Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research at Telethon Kids and University of Western Australia; Director, CliniKids
PhD
Andrew Whitehouse is the Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research at the Telethon Kids Institute and Professor of Autism Research at The University of Western Australia. He is also Director of CliniKids, Research Strategy Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC) and Adjunct Professor at Curtin University and Edith Cowan University. Andrew is the current President of the Australasian Society for Autism Research.
At the Telethon Kids Institute he leads a large team of clinicians and researchers whose goal is to support young children and their families to reach their full potential through the development and translation of cutting-edge evidence-based practice. Andrew has published over 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and attracted over $60 million in competitive research grants. He currently presents an internationally syndicated video series called ’60 Second Science”, which has had over 2 million views. He is an advisor to State and Commonwealth Governments on policies relating to children on the autism spectrum, and he chaired the committee that generated Australia’s first national guideline for autism diagnosis.
Andrew has published one edited book with his twin-brother (Ben), and a popular science book that examined the science behind some of the myths of pregnancy and child development (Will Mozart Make My Baby Smart?). He has also been awarded one of Australia’s most prestigious scientific awards, the Eureka Prize. Prior to coming to the Telethon Kids Institute, Andrew was a Junior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford.
-
Projects
-
Publications
Jun 2023
Neurodevelopmental outcomes in children after prenatal marijuana exposure
The effect of prenatal marijuana exposure on child neurodevelopment remains poorly understood. Prior studies have demonstrated inconsistent results.
Published research Early Childhood Development Subsite: CliniKids Raine study Child and adolescent healthSeptember 2015Prenatal testosterone exposure is related to sexually dimorphic facial morphology in adulthood
Prenatal testosterone may have a powerful masculinizing effect on postnatal physical characteristics.
Published research Autism ResearchJuly 2015Perceived gender ratings for high and low scorers on the autism-spectrum quotient consistent with the extreme male brain account of autism
This study tested the 'Extreme Male Brain' theory & androgyny accounts of Autism spectrum disorder.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJuly 2015Evidence for shared deficits in identifying emotions from faces and from voices in autism spectrum disorders and specific language impairment
While autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and specific language impairment (SLI) have traditionally been conceptualized as distinct disorders, recent findings...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Language Development Autism ResearchJune 2015Impact of adolescent peer aggression on later educational and employment outcomes in an Australian cohort
This study used prospective birth cohort data to analyse the relationship between peer aggression at 14 years of age and educational and employment outcomes...
Published research Bullying Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism Research Youth HealthJune 2015The perinatal androgen to estrogen ratio and autistic-like traits in the general population: a longitudinal pregnancy cohort study.
While previous studies have found a link between testosterone levels in amniotic fluid and autistic-like traits, a similar relationship has not been found...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJune 2015Maternal vitamin D deficiency alters fetal brain development in the BALB/c mouse.
Prenatal exposure to vitamin D is thought to be critical for optimal fetal neurodevelopment, yet vitamin D deficiency is apparent in a growing proportion of...
Published research Language Development Vitamin D and Sunlight Autism ResearchJanuary 2015TOBY play-pad application to teach children with ASD-A pilot trial.
To investigate use patterns and learning outcomes associated with the use of Therapy Outcomes By You (TOBY. Playpad, an early intervention iPad application.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Early Childhood Development Autism ResearchJanuary 2015A prospective ultrasound study of prenatal growth in infant siblings of children with autism
Numerous studies have observed that a proportion of infants later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience accelerated head growth...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJanuary 2015Vitamin D in fetal development: Findings from a birth cohort study
Birth cohort studies provide an invaluable resource for studies of the influence of the fetal environment on health in later life.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Vitamin D and Sunlight Autism Research InflammationApril 2015Sexually dimorphic facial features vary according to level of autistic-like traits in the general population
The current data provide support for Bejerot et al.'s androgyny account since males and females with high levels of autistic-like traits generally showed...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchApril 2015Prevalence and risk factors for parent-reported recurrent otitis media during early childhood
The prevalence of parent-reported rOM was 26.8% (611/2280) and 5.5% (125/2280) for severe rOM in the Study.
Published research Ear Infections Autism Research Genetics and HealthMarch 2015Lack of replication for the myosin-18B association with mathematical ability in independent cohorts
Twin studies indicate that dyscalculia (or mathematical disability) is caused partly by a genetic component, which is yet to be understood at the molecular...
Published research Intellectual Disability Autism ResearchFebruary 2015Adult digit ratio (2D:4D) is not related to umbilical cord androgen or estrogen concentrations, their ratios or net bioactivity
Ratio of second digit length to fourth digit length (2D:4D) has been extensively used in human and experimental research as a marker of fetal sex steroid...
