This study examined behavioral adjustment in 22 siblings of children with autism. Mothers rated these children as having more behavior problems and fewer prosocial behaviors than a normative sample. Analysis of variables revealed that male siblings and children younger than the autistic sibling engaged in fewer prosocial behaviors. Psychological…

This study investigated associations between selected infant and maternal characteristics and autism risk in 4381 California children with autism. Increased risk factors were observed for males, multiple births, and children born to black mothers. Risk increased as maternal age and maternal education increased. Children of immigrant mothers had…

Teacher ratings on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist were collected on 666 students with mental retardation attending special classes. Classroom placement and age had significant effects on subscale scores, whereas sex failed to affect ratings. The study concludes that the original scoring method, developed for individuals in residential facilities,…

Potential individual variations in the effectiveness of facilitated communication (FC) were examined with 20 students with autism and related disorders. Use of multiple methods (including auditory or visual input, simple point responses, and typing) provided no clear support for validity of FC over students' independent communication. Increased…

A literature review of autism and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) substantiates a significant association between the two. Studies of 14 autistic probands and 13 TSC probands identified 7 TSC subjects with autism, who had more seizures and mental retardation than those without autism. More male TSC probands with autism than female were…

The matching-to-sample performances of three young adults with autism and four children (ages four to nine) without intellectual disabilities were examined in three experiments using complex sample stimuli. Results for all subjects showed that each of two redundant relevant sample elements and their respective comparison stimuli were substitutable…

This study of hyperlexia in 80 children with developmental delays found no significant differences in the frequency of hyperlexia in girls compared with boys; a significantly elevated frequency of hyperlexia in children diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) compared with children with non-PDD diagnoses; and a similar range of IQ…

Interviews with parents of 30 school-age girls with fragile X syndrome (fraX) and 31 age- and IQ-matched controls concerning autistic behaviors found that girls with fraX had significantly more autistic behaviors than controls, but incidence of autistic behaviors was not correlated with IQ. Anxiety and posterior cerebellar area measures were also…

This study compared working memory in 28 high-functioning autistic individuals (ages 7-18) with that of 30 individuals with Tourette Syndrome or typically developing. No group differences were found. Performance was significantly correlated only with age and IQ. Results suggest that working memory is not an executive function seriously impaired in…

Analysis of diagnostic questionnaires completed by Japanese parents of 141 autistic children below the age of 12 found that the Japanese peak of abnormal social behavior, including autistic symptoms as reported by parents, was from the ages of 3 to 9 years as compared with the U.S. and European peak of 3 to 6 years. (Author/DB)

Postural control was evaluated in 91 autistic, 166 normal, and 18 mentally retarded children using a computerized posturographic procedure. In comparison to normal children, the autistic subjects were less likely to exhibit age-related changes in postural performance, and postures were more variable and less stable. (Author/JDD)

This study used saccadic eye movements to assess visuospatial attention in 53 normal children (ages 8-15). Saccadic latency, the ability to suppress extraneous saccades during fixation, and the ability to inhibit task-provoked anticipatory saccades all improved with age. Developmental patterns varied by task. Analyses of age-related changes may be…

Comparison of data on all children referred for suspected autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the Australian Capital Territory in 1997 and 1989 found a 200% increase in ASD diagnoses in 1997 despite a population decrease; a wider age range in 1997; a 26% increase in milder cases; and a decrease in the ratio of boys to girls. (Contains references.)…

The Questionnaire on Resources and Stress was used to compare stress profiles of 50 mothers of children with autism, varying by cultural and geographic environment, children's ages, and children's functioning levels. A consistent profile across groups was found. Stress levels were associated with dependency, cognitive impairment, limits on family…

A Japanese translation of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale was used with 167 developmentally disabled children under age 16. Total score demonstrated a satisfactory level of taxonomic validity and discriminated infantile autism and other pervasive developmental disorders from mental retardation alone. A satisfactory concurrent validity on the…