1. Albores-Gallo L, Fritsche-Garcia L, Miranda-Aguirre AP, Avila-Acosta M. {{Brief Report: Macrocephaly Phenotype and Psychiatric Comorbidity in a Clinical Sample of Mexican Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2017.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may present with macrocephaly. Few studies have analyzed the association with psychiatric comorbidity. Participants were 94 children with any ASD with an age range from 2 to 16 years (Mdn 6 years), 82% were boys. It was found that 20% of the sample had macrocephaly and 1% microcephaly. There was no association between the presence of macrocephaly and subtype of ASD. The most associated comorbidity was attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 54.2%, followed by specific phobia 34%, dysthimia 29.7%, oppositional defiant disorder 13.83% motor tics 11.7%, separation anxiety 9.5% and Gilles de la Tourette 8.5%. In conclusion, macrocephaly and psychiatric comorbidity in this clinical sample of children with ASD is similar to the international literature results.
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2. Baeyens D, Moniquet A, Danckaerts M, van der Oord S. {{[A comparative study of the structural stigmatisation of ADHD and autism spectrum disorder in Flemish newspapers]}}. {Tijdschr Psychiatr}. 2017; 59(5): 269-77.
BACKGROUND: Children and adults with adhd and autism spectrum disorder (asd) often find themselves being stigmatised. There is ample evidence of public stigma, but much less is known about negative coverage in the media, a phenomenon that can be regarded as a form of structural stigma.
AIM: To explore the different types of structural stigma that characterise the coverage of adhd and asd in Flemish newspapers.
METHOD: We used the online databases of seven Flemish newspapers in order to select articles on adhd (n=772) and asd (n=1940) published between 2010 and 2014. We divided these articles into separate categories relating to the domain of coverage (e.g. symptomatology, epidemiology, medical treatment) and valence (i.e. positive, neutral and negative).
RESULTS: We found significantly more negative than neutral/positive coverage of adhd than of asd (or 2.1). This finding was most striking in the domains of symptomatology (or 8.42), diagnostics (or 2.28) and medical treatment (or 9.40). Furthermore, with respect to articles specifically on adhd, the title of the article was significantly more negative than the actual message in the main article itself (chi2(2)=22.454, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: These findings show that Flemish newspapers need to adjust and correct their negative and inaccurate portrayal of symptomatology, diagnostics and treatment of adhd and, to a lesser extent, of asd. Readers of these newspapers also need to be given a less negative impression of adhd and asd.
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3. Bang M, Lee SH, Cho SH, Yu SA, Kim K, Lu HY, Chang GT, Min SY. {{Herbal Medicine Treatment for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review}}. {Evid Based Complement Alternat Med}. 2017; 2017: 8614680.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize and evaluate the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines used for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. METHODS: Thirteen electronic databases were searched from their inception to November 2016. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the efficacy of herbal medicines alone or in combination with other Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments for ASD in children were included. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used and other data analyses were performed using RevMan (Version 5.3). RESULTS: Ten RCTs involving 567 patients with ASD were included for qualitative synthesis. In conjunction with conventional therapy, herbal medicines significantly improved the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) score, but the results of effects on total effective rate (TER) were different between the included studies. The use of herbal medicines with integrative therapy improved the CARS score and TER. In the studies that documented adverse events, no serious events were associated with herbal medicines. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of herbal medicines for the treatment of ASD appears to be encouraging but was inconclusive owing to low methodological quality, herbal medicine diversity, and small sample size of the examined studies.
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4. Brenner J, Pan Z, Mazefsky C, Smith KA, Gabriels R. {{Behavioral Symptoms of Reported Abuse in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Inpatient Settings}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2017.
The objective of this study was to examine how behavioral manifestations of trauma due to abuse are expressed in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) compared outcomes between patients with a caregiver reported history of abuse and those without. Findings indicate that patients with ASD and reported abuse (i.e. physical, sexual, and/or emotional) have more intrusive thoughts, distressing memories, loss of interest, irritability, and lethargy than those without reported maltreatment. Those with clinical diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had more severe and externalized symptoms than those with reported abuse not diagnosed with PTSD. Results emphasize the need for trauma screening measures to guide evidence-based treatments for children with ASD.
