1. Bang P, Igelström K. Modality-specific associations between sensory differences and autistic traits. Autism;2023 (Feb 19):13623613231154349.

Sensory symptoms are a major source of distress for many autistic people, causing anxiety, stress, and avoidance. Sensory problems are thought to be passed on genetically together with other autistic characteristics, such as social preferences. This means that people who report cognitive rigidity and autistic-like social function are more likely to suffer from sensory issues. We do not know what role the individual senses, such as vision, hearing, smell, or touch, play in this relationship, because sensory processing is generally measured with questionnaires that target general, multisensory issues. This study aimed to investigate the individual importance of the different senses (vision, hearing, touch, smell, taste, balance, and proprioception) in the correlation with autistic traits. To ensure the results were replicable, we repeated the experiment in two large groups of adults. The first group contained 40% autistic participants, whereas the second group resembled the general population. We found that problems with auditory processing were more strongly predictive of general autistic characteristics than were problems with the other senses. Problems with touch were specifically related to differences in social interaction, such as avoiding social settings. We also found a specific relationship between proprioceptive differences and autistic-like communication preferences. The sensory questionnaire had limited reliability, so our results may underestimate the contribution of some senses. With that reservation in mind, we conclude that auditory differences are dominant over other modalities in predicting genetically based autistic traits and may therefore be of special interest for further genetic and neurobiological studies.

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2. Cao X, Cao J. Commentary: Machine learning for autism spectrum disorder diagnosis – challenges and opportunities – a commentary on Schulte-Rüther et al. (2022). J Child Psychol Psychiatry;2023 (Feb 19)

The commentary cites a study by Schulte-Rüther et al. (Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2022) that proposed a machine learning model to predict a clinical best-estimate diagnosis of ASD when existing other co-occurring diagnoses. We discuss the valuable contribution of this work to developing a reliable computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) system for ASD and point out that related research can be integrated with other multimodal machine learning methods. For future studies on developing the CAD system for ASD, we propose problems that need to be solved and potential research directions.

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3. Darazsdi Z, Bialka CS. « Oh, you couldn’t be autistic »: Examining anti-autistic bias and self-esteem in the therapeutic alliance. Autism;2023 (Feb 19):13623613231154622.

Many mental health practitioners in the United States are trained to cure or change autistic people. Some of these mental health practitioners may show anti-autistic bias when working with autistic clients. Anti-autistic bias is any kind of bias that degrades, devalues, or others autistic people or autistic traits. Anti-autistic bias is especially problematic when mental health practitioners and clients are engaged in the therapeutic alliance, which is the collaborative relationship between a therapist and client. The therapeutic alliance is one of most important parts of an effective therapeutic relationship. Our interview-based study examined 14 autistic adults’ experiences with anti-autistic bias in the therapeutic alliance and the relationship they felt it has on their self-esteem. Results from this research showed that some mental health practitioners expressed hidden and unrealized bias when working with autistic clients, such as making assumptions about what it means to be autistic. Results also showed that some mental health practitioners were intentionally biased and openly harmful to their autistic clients. Both forms of bias negatively affected participant self-esteem. Based on the findings of this study, we offer recommendations to help mental health practitioners and mental health practitioner training programs better serve autistic clients. This study addresses a significant gap in current research on anti-autistic bias in the mental health field and the overall well-being of autistic individuals.

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4. Emerson LM, Pellicano E, Monk R, Lim M, Heaton J, McLay L. A portfolio analysis of autism research funding in Aotearoa New Zealand 2007-2021. Autism;2023 (Feb 19):13623613231155954.

We aimed to document the areas of autism research that have previously been funded in Aotearoa New Zealand. We searched for research grants awarded to autism research in Aotearoa New Zealand between 2007 and 2021. We compared the funding distribution in Aotearoa New Zealand to other countries. We asked people from the autistic community and broader autism community whether they were satisfied with this funding pattern, and whether it aligned with what is important to them and to autistic people. We found that the majority of funding for autism research was awarded to biology research (67%). Members of the autistic and autism communities were dissatisfied with the funding distribution, and expressed a lack of alignment with what is important to them. People from the community indicated that the funding distribution did not address the priorities of autistic people, and that it indicated a lack of engagement with autistic people. Autism research funding needs to reflect the priorities of the autistic and autism communities. Autistic people need to be included in autism research and related funding decisions.

