Explore the vast range of titles available.

Autism symptom severity change was evaluated during early childhood in 125 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children were assessed at approximately 3 and 6 years of age for autism symptom severity, IQ and adaptive functioning. Each child was assigned a change score, representing the difference between ADOS Calibrated Severity Scores (CSS) at the two ages. A Decreased Severity Group (28.8%) decreased by 2 or more points; a Stable Severity Group (54.4%) changed by 1 point or less; and an Increased Severity Group (16.8%) increased by 2 or more points. Girls tended to decrease in severity more than boys and increase in severity less than boys. There was no clear relationship between intervention history and membership in the groups.

One of the most universally accepted facts about autism is that it is heterogenous. Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder have a wide range of behavioral presentations and a variety of co-occurring medical and mental health conditions. The identification of more homogenous subgroups is likely to lead to a better understanding of etiologies as well as more targeted interventions and treatments. In 2006, we initiated the UC Davis MIND Institute Autism Phenome Project (APP) with the overarching goal of identifying clinically meaningful subtypes of autism. This ongoing longitudinal multidisciplinary study now includes over 400 children and involves comprehensive medical, behavioral, and neuroimaging assessments from early childhood through adolescence (2 to 19 years of age). We have employed several strategies to identify sub-populations within autistic individuals: subgrouping by neural, biological, behavioral or clinical characteristics as well as by developmental trajectories. In this Mini Review, we summarize findings to date from the APP cohort and describe progress made towards identifying meaningful subgroups of autism.

Experiences of parenting a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have mostly been studied in relation to hardship. The current study explored personal growth experiences of Israeli parents to children with ASD, specifically in relation to Tedeschi and Calhoun’s crisis-related growth model. Nineteen parents were interviewed, and qualitative categorical content analysis was performed. Four major growth themes emerged: Empowerment and personal strength, Existential perspective/spiritual-emotional experience, Interpersonal and Expertise, professional or political involvement. Themes were largely consistent with the crisis-related growth model, with some being unique to the current subject of inquiry. Findings indicated growth might occur differently in different cultures. Clinically, with some parents, the focus regarding the parenting of their child with ASD should be shifted from adjustment to growth.

It is unclear how common is change in the severity of autism symptoms during childhood, whether symptoms change consistently across development, and what characterizes children that either increase or decrease in autism symptom severity during childhood. We evaluated these questions across three studies incorporating children from the University of California, Davis MIND Institute’s Autism Phenome Project and Girls with Autism imaging of Neurodevelopment cohorts. Autism symptoms and severity level were evaluated using the ADOS Calibrated Severity Score (CSS). Around half (46%-51%) of the children in the cohort changed in symptom severity level over time, with the other half remaining stable. Change in symptom severity was not consistent but rather fluctuated over time; severity decreases were more common during early childhood while severity increases occurred at both early and middle childhood. Most children experienced change during only one period and remained stable during the other. Social-communication challenges and restricted/repetitive behaviors (RRBs) changed differently across childhood. During middle childhood, increase in social-communication symptoms was especially prominent in parallel to RRBs severity decrease. Being female, having higher and increasing IQ, higher adaptive functioning, and having older, more educated parents were associated with decrease in symptom severity. Decreasing RRBs severity during middle childhood was associated with higher anxiety and probability for having an anxiety disorder at 11 years of age. Increasing symptom severity was associated with having lower and stable IQ, lower adaptive functioning and not making peer-equivalent gains over time, lower parental education level and younger parental age at the child’s birth. Increasing severity of social-communication challenges during middle childhood was associated with elevated and increasing anxiety, ADHD, disruptive behavior problems and overall psychopathology. Symptom severity change patterns were not associated with either initial severity level at 3-years-of-age or intervention history. We discuss findings in light of the literature and implications for defining autism severity level and suitable interventions.