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5. Campbell SB, Moore EL, Northrup J, Brownell CA. {{Developmental Changes in Empathic Concern and Self-Understanding in Toddlers at Genetic Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2017.
Toddlers with an older sibling with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and low risk (LR) toddlers were observed at 22, 28, and 34 months during two empathy probes: a crying baby and an adult who pretended to hurt her finger. Toddlers with a later ASD diagnosis showed less empathic concern and self-distress at each age on both empathy probes than LR toddlers. HR toddlers with no diagnosis showed growth in empathic concern between 22 and 34 months in response to the adult’s pain, differing from the children with ASD, but not the LR children, by 34 months. Developmental changes in parent-rated self-understanding showed a similar pattern. Results highlight individual differences in the social development of HR toddlers.
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6. Cortelazzo A, De Felice C, De Filippis B, Ricceri L, Laviola G, Leoncini S, Signorini C, Pescaglini M, Guerranti R, Timperio AM, Zolla L, Ciccoli L, Hayek J. {{Persistent Unresolved Inflammation in the Mecp2-308 Female Mutated Mouse Model of Rett Syndrome}}. {Mediators Inflamm}. 2017; 2017: 9467819.
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder usually caused by mutations in the X-linked gene methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). Several Mecp2 mutant mouse lines have been developed recapitulating part of the clinical features. In particular, Mecp2-308 female heterozygous mice, bearing a truncating mutation, are a validated model of the disease. While recent data suggest a role for inflammation in RTT, little information on the inflammatory status in murine models of the disease is available. Here, we investigated the inflammatory status by proteomic 2-DE/MALDI-ToF/ToF analyses in symptomatic Mecp2-308 female mice. Ten differentially expressed proteins were evidenced in the Mecp2-308 mutated plasma proteome. In particular, 5 positive acute-phase response (APR) proteins increased (i.e., kininogen-1, alpha-fetoprotein, mannose-binding protein C, alpha-1-antitrypsin, and alpha-2-macroglobulin), and 3 negative APR reactants were decreased (i.e., serotransferrin, albumin, and apolipoprotein A1). CD5 antigen-like and vitamin D-binding protein, two proteins strictly related to inflammation, were also changed. These results indicate for the first time a persistent unresolved inflammation of unknown origin in the Mecp2-308 mouse model.
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7. Curioni A, Minio-Paluello I, Sacheli LM, Candidi M, Aglioti SM. {{Autistic traits affect interpersonal motor coordination by modulating strategic use of role-based behavior}}. {Mol Autism}. 2017; 8: 23.
BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that deficits in social communication and interaction are at the core of Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC), no study has yet tested individuals on a continuum from neurotypical development to autism in an on-line, cooperative, joint action task. In our study, we aimed to assess whether the degree of autistic traits affects participants’ ability to modulate their motor behavior while interacting in a Joint Grasping task and according to their given role. METHODS: Sixteen pairs of adult participants played a cooperative social interactive game in which they had to synchronize their reach-to-grasp movements. Pairs were comprised of one ASC and one neurotypical with no cognitive disability. In alternate experimental blocks, one participant knew what action to perform (instructed role) while the other had to infer it from his/her partner’s action (adaptive role). When in the adaptive condition, participants were told to respond with an action that was either opposite or similar to their partner. Participants also played a non-social control game in which they had to synchronize with a non-biological stimulus. RESULTS: In the social interactive task, higher degree of autistic traits predicted less ability to modulate joint action according to one’s interactive role. In the non-social task, autistic traits did not predict differences in movement preparation and planning, thus ruling out the possibility that social interactive task results were due to basic motor or executive function difficulties. Furthermore, when participants played the non-social game, the higher their autistic traits, the more they were interfered by the non-biological stimulus. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows for the first time that high autistic traits predict a stereotypical interaction style when individuals are required to modulate their movements in order to coordinate with their partner according to their role in a joint action task. Specifically, the infrequent emergence of role-based motor behavior modulation during on-line motor cooperation in participants with high autistic traits sheds light on the numerous difficulties ASC have in nonverbal social interactions.
