Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 1, 2026

A Novel Experimental and Analytical Approach to the Multimodal Neural Decoding of Intent During Social Interaction in Freely-behaving Human Infants
11:14

A Novel Experimental and Analytical Approach to the Multimodal Neural Decoding of Intent During Social Interaction in Freely-behaving Human Infants

Published on: October 4, 2015

11.6K

School-age outcomes of infants at risk for autism spectrum disorder

Meghan Miller1, Ana-Maria Iosif2, Gregory S Young1

  • 1MIND Institute, University of California, Davis.

Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research
|October 10, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Children with a family history of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show higher rates of clinical concerns, including ADHD and language difficulties, into school age. Continued monitoring is recommended for these high-risk children.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research often focuses on affected individuals, with less attention to long-term outcomes in at-risk siblings.
  • Understanding the developmental trajectories of siblings of children with ASD is crucial for identifying non-ASD related clinical concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a longer-term follow-up of high-risk siblings (younger siblings of children with ASD) and low-risk siblings.
  • To evaluate differences in clinical outcomes, psychopathology, autism symptoms, language, and cognitive abilities at school age (5.5-9 years).

Main Methods:

  • Follow-up study of infants initially recruited as high-risk (n=79) or low-risk (n=60) for ASD.
  • Utilized examiner ratings, parent reports, and standardized assessments to evaluate clinical concerns, psychopathology, autism symptoms, language, and nonverbal cognition.
  • Excluded children diagnosed with ASD to focus on non-ASD outcomes in high-risk siblings.

Main Results:

  • High-risk siblings showed significantly increased odds of clinically elevated/impaired scores across measures (43% vs. 12%) and examiner-rated Clinical Concerns (CC) (38% vs. 13%) compared to low-risk siblings.
  • High-risk siblings with CC outcomes had higher parent-reported psychopathology and autism symptoms, and lower language skills than low-risk and high-risk siblings without CC.
  • No differences in nonverbal cognitive skills were observed between groups.

Conclusions:

  • A significant subgroup of school-age children with a family history of ASD exhibits persistent or emerging clinical concerns beyond autism.
  • These findings highlight the continued vulnerability in high-risk siblings and underscore the need for ongoing screening and monitoring into the school-age years.
  • The study emphasizes the importance of assessing a broad range of developmental and behavioral outcomes in children with a familial risk for ASD.

Keywords:
autism spectrum disorderbroader autism phenotypepsychopathologyschool-agesiblings

More Related Videos

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism09:03

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism

Published on: March 27, 2012

46.8K
Portable Intermodal Preferential Looking IPL: Investigating Language Comprehension in Typically Developing Toddlers and Young Children with Autism10:11

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

Published on: December 14, 2012

19.2K

Related Concept Videos

Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
1.7K
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...
2.4K
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
1.2K
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
1.3K