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One-year change in repetitive behaviours in young children with communication disorders including autism

Emma Honey1, Helen McConachie, Val Randle

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Durham, Durham, UK.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|August 11, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Repetitive behaviors in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were studied in young children. While some repetitive behaviors increased, their overall impact on daily life decreased over time.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

  • Repetitive behaviors are understudied in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Prior research suggested an inverse relationship between repetitive behaviors and ability, with increases during preschool years.
  • Understanding the trajectory and impact of these behaviors is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the changes in repetitive behaviors in young children with ASD over 13 months.
  • To examine the relationship between ability and repetitive behaviors.
  • To assess the impact of repetitive behaviors on children and families over time.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 104 children aged 24-48 months with autism, ASD, or other disorders.
  • Analysis of 12 items from the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and diagnostic algorithm scores.
  • Tracking of repetitive behavior algorithm scores and their impact over a 13-month period.

Main Results:

  • Repetitive behavior algorithm scores generally increased over the study period.
  • A negative correlation between ability and repetitive behaviors was observed, with exceptions in some able subgroups.
  • Despite score increases, the overall impact of the 12 analyzed repetitive behaviors on child and family activities decreased.

Conclusions:

  • Repetitive behaviors in young children with ASD show complex changes over time.
  • The relationship between ability and repetitive behaviors is nuanced.
  • The decreasing impact of these behaviors suggests potential adaptive strategies or changing perceptions over time.

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