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8. Dewinter J, De Graaf H, Begeer S. {{Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Romantic Relationships in Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2017.
This study compared sexual orientation and romantic relationship experience in a large sample of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (n = 675) and general population peers (n = 8064). Gender identity was explored in the ASD group in relation to assigned gender at birth. Compared to general population peers, more people with ASD, especially women, reported sexual attraction to both same- and opposite-sex partners. About half of the participants with ASD was in a relationship (heterosexual in most cases) and most of them lived with their partner. A notable number of autistic participants, again more women than men, reported gender non-conforming feelings. Attention to gender identity and sexual diversity in education and clinical work with people with ASD is advised.
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9. Dillenburger K, Jordan JA, McKerr L, Lloyd K, Schubotz D. {{Autism awareness in children and young people: surveys of two populations}}. {J Intellect Disabil Res}. 2017.
BACKGROUND: Increasingly, pupils on the autism spectrum are educated in inclusive mainstream classrooms. However, they often experience social isolation and bullying, and raising the awareness of autism in peers has been suggested as a remedy. METHODS: In order to assess autism awareness in peers, autism-related questions were included in two large-scale surveys: the Kids Life and Times survey for 11-year olds and the Young Life and Times survey for 16-year olds; a total of n = 3353 children and young people completed the surveys. RESULTS: Autism awareness was higher for the teenagers (80%) than for the younger children (50%). Many of the children knew someone with autism (50%) and generally reported positive and supportive attitudes. Self-reported prevalence of autism was 3.1% for teenagers and 2.7% for the younger children. Peers recognised bullying as a problem and were willing to help. CONCLUSIONS: Children and young people have good levels of awareness and knowledge about autism and reported positive attitudes towards peers with autism and are willing to help those who are bullied. A higher than expected number of children and young people self-reported being on the autism spectrum. These findings bode well for peer-mediated support strategies for inclusive education.
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10. Dykens EM, Roof E, Hunt-Hawkins H, Dankner N, Lee EB, Shivers CM, Daniell C, Kim SJ. {{Diagnoses and characteristics of autism spectrum disorders in children with Prader-Willi syndrome}}. {J Neurodev Disord}. 2017; 9: 18.
BACKGROUND: A small percentage of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have alterations in chromosome 15q11.2-q3, the critical region for Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Data are limited, however, on the rates and characteristics of ASD in PWS. Previous estimates of ASD in PWS (25 to 41%) are questionable as they are based solely on autism screeners given to parents. Inaccurate diagnoses of ASD in PWS can mislead intervention and future research. METHODS: One hundred forty-six children and youth with PWS aged 4 to 21 years (M = 11) were assessed with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2). An expert clinical team-made best-estimate ASD diagnoses based on ADOS-2 videotapes, calibrated severity scores, and children’s developmental histories and indices of current functioning. Children were also administered the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test-2, and parents completed the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Scores were compared across children with PWS + ASD versus PWS only. The performance of an ASD screener, the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) and the ADOS-2 were evaluated in relation to best-estimate diagnoses. RESULTS: Best-estimate diagnoses of ASD were made in 18 children, or 12.3% of the sample, and the majority of them had the maternal uniparental disomy (mUPD) PWS genetic subtype. Compared to the PWS-only group, children with PWS + ASD had lower verbal and composite IQ’s and adaptive daily living and socialization skills, as well as elevated stereotypies and restricted interests. Regardless of ASD status, compulsivity and insistence on sameness in routines or events were seen in 76-100% of children and were robustly correlated with lower adaptive functioning. The SCQ yielded a 29-49% chance that screen-positive cases will indeed have ASD. The ADOS-2 had higher sensitivity, specificity and predictive values. Communication problems were seen in children who were ADOS-2 positive but deemed not to have ASD by the clinical team. CONCLUSIONS: Autism screeners should not be the sole index of probable ASD in PWS; children need to be directly observed and evaluated. Compulsivity and insistence on sameness are salient in PWS and likely impede adaptive functioning. Most children with PWS only evidenced sub-threshold problems in social interactions that could signal risks for other psychopathologies.