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5. Friedman C. Ableism, racism, and the quality of life of Black, Indigenous, people of colour with intellectual and developmental disabilities. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil;2023 (Feb 19)

BACKGROUND: Research indicates Black, Indigenous, people of colour (BIPOC) with intellectual and developmental disabilities face disparities in quality of life outcomes. This study’s aim was to examine how ableism and racism impacted the quality of life of BIPOC with intellectual and developmental disabilities. METHODS: Using a multilevel linear regression, we analysed secondary quality of life outcome data from Personal Outcome Measures® interviews with 1393 BIPOC with intellectual and developmental disabilities and implicit ableism and racism data from the 128 regions of the United States in which they lived (discrimination data came from 7.4 million people). RESULTS: When BIPOC with intellectual and developmental disabilities lived in regions of the United States which were more ableist and racist, they had a lower quality of life, regardless of their demographics. CONCLUSION: Ableism and racism are a direct threat to BIPOC with intellectual and developmental disabilities’ health, wellbeing, and overall quality of life.

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6. Horiuchi S, Nomura O, Curry L, Kushima M, Arnold L, Yamagata Z. « Caregivers’ awareness matters »: Call for a child-centered approach to early detection of autism spectrum disorder through well-child visits in Japan. Child Care Health Dev;2023 (Feb 19)

BACKGROUND: Early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is essential to provide children with timely treatment and support. Evidence-based screening measures make it possible to identify children with suspected ASD at an early stage. While Japan has a universal health care system that covers well-child visits, detection rates of developmental disorders, including ASD, at 18 months vary widely between municipalities (0.2% to 48.0%). The reasons for this high level of variation are poorly understood. The present study aims to describe the barriers and facilitators of incorporating ASD identification during well-child visits in Japan. METHODS: This is a qualitative study that conducts semi-structured in-depth interviews in two municipalities of Yamanashi prefecture. We recruited all public health nurses (n = 17) and pediatricians (n = 11) involved in the well-child visit in each municipality and caregivers of children who also participated in the visits during the study period (n = 21). RESULTS: We identified four themes characterizing the process of ASD identification in the target municipalities: (1) Identification of children with ASD is driven by caregivers’ sense of concern, acceptance, and awareness; (2) Multidisciplinary cooperation and shared decision-making is limited; (3) Skills and training for developmental disabilities screening are underdeveloped, (4) Caregivers’ expectations shape the interaction in important ways. CONCLUSIONS: Non-standardization of screening methods, limited knowledge and skills on screening and child development among healthcare providers, and poor coordination among healthcare providers and caregivers are the main barriers to effective early detection of ASD through well-child visits. The findings suggest the importance of promoting a child-centered care approach through the application of evidence-based screening measures and effective information sharing.

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7. Howard J, Herold B, Major S, Leahy C, Ramseur K, 2nd, Franz L, Deaver M, Vermeer S, Carpenter KL, Murias M, Huang WA, Dawson G. Associations between executive function and attention abilities and language and social communication skills in young autistic children. Autism;2023 (Feb 19):13623613231154310.

Executive functioning describes a set of cognitive processes that affect thinking and behavior. Past research has shown that autistic individuals often have delays in the acquisition of executive function abilities. Our study explored how differences in executive function and attention abilities relate to social abilities and communication/language in 180 young autistic children. Data were gathered via caregiver report (questionnaires/interviews) and an assessment of vocabulary skills. The ability to sustain attention to a dynamic video was measured via eye tracking. We found that children with higher levels of executive function skills demonstrated lower levels of social pragmatic problems, a measure of having difficulties in social contexts. Furthermore, children who were able to sustain their attention longer to the video displayed higher levels of expressive language. Our results emphasize the importance of executive function and attention skills across multiple areas of functioning in autistic children, in particular those that involve language and social communication.

