1. Knaus TA, Kamps J, Foundas AL. {{Handedness in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {Percept Mot Skills};2016 (Apr);122(2):542-559.
The left hemisphere is usually predominant in manual skills and language, suggesting a link between hand dominance and language. Studies of autism spectrum disorder show atypical handedness; however, few have examined language-handedness associations. Handedness, assessed by task performance, and standardized receptive and expressive language tests were completed in 110 autism spectrum disorder children (96 boys; M age = 8.3 years, SD = 3.8) and 45 typically developing children (37 boys; M age = 8.6 years, SD = 4.3), 3 to 17 years of age. The autism spectrum disorder group had a lower handedness score (was less strongly lateralized) than the control group. In the autism spectrum disorder group, there was a small effect of handedness on language; right-handers had better language than non-right-handers. Results suggest poorer language prognosis may be associated with left- or mixed-handedness in autism spectrum disorder.
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2. Mercati O, Huguet G, Danckaert A, Andre-Leroux G, Maruani A, Bellinzoni M, Rolland T, Gouder L, Mathieu A, Buratti J, Amsellem F, Benabou M, Van-Gils J, Beggiato A, Konyukh M, Bourgeois JP, Gazzellone MJ, Yuen RK, Walker S, Delepine M, Boland A, Regnault B, Francois M, Van Den Abbeele T, Mosca-Boidron AL, Faivre L, Shimoda Y, Watanabe K, Bonneau D, Rastam M, Leboyer M, Scherer SW, Gillberg C, Delorme R, Cloez-Tayarani I, Bourgeron T. {{CNTN6 mutations are risk factors for abnormal auditory sensory perception in autism spectrum disorders}}. {Mol Psychiatry};2016 (May 10)
Contactin genes CNTN5 and CNTN6 code for neuronal cell adhesion molecules that promote neurite outgrowth in sensory-motor neuronal pathways. Mutations of CNTN5 and CNTN6 have previously been reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), but very little is known on their prevalence and clinical impact. In this study, we identified CNTN5 and CNTN6 deleterious variants in individuals with ASD. Among the carriers, a girl with ASD and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was carrying five copies of CNTN5. For CNTN6, both deletions (6/1534 ASD vs 1/8936 controls; P=0.00006) and private coding sequence variants (18/501 ASD vs 535/33480 controls; P=0.0005) were enriched in individuals with ASD. Among the rare CNTN6 variants, two deletions were transmitted by fathers diagnosed with ASD, one stop mutation CNTN6W923X was transmitted by a mother to her two sons with ASD and one variant CNTN6P770L was found de novo in a boy with ASD. Clinical investigations of the patients carrying CNTN5 or CNTN6 variants showed that they were hypersensitive to sounds (a condition called hyperacusis) and displayed changes in wave latency within the auditory pathway. These results reinforce the hypothesis of abnormal neuronal connectivity in the pathophysiology of ASD and shed new light on the genes that increase risk for abnormal sensory perception in ASD.Molecular Psychiatry advance online publication, 10 May 2016; doi:10.1038/mp.2016.61.
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3. Sirin N, Tekin-Iftar E. {{Opinions of Turkish Parents and Teachers About Safety Skills Instruction to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Preliminary Investigation}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2016 (May 11)
Safety skills instruction should be regarded as one of the important teaching areas. A descriptive study was designed to reveal the opinions of Turkish parents and teachers of children with autism spectrum disorders regarding safety skills instruction. Data were collected through interview and analyzed descriptively. Findings showed that (a) both parents and teachers were able to define safety skills, (b) they found safety skills instruction important and necessary, (c) rather than providing systematic instruction they use natural occurrences as teaching opportunities and prevention behaviors, (d) parents have never had a conversation with teachers about safety skills instruction, and (e) neither parents nor teachers have enough knowledge and experience for teaching safety skills. Implications for implementing safety training are discussed.