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11. Franchini M, Glaser B, Wood de Wilde H, Gentaz E, Eliez S, Schaer M. {{Social orienting and joint attention in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders}}. {PLoS One}. 2017; 12(6): e0178859.
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) orient less to socially salient stimuli, such as dynamic social images, than typically developing children. In turn, this lack of social orienting is thought to impair affected individuals’ socio communicative development. Here, we aim to explore the relationship between time spent on dynamic social images and ASD behaviors, such as joint attention and communication, in preschoolers on the autism spectrum. In this study, social orienting is measured using eye-tracking during a task consisting of side-by-side presentations of dynamic social images and dynamic geometric images. The side of the screen where each type of video was presented alternated between items to avoid visual perseveration from influencing the location of participants’ first fixations. Visual exploration patterns recorded during the task from 33 preschoolers with ASD were compared with those of 27 typical developing (TD) children. Additionally, we quantified joint attention behaviors and used standardized parent reports to measure communication. We observed reduced orienting to dynamic social images in preschoolers with ASD compared to TD children. Also, ASD participants went to the dynamic social images less frequently for their first fixations. However, we observed great heterogeneity within the ASD group. ASD preschoolers who spent more time on the dynamic social images also presented more pronounced visual engagement with the dynamic social images (longer mean fixation duration and fewer saccades per second). Moreover, in the ASD group, more time spent on dynamic social images correlated with increased frequency of joint attention behaviors, which in turn correlated with improved communication skills. Our results support reduced social orienting in children with ASD, which correlated with their visual exploration patterns. Further, reduced orienting to the social world in young children with ASD is related to socio communicative deficits and should, therefore, be a focus of intervention programs as early as possible.
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12. Hadjikhani N, Asberg Johnels J, Zurcher NR, Lassalle A, Guillon Q, Hippolyte L, Billstedt E, Ward N, Lemonnier E, Gillberg C. {{Look me in the eyes: constraining gaze in the eye-region provokes abnormally high subcortical activation in autism}}. {Sci Rep}. 2017; 7(1): 3163.
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) seem to have difficulties looking others in the eyes, but the substrate for this behavior is not well understood. The subcortical pathway, which consists of superior colliculus, pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus, and amygdala, enables rapid and automatic face processing. A specific component of this pathway – i.e., the amygdala – has been shown to be abnormally activated in paradigms where individuals had to specifically attend to the eye-region; however, a direct examination of the effect of manipulating the gaze to the eye-regions on all the components of the subcortical system altogether has never been performed. The subcortical system is particularly important as it shapes the functional specialization of the face-processing cortex during development. Using functional MRI, we investigated the effect of constraining gaze in the eye-region during dynamic emotional face perception in groups of participants with ASD and typical controls. We computed differences in activation in the subcortical face processing system (superior colliculus, pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus and amygdala) for the same stimuli seen freely or with the gaze constrained in the eye-region. Our results show that when constrained to look in the eyes, individuals with ASD show abnormally high activation in the subcortical system, which may be at the basis of their eye avoidance in daily life.
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13. Jozefczuk J, Kasprzycka W, Czarnecki R, Graczyk A, Jozefczuk P, Magda K, Lampart U. {{Homocysteine as a Diagnostic and Etiopathogenic Factor in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Med Food}. 2017.