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8. Imre Yetkin D, Sizer E, Tolu Gökhaner Y, Büyükdemirci E, Atlı A. Assessment of Sonographic Carotid Parameters in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comparative Case Control Study. Dev Neurorehabil;2023 (Feb 19):1-8.

OBJECTIVE: To compare carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), systolic and diastolic diameters (D), intima-media thickness/diameter ratio (IDR) values in children with ASD, and control groups, and to analyze the correlation of these parameters with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores. METHODS: This prospective case-control study included 37 children diagnosed with ASD and 38 individuals without ASD in the control group. Correlation assessments of sonographic measurements with CARS scores in the ASD group were also performed. RESULTS: Diastolic diameters of the right (median of ASD group:5.5 mm, control group:5.1 mm) and left (median of ASD group: 5.5 mm, in control group: 5.1 mm) side were higher in the ASD group (p = .015 and p = .032 respectively). A statistically significant correlation was detected between CARS score and left cIMT, right cIMT, right cIMT/systolic D, right cIMT/diastolic D, left cIMT/systolic D, and left cIMT/diastolic D (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Vascular diameters, cIMT, and IDR values of children with ASD positively correlated with CARS scores, and these findings could be interpreted as a marker of early atherosclerosis in children with ASD.

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9. Jones SC, Gordon CS, Mizzi S. Representation of autism in fictional media: A systematic review of media content and its impact on viewer knowledge and understanding of autism. Autism;2023 (Feb 19):13623613231155770.

The way autism is represented in fictional media can impact people’s views of autistic people. For example, representations may contribute to negative views of autistic people as being unusual or dangerous, or they may challenge stereotypes and instead highlight the strengths of autistic people. This work aimed to review previous research to understand how autistic people have been represented in fictional media (Part A). It also sought to understand whether viewing fictional portrayals of autism has an impact on people’s knowledge of autism and attitudes towards autistic people (Part B). Of 14 studies that were included in Part A, several unhelpful and stereotypical portrayals of autism emerged. Positive portrayals were those that highlighted the strengths of autistic people and reflected nuance. There is a need for greater diversity in representation of autism in fictional media. For example, not all autistic people are white heterosexual males. Across the five studies included in Part B, there were no improvements in people’s knowledge of autism after watching or reading a short segment from a fictional TV series or novel that depicts an autistic person. Although there was a significant improvement in people’s attitudes towards autistic people, these findings do not provide a complete picture given the short length of the media exposure and small number of studies. Future studies should investigate how multiple exposures to the representation of autistic people in both fictional and non-fictional sources can affect people’s understanding of autism. There is also a need to develop more accurate and respectful ways of measuring people’s knowledge of, and attitudes towards, autism.

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10. Zhang B, Hu Y, Kong Q, Feng P, Liu J, Ma J. Comparison of Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion Combined with Posterior Decompression (OLIF-PD) and Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) in the Treatment of Adjacent Segmental Disease(ASD). J Pers Med;2023 (Feb 19);13(2)

BACKGROUND: An unintended consequence following lumbar fusion is the development of adjacent segment disease (ASD). Oblique lumbar interbody fusion combined with posterior decompression (OLIF-PD) is another feasible option for ASD, and there is no literature report on this combined surgical strategy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 18 ASD patients requiring direct decompression in our hospital between September 2017 and January 2022. Among them, eight patients underwent OLIF-PD revision and ten underwent PLIF revision. There were no significant differences in the baseline data between the two groups. The clinical outcomes and complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The operation time, operative blood loss and postoperative hospital stay in the OLIF-PD group were significantly lower than those in the PLIF group. The VAS of low back pain in the OLIF-PD group was significantly better than that in the PLIF group during the postoperative follow-up. The ODI at the last follow-up in the OLIF-PD group and the PLIF group were significantly relieved compared with those before operation. The excellent and good rate of the modified MacNab standard at the last follow-up was 87.5% in the OLIF-PD group and 70% in the PLIF group. There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups. CONCLUSION: For ASD requiring direct decompression after posterior lumbar fusion, compared with traditional PLIF revision surgery, OLIF-PD has a similar clinical effect, but has a reduced operation time, blood loss, hospital stay and complications. OLIF-PD may be an alternative revision strategy for ASD.

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