Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Sigmund, E.
Autism Spectrum Disorders: early signs and their implications
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Graz Medical University; 2017. pp.
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Marschik Peter
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- Abstract:
- Abstract Background: The core features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder, are impairment in social behaviour, communication behaviour and repetitive behaviours. Experts recommend starting intervention as early as possible although ASD is commonly not diagnosed before the age of 3. Objective: We hypothesized that the ability to respond when being called might be impaired in children with ASD. Therefore our aim was to define response rates to name calls at the age of 9 to 24 months in three groups of children (i.e. children with ASD, children with Transient Autistic Behaviour ‘TAB’ or Typically Developing ‘TD’ children) in order to explore whether a failure to respond to name calling could be serve as one of the early markers for ASD. Methods: We retrospectively assessed home videos of individuals with ASD, TAB and TD children in order to observe response rates to name calls in the prodromal period of ASD. Furthermore, we established clear cut definitions of name calls and we aimed to assess the mode of response and to highlight whether age has an influence on the expected differences. Results: The results indicated that children with ASD and TAB showed a response rate of 45% each, TD children had a response rate of 64% at 9 to 12 months of age. At 13 to 18 months, children with ASD responded in 52%, TAB in 44% and TD in 30%. At 19 to 24 months the response rate was 18% for ASD, 39% for TAB; and 65% for TD children. Eye contact was the preferred mode of response. In addition, the number of calls observed in children with ASD was considerably higher compared to TD children across all ages. Conclusion: We were able to demonstrate that at the second half of the second year children with ASD and TAB reacted less frequently when called compared to TD children. Hence, the results of our study are in line with findings from previous studies and confirm that “response to name” could be part of a complex screening tool for ASD that includes behaviour and biological biomarkers.