Substantial characteristics of autism are cognitive and psychophysical disorders. Etiopathogenetic factors are thought to be responsible for development of autism in children with genetic predisposition as well as have their effect on the severity of the disorders. The main problem of early identification of patients affected by autism spectrum disorder is that there are no clear diagnostic criteria. The aim of our study was assessment of hair magnesium and serum homocysteine concentrations in children with autism. The presented work is a continuation of previous study in which we investigated the influence of disturbances in magnesium and homocysteine levels in children with autism, performed on a new, larger group of patients. One hundred and forty children had hair magnesium levels analyzed, as well as blood serum levels of homocysteine and magnesium. Hair magnesium analysis was performed using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer, blood serum homocysteine determination was performed using a radioimmunological method, and blood serum magnesium level was determined using a biochemical method. Our research showed normal magnesium blood levels and significantly high homocysteine levels and very low hair magnesium levels, low concentration of hair magnesium progresses with age. Our hypothesis is that magnesium deficiency, as a relevant epigenetic factor, might be decreasing methylation of homocysteine, therefore decreasing genome transcription and lowering the synaptic plasticity. We suggest that analysis of hair magnesium and serum homocysteine levels might be useful in identification of children with autism spectrum disorder, as well as control of its treatment. Obtained results and performed analysis might therefore justify supplementation of magnesium among children with autism.
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14. Lopata C, Rodgers JD, Donnelly JP, Thomeer ML, McDonald CA, Volker MA. {{Psychometric Properties of the Adapted Skillstreaming Checklist for High-functioning Children with ASD}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2017.
This study examined the reliability and criterion-related validity of parent ratings on the Adapted Skillstreaming Checklist (ASC) for a sample of 275 high-functioning children, ages 6-12 years, with ASD. Internal consistency for the total sample was 0.92. For two subsamples, test-retest reliability was very good at the 6-week and good at the 9-month intervals. Child age, IQ, and language abilities were unrelated to the ASC score. The ASC total score was inversely and strongly related to parent ratings of ASD symptom severity. Significant positive correlations (moderate-to-high) were found between the ASC and prosocial skills scales and significant negative correlations (low-to-moderate) with problem behavior scales on a broad measure of child functioning. Implications and suggestions for future study are discussed.
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15. Pino MC, Mazza M, Mariano M, Peretti S, Dimitriou D, Masedu F, Valenti M, Franco F. {{Simple Mindreading Abilities Predict Complex Theory of Mind: Developmental Delay in Autism Spectrum Disorders}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2017.
Theory of mind (ToM) is impaired in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The aims of this study were to: (i) examine the developmental trajectories of ToM abilities in two different mentalizing tasks in children with ASD compared to TD children; and (ii) to assess if a ToM simple test known as eyes-test could predict performance on the more advanced ToM task, i.e. comic strip test. Based on a sample of 37 children with ASD and 55 TD children, our results revealed slower development at varying rates in all ToM measures in children with ASD, with delayed onset compared to TD children. These results could stimulate new treatments for social abilities, which would lessen the social deficit in ASD.
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16. Postorino V, Sharp WG, McCracken CE, Bearss K, Burrell TL, Evans AN, Scahill L. {{A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Parent Training for Disruptive Behavior in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev}. 2017.
Parent training (PT) has emerged as a promising treatment for disruptive behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This review summarizes the essential elements of PT for disruptive behavior in children with ASD and evaluates the available evidence for PT using both descriptive and meta-analytic procedures. We searched Medline, PsycINFO, and PubMed databases (1980-2016) in peer-reviewed journals for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of PT for disruptive behavior in children with ASD. The systematic search of 2023 publications yielded eight RCTs involving a total of 653 participants. We calculated effect sizes using either raw post-treatment means and standard deviations for each treatment group (PT and control) or group mean differences with associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Differences in post-treatment means were converted to a standardized difference in means (SMD) for each primary outcome. Results support the efficacy of PT for disruptive behavior in children with ASD, with a SMD of -0.59 [95% CI (-0.88, -0.30); p < 0.001]. Across these eight studies, there was significant heterogeneity in the effect of PT on disruptive behavior. This variability is likely due to differences in sample size, number of treatment sessions, study duration, and control condition employed. Current findings provide solid support for the efficacy of PT for disruptive behavior in children with ASD. Future studies should focus on effectiveness trials to promote wider implementation of PT in clinical settings. Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
17. Schiltz H, McIntyre N, Swain-Lerro L, Zajic M, Mundy P. {{The Stability of Self-Reported Anxiety in Youth with Autism Versus ADHD or Typical Development}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2017.