Published research Autism ResearchMay 2023Parent-Child Interactions May Help to Explain Relations Between Parent Characteristics and Clinically Observed Child Autistic Behaviours
The importance of supporting parent-child interactions has been noted in the context of prodromal autism, but little consideration has been given to the possible contributing role of parental characteristics, such as psychological distress. This cross-sectional study tested models in which parent-child interaction variables mediated relations between parent characteristics and child autistic behaviour in a sample of families whose infant demonstrated early signs of autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsMay 2023Arriving at the empirically based conceptualization of restricted and repetitive behaviors: A systematic review and meta-analytic examination of factor analyses
An empirically based understanding of the factor structure of the restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRB) domain is a prerequisite for interpreting studies attempting to understand the correlates and mechanisms underpinning RRB and for measurement development. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of RRB factor analytic studies.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsApril 2023Reliability of the Commonly Used and Newly-Developed Autism Measures
The aim of the present study was to compare scale and conditional reliability derived from item response theory analyses among the most commonly used, as well as several newly developed, observation, interview, and parent-report autism instruments.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsApril 2023Estimated Therapy Costs and Downstream Cost Consequences of iBASIS-Video Interaction to Promote Positive Parenting Intervention vs Usual Care Among Children Displaying Early Behavioral Signs of Autism in Australia
The growing global prevalence of autism spectrum disorder is associated with increasing costs for support services. Ascertaining the effects of a successful preemptive intervention for infants showing early behavioral signs of autism on human services budgets is highly policy relevant.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Academic Biostatistics Early Childhood Development Autism Research School Attendance Subsite: CliniKidsApril 2023Assessing Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours in Online-Sampled Autistic and Non-autistic Individuals: Factor Structure of the Repetitive Behaviours Questionnaire for Adults (RBQ-2A)
The Repetitive Behaviours Questionnaire for Adults (RBQ-2A) measures two factors of restricted and repetitive behaviours (RRBs) associated with autism. However, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) provides four criteria for RRBs: repetitive motor behaviours, insistence on sameness, restricted interests, and interest in sensory aspects of the environment (or atypical sensitivity).
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsApril 2023Interactions between the lipidome and genetic and environmental factors in autism
Autism omics research has historically been reductionist and diagnosis centric, with little attention paid to common co-occurring conditions (for example, sleep and feeding disorders) and the complex interplay between molecular profiles and neurodevelopment, genetics, environmental factors and health. Here we explored the plasma lipidome in 765 children (485 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)) within the Australian Autism Biobank.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsJuly 2023Commentary: A spectrum for all? A response to Green et al. (2023), neurodiversity, autism and health care
The broadening of the clinical definition of autism over time-the so-called, autism spectrum-has run in parallel with the growth of a neurodiversity movement that has reframed the concept of autism entirely. Without a coherent and evidence-based framework through which both of these advances can be situated, the field is at risk of losing definition altogether.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsJuly 2023The first six months of life: A systematic review of early markers associated with later autism
There is now good evidence that behavioural signs of autism spectrum conditions (autism) emerge over the first two years of life. Identifying clear developmental differences early in life may facilitate earlier identification and intervention that can promote longer-term quality of life. Here we present a systematic review of studies investigating behavioural markers of later autism diagnosis or symptomology taken at 0-6 months.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsFebruary 2023Language and reading impairments are associated with increased prevalence of non-right-handedness
Handedness has been studied for association with language-related disorders because of its link with language hemispheric dominance. No clear pattern has emerged, possibly because of small samples, publication bias, and heterogeneous criteria across studies.
Published research Language Development Subsite: CliniKidsFebruary 2023How we measure language skills of children at scale: A call to move beyond domain-specific tests as a proxy for language
The aim of this research note is to encourage child language researchers and clinicians to give careful consideration to the use of domain-specific tests as a proxy for language; particularly in the context of large-scale studies and for the identification of language disorder in clinical practice.
Published research Early Childhood Development Language Development Ear Health Youth Mental Health Subsite: CliniKidsFebruary 2023Parent-child interaction and developmental outcomes in children with typical and elevated likelihood of autism
Early parent-child interactions have a critical impact on the developmental outcomes of the child. It has been reported that infants with a family history of autism and their parents may engage in different patterns of behaviours during interaction compared to those without a family history of autism. This study investigated the association of parent-child interactions with child developmental outcomes of those with typical and elevated likelihood of autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Early Childhood Development Subsite: CliniKidsJanuary 2023Parent experiences of their children’s diagnosis with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or both conditions
A comparison of parents’ experiences of getting a diagnosis for their child with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and both diagnoses can inform our understanding of common and unique themes across these neurodevelopmental conditions.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research ADHD Subsite: CliniKidsJanuary 2023The Utility of Natural Language Samples for Assessing Communication and Language in Infants Referred with Early Signs of Autism
Natural Language Sampling (NLS) offers clear potential for communication and language assessment, where other data might be difficult to interpret. We leveraged existing primary data for 18-month-olds showing early signs of autism, to examine the reliability and concurrent construct validity of NLS-derived measures coded from video-of child language, parent linguistic input, and dyadic balance of communicative interaction-against standardised assessment scores. Using Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT) software and coding conventions, masked coders achieved good-to-excellent inter-rater agreement across all measures.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Language Development Autism Research Youth Mental Health Subsite: CliniKidsDecember 2014Are there differences in the behavioural phenotypes of Autism Spectrum Disorder probands from simplex and multiplex families?
