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Phenotypic characteristics and rehabilitation effect of children with regressive autism spectrum disorder: a
Chaoqun Hu1, Ting Yang1, Jie Chen1
1Growth, Development and Mental Health Center of Children and Adolescents, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Insights
Children with regressive autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show distinct characteristics and benefit less from early intervention compared to non-regressive cases. Younger children with regressive ASD (under 4 years) show some improvement with intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychiatry
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition.
- A subset of children with ASD experience regression, primarily in social and language skills.
- Understanding the characteristics of regressive ASD is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize phenotypic differences in children with regressive autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- To evaluate the efficacy of behavioral intervention in children with regressive and non-regressive ASD.
- To identify factors influencing treatment outcomes in regressive ASD.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 370 children aged 1.5-7 years diagnosed with ASD.
- Children categorized into regressive and non-regressive groups using the Regression Supplement Form.
- Assessment of core symptoms and neurodevelopmental levels using ADOS, SRS, CARS, and GDS before and after one year of behavioral intervention.
Main Results:
- Regression occurred in 28.38% of children with ASD, predominantly affecting social communication and language.
- Children with regressive ASD had poorer outcomes on SRS, CARS, and GDS compared to non-regressive cases.
- While all children improved with intervention, those with regressive ASD showed less improvement; significant gains were observed only in regressive ASD children under 4 years old.
Conclusions:
- Regressive autism spectrum disorder presents unique challenges and may require tailored early intervention strategies.
- Early intervention is critical for all children with ASD, with a particular emphasis on younger children exhibiting regression.
- Age is a significant factor in treatment response for children with regressive ASD.
Background:
In this prospective cohort study, we determined the phenotypic characteristics of children with regressive autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and explored the effects of rehabilitation.
Methods:
We recruited 370 children with ASD aged 1.5-7 years. Based on the Regression Supplement Form, the children were assigned to two groups: regressive and non-regressive. The core symptoms and neurodevelopmental levels of ASD were assessed before and after 1 year of behavioral intervention using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), Social Response Scale (SRS), Children Autism Rating Scale (CARS), and Gesell Developmental Scale (GDS).
Results:
Among the 370 children with ASD, 28.38% (105/370) experienced regression. Regression was primarily observed in social communication and language skills. Children with regressive ASD exhibited higher SRS and CARS scores and lower GDS scores than those with non-regressive ASD. After 1 year of behavioral intervention, the symptom scale scores significantly decreased for all children with ASD; however, a lesser degree of improvement was observed in children with regressive ASD than in those with non-regressive ASD. In addition, the symptom scores of children with regressive ASD below 4 years old significantly decreased, whereas the scores of those over 4 years old did not significantly improve. Children with regressive ASD showed higher core symptom scores and lower neurodevelopmental levels. Nevertheless, after behavioral intervention, some symptoms exhibited significant improvements in children with regressive ASD under 4 years of age.
Conclusion:
Early intervention should be considered for children with ASD, particularly for those with regressive ASD.
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