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at risk for anxiety symptoms. Few anxiety measures are validated for individuals with ASD, and the nature of ASD raises questions about reliability of self-reported anxiety. This study examined longitudinal stability and change of self-reported anxiety in higher functioning youth with ASD (HFASD) compared to youth with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and typical development (TD) using the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (March, 2012; March et al. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 36(4):554-565, 1997). Diagnostic groups demonstrated comparable evidence of stability for most dimensions of anxiety. The HFASD group displayed higher anxiety than both comparison groups, especially physical symptoms. These findings have implications for identification and measurement of anxiety in ASD.
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18. Sim A, Vaz S, Cordier R, Joosten A, Parsons D, Smith C, Falkmer T. {{Factors associated with stress in families of children with autism spectrum disorder}}. {Dev Neurorehabil}. 2017: 1-11.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify key factors associated with severe stress in families raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: Questionnaires were mailed to families with one or more children with a diagnosis of ASD. Data from 543 surveys were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Forty-four percent (n = 241) of the caregivers reported severe family stress related to raising a child with ASD. Severe family stress was associated with (1) reduced ability to socialize; (2) not having accessed individual therapy; (3) negative co-parent relationships; and (4) high out of pockets costs due to the child’s ASD. The specific ASD diagnosis, comorbid conditions, socio-demographic variables, and social support were not associated with severe family stress. CONCLUSION: The findings of the current study highlight the importance of a systemic approach to family stress, whereby individual, family, and ecological factors are investigated.
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19. Wilson US, Sadler KM, Hancock KE, Guinan JJ, Jr., Lichtenhan JT. {{Efferent inhibition strength is a Physiological Correlate of Hyperacusis in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Neurophysiol}. 2017: jn 00142 2017.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that is poorly understood. ASD can influence communication, social interaction, and behavior. Children with ASD often have sensory hypersensitivities, including auditory hypersensitivity (hyperacusis). In adults with hyperacusis who are otherwise neurotypical, the medial olivocochlear (MOC) efferent reflex is stronger than usual. In children with ASD the MOC reflex has been measured, but without also assessing hyperacusis. We assessed the MOC reflex in children with ASD by measuring the strength of MOC-induced inhibition of transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs), a non-invasive, physiological measure that reflects cochlear amplification. MOC activity was evoked by contralateral noise. Hyperacusis was assessed subjectively based on the children’s symptoms. We found a strong correlation between hyperacusis scores and MOC strength in children with ASD. When children were divided into ASD-with-severe-hyperacusis (ASDs), ASD-with-not-severe-hyperacusis (ASDns) and neurotypical (NT) groups, the last two groups had similar hyperacusis and MOC reflexes while the ASDs group, on average, had hyperacusis and MOC reflexes that were approximately twice as strong. The MOC inhibition of TEOAEs averaged larger at all frequencies in the ASDs compared to ASDns and NT groups. The results suggest that the MOC reflex can be used to estimate hyperacusis in children with ASD and might be used to validate future questionnaires to assess hyperacusis. Our results also provide evidence that strong MOC reflexes in children with ASD are associated with hyperacusis and that hyperacusis is a comorbid condition as opposed to being an integral part of the abnormal neural processing associated with ASD.
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20. Zantinge G, van Rijn S, Stockmann L, Swaab H. {{Physiological Arousal and Emotion Regulation Strategies in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2017.
This study aimed to assess physiological arousal and behavioral regulation of emotion in the context of frustration in 29 children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and 45 typically developing children (41-81 months). Heart rate was continuously measured and emotion strategies were coded, during a locked-box task. Results revealed increases in arousal followed by a decline during recovery, significant for both groups indicating that heart rate patterns between groups were identical. The ASD group deployed less constructive and more venting and avoidance strategies, which was related to language impairments. We conclude that rather than abnormal levels of emotional arousal, a key impairment in young children with ASD may be difficulties in behaviorally regulating and expressing experienced emotions to others.
