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests in females and males.

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