Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Portable Intermodal Preferential Looking (IPL): Investigating Language Comprehension in Typically Developing Toddlers and Young Children with Autism
10:11

Portable Intermodal Preferential Looking (IPL): Investigating Language Comprehension in Typically Developing Toddlers and Young Children with Autism

Published on: December 14, 2012

Follow-up of children diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorders: stability and change during the preschool

Sigrídur Lóa Jónsdóttir1, Evald Saemundsen, Gudlaug Asmundsdóttir

  • 1Division of Autism and Communication Disorders, State Diagnostic and Counseling Center, Digranesvegur 5, 200, Kópavogur, Iceland. sigridurloa@greining.is

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|December 6, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) showed stable IQ/DQ but reduced autistic symptoms over time. The Childhood Autism (CA) group had more severe symptoms and lower adaptive scores compared to other PDDs.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Psychiatry
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs) encompass a range of neurodevelopmental conditions affecting social interaction and communication.
  • Early intervention and assessment are crucial for understanding developmental trajectories in children with PDDs.
  • Previous follow-up studies on children with autism have reported varying outcomes, necessitating further investigation into specific subgroups.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess changes in cognitive and behavioral measures over time in preschool-aged children with PDDs.
  • To compare developmental trajectories between children with Childhood Autism (CA) and those with Other PDDs.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of eclectic services on children with PDDs.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal assessment of 41 preschool children diagnosed with PDDs.
  • Two assessment points during the preschool years.
  • Comparison of Intelligence Quotient/Developmental Quotient (IQ/DQ) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores over time and between diagnostic subgroups (CA vs. Other PDDs).

Main Results:

  • The overall group demonstrated stable mean IQ/DQ (P = 0.209) but a significant decrease in CARS scores (P = 0.001), indicating a reduction in autistic symptoms.
  • At the second assessment, the CA group exhibited more severe autistic symptoms (P = 0.01) and lower adaptive behavior scores (P = 0.014) compared to the Other PDDs group.
  • A trend towards lower IQ/DQs was observed in the CA group at time 2 (P = 0.06).

Conclusions:

  • Children with PDDs receiving eclectic services showed improvement in autistic symptoms during the preschool years.
  • The Childhood Autism subgroup presented with more significant impairments in symptoms and adaptive functioning compared to other PDDs.
  • Findings suggest that children in this cohort may have better outcomes than previously reported in follow-up studies of children with autism.

More Related Videos

Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools11:29

Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools

Published on: June 20, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Developmental Psychology01:27

Introduction to Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology explores the changes and continuities in human abilities throughout life, encompassing physical, cognitive, linguistic, and social dimensions. Human development is not restricted to growth, but includes aspects of decline, particularly in physical abilities as individuals age. Developmental psychologists seek to understand how people change as they age and how their mental and social skills evolve.Developmental MilestonesA key concept in developmental psychology is...
Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development01:14

Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
Oppositional Defiant Disorder01:30

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

A persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, defiant behavior, or vindictiveness characterizes Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Symptoms must occur over at least six months, involve interactions with individuals beyond siblings, and meet specific diagnostic criteria to be clinically significant. The disorder affects emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior, often manifesting early in life and influencing long-term development and functioning.
Diagnostic Criteria and...
Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development from Childhood into Adulthood01:25

Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development from Childhood into Adulthood

Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development emphasizes the role of thinking in a child's learning process, suggesting that children are naturally curious about their environment. His approach to development is discontinuous, proposing that cognitive abilities progress through distinct stages, each with unique characteristics. Central to Piaget's theory is schemata—mental structures that allow individuals to understand and interpret the world.
Schemata: Building Blocks of Knowledge
Schemata...
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...