Clinical Features of Children at Risk of Profound Autism.

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Clinical psychology
• Developmental pediatrics

Background:

• Profound autism, defined in 2021, describes autistic individuals with low cognitive/adaptive skills and limited verbal communication.
• Understanding the characteristics of profound autism is crucial for tailored clinical support and policy development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine clinical and demographic features of children at risk for or meeting the definition of profound autism.
• To identify characteristics differentiating children with profound autism from other autistic children.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary assessment of 513 autistic children aged 1-16 years was conducted.
• Evaluations included social, communication, adaptive, cognitive/developmental skills, and behavior assessments.

Main Results:

• Approximately 25% of referred autistic children met the 'at risk' criteria for profound autism.
• Children at risk for profound autism were diagnosed at a younger age (mean 3.93 years) and showed higher rates of elopement concerns.
• Earlier age of first concern (mean 1.79 years) was noted in the profound autism group.

Conclusions:

• Findings enhance understanding of profound autism characteristics in children.
• Results inform clinical practice, including assessment, support planning, and determining appropriate service levels.
• The study supports policy considerations for funding, service access, and longitudinal follow-up for this population.