TY - JOUR
T1 - Do autistic symptoms persist across time? Evidence of substantial change in symptomatology over a 3-year period in cognitively able children with Autism
AU - Pellicano, Elizabeth
PY - 2012/3
Y1 - 2012/3
N2 - This study investigated the extent and nature of changes in symptomatology in cognitively able children with autism over a 3-year period. Thirty-seven children diagnosed with an autism spectrum condition involved in an earlier study (M age 5 5 years, 7 months) were followed and reassessed 3 years later (M age 5 8 years, 4 months). Scores on the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ; M. Rutter, A. Bailey, & C. Lord, 2003) decreased significantly over time in all symptom domains but especially in the social domain, and correlational findings suggested the presence of 2 distinct developmental trajectories- social communication and repetitive behaviors-that interact across time. Furthermore, 7 children (19% of sample) made substantial changes to the extent that they failed to meet criteria on diagnostic instruments (the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic [ADOS-G; C. Lord, M. Rutter, P. C. DiLavore, & S. Risi, 1999] and the SCQ) 3 years later. Children showing diagnostic discontinuity were distinguishable from those who fulfilled ADOS-G criteria only in terms of the age at which they began receiving intervention. The presence of a significant proportion of children showing considerable progress over the 3-year period challenges assumptions of diagnostic continuity and highlights the potential long-term benefits of early intervention.
AB - This study investigated the extent and nature of changes in symptomatology in cognitively able children with autism over a 3-year period. Thirty-seven children diagnosed with an autism spectrum condition involved in an earlier study (M age 5 5 years, 7 months) were followed and reassessed 3 years later (M age 5 8 years, 4 months). Scores on the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ; M. Rutter, A. Bailey, & C. Lord, 2003) decreased significantly over time in all symptom domains but especially in the social domain, and correlational findings suggested the presence of 2 distinct developmental trajectories- social communication and repetitive behaviors-that interact across time. Furthermore, 7 children (19% of sample) made substantial changes to the extent that they failed to meet criteria on diagnostic instruments (the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic [ADOS-G; C. Lord, M. Rutter, P. C. DiLavore, & S. Risi, 1999] and the SCQ) 3 years later. Children showing diagnostic discontinuity were distinguishable from those who fulfilled ADOS-G criteria only in terms of the age at which they began receiving intervention. The presence of a significant proportion of children showing considerable progress over the 3-year period challenges assumptions of diagnostic continuity and highlights the potential long-term benefits of early intervention.
KW - autism
KW - longitudinal
KW - symptoms
KW - outcome
KW - development
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84860256917&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1352/1944-7558-117.2.156
DO - 10.1352/1944-7558-117.2.156
M3 - Article
C2 - 22515829
AN - SCOPUS:84860256917
VL - 117
SP - 156
EP - 166
JO - American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
JF - American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
SN - 1944-7515
IS - 2
ER -