ASD symptoms in toddlers and preschoolers: An examination of sex differences

Rosmary Ros‐Demarize, Catherine Bradley, Stephen M. Kanne, Zachary Warren, Andrea Boan, Clara Lajonchere, Justine Park, Laura Arnstein Carpenter Abstract Although considerable work has documented higher prevalence rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in boys, fewer studies have focused on sex differences within samples of young children at‐risk for ASD. This study examined sex differences in ASD symptom domains and ASD screening outcomes…

In-Home Speech and Language Screening for Young Children: A Proof-of-Concept Study Using Interactive Mobile Storytime

Du Y1,2, Abbas H2, Taraman S1,2,3, Segar S2, Bischoff N2. Author information 1University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.2Cognoa Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA.3Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, USA. Abstract Early identification and intervention of speech and language delays in children contribute to better communication and literacy skills for school readiness and are protective against behavioral and mental health problems. Through collaboration between…

When Are We Sure? Predictors of Clinician Certainty in the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Abstract Differential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is challenging, and uncertainty regarding a child’s diagnosis may result in under-identification or prolonged diagnostic pathways. The current study examined diagnostic certainty, or how sure clinicians were that their diagnosis was accurate, among 478 toddler and preschool-aged children referred for possible ASD to academic medical specialty…

Exploratory study examining the at-home feasibility of a wearable tool for social-affective learning in children with autism.

npj Digital Medicine. Published: 02 August 2018. Abstract Although standard behavioral interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are effective therapies for social deficits, they face criticism for being time-intensive and overdependent on specialists. Earlier starting age of therapy is a strong predictor of later success, but waitlists for therapies can be 18 months long. To address these complications, we developed Superpower…

Screening in toddlers and preschoolers at risk for autism spectrum disorder: Evaluating a novel mobile‐health screening tool.

Wiley Online Library. Abstract There are many available tools with varying levels of accuracy designed to screen for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in young children, both in the general population and specifically among those referred for developmental concerns. With burgeoning waitlists for comprehensive diagnostic ASD assessments, finding accurate methods and tools for advancing diagnostic triage becomes increasingly important. The current…

Clinical Evaluation of a Novel and Mobile Autism Risk Assessment.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Abstract The Mobile Autism Risk Assessment (MARA) is a new, electronically administered, 7-question autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screen to triage those at highest risk for ASD. Children 16 months–17 years (N = 222) were screened during their first visit in a developmental-behavioral pediatric clinic. MARA scores were compared to diagnosis from the clinical encounter. Participant median age was…

A Wearable Social Interaction Aid for Children with Autism.

In Proceedings of the 2016 CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Abstract Over 1 million children under the age of 17 in the US have been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). These children struggle to recognize facial expressions, make eye contact, and engage in social interactions. Gaining these skills requires intensive behavioral interventions that are…

Searching for a minimal set of behaviors for autism detection through feature selection-based machine learning.

Translational Psychiatry. Abstract Although the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has risen sharply in the last few years reaching 1 in 68, the average age of diagnosis in the United States remains close to 4—well past the developmental window when early intervention has the largest gains. This emphasizes the importance of developing accurate methods to detect risk faster than…