Behavioural differences in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder from simplex and multiplex families
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchDecember 2014MACROD2 gene associated with autistic-like traits in a general population sample
The MACROD2 gene is a strong positional candidate risk factor for autistic-like traits in the general population
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchNovember 2014The association between prenatal environment and children’s mental health trajectories from 2 to 14 years
This study aimed to elucidate how an adverse prenatal environment, as defined by the presence of a number of known prenatal risk factors, would influence...
Published research Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchOctober 2014Prevalence and risk factors for parent-reported recurrent otitis media during early childhood
The objective was to describe the prevalence and risk factors of recurrent otitis media (rOM) in an urban Australian population at 3 years of age.
Published research Autism Research Genetics and HealthSeptember 2014Common variation near ROBO2 is associated with expressive vocabulary in infancy
In this paper we conduct a genome-wide screen and follow-up study of expressive vocabulary in toddlers of European descent from up to four studies of the...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Language Development Autism ResearchAugust 2014Re-analysis of the association between perinatal androgens and postnatal head circumference growth
This paper is a correction of an earlier report that identified a link between exposure to high levels of testosterone during pregnancy and reduced head...
Published research Autism ResearchAugust 2014Perinatal testosterone exposure and cerebral lateralisation in adult males: Evidence for the callosal hypothesis
Two competing theories address the influence of foetal testosterone on cerebral laterality: one proposing exposure to high foetal testosterone concentrations...
Published research Autism ResearchAugust 2014No population bias to left-hemisphere language in 4-year-olds with language impairment
An apparent paradox in the field of neuropsychology is that people with atypical cerebral lateralization do not appear to suffer any cognitive disadvantage,...
Published research Autism ResearchAugust 2014Prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal risk factors for specific language impairment: A prospective pregnancy cohort study
Although genetic factors are known to play a causal role in specific language impairment (SLI), environmental factors may also be important. This study...
Published research Language Development Autism ResearchAugust 2014Is the broad autism phenotype in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder exacerbated by the challenges of caring for their children?
This qualitative study of parental interviews provided a preliminary examination of whether behaviours consistent with the BAP may have been exacerbated by...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Intellectual Disability Autism ResearchJune 2014Towards a molecular characterization of autism spectrum disorders: An exome sequencing and systems approach
This paper profiles the functional pattern of DNA variants found at a higher rate in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), X-linked intellectual...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research ADHD Intellectual Disability Autism ResearchJune 2014Comparative analysis of outcome measures used in examining neurodevelopmental effects of early childhood anesthesia exposure
This paper reports on data from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study to examine whether exposure to anesthetics in children younger than 3...
Published research Autism ResearchMay 2014Measurement of androgen and estrogen concentrations in cord blood: Accuracy, biological interpretation, and applications to understanding human behavioral development
This review examines the accuracy and biological interpretation of the measurement of androgens and estrogens in cord blood. The use of cord blood hormones...
Published research Autism ResearchMay 2014Vitamin D deficiency at 16 to 20 weeks' gestation is associated with impaired lung function and asthma at 6 years of age
This paper examines whether a Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy affects the child's lung function predisposition towards lung disease such as asthma.
Published research Autism Research Inflammation Human Immunology Children's Lung HealthMay 2014Maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and bone mass in offspring at 20 years of age: A prospective cohort study
This longitudinal, prospective study investigated the association between maternal vitamin D status and peak bone mass of offspring in 341 mother and...
Published research Vitamin D and Sunlight Autism Research InflammationMarch 2014Low maternal serum vitamin D during pregnancy and the risk for postpartum depression symptoms
Pregnancy is a time of vulnerability for vitamin D insufficiency, and there is an emerging literature associating low levels of 25(OH)-vitamin D with...
Published research Autism Research Inflammation Human Immunology Cardiometabolic SunhealthFebruary 2014A Genome-wide Association Meta-analysis of Preschool Internalizing Problems
In this study, the influence of genome-wide measured single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was investigated in 3 cohorts (total N = 4,596 children) in which...
Published research Autism ResearchFebruary 2014Moving beyond behaviour-only assessment: Incorporating biomarkers to improve the early detection and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders
This paper presents a response to the Camarata (2014) lead article regarding the accuracy and effectiveness of early identification and early intervention...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJanuary 2014High use of complementary and alternative medication among children with autism is not associated with the severity of core symptoms
This study provided evidence for high rate of alternative medicine use in an Australian paediatric ASD population, similar to other countries.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchNovember 2013Brief Report: Further Evidence for a Link Between Inner Speech Limitations and Executive Function in High-Functioning Children with Autism
This study investigated the involvement of inner speech limitations in the executive dysfunction associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Early Childhood Development Autism ResearchOctober 2013Genome-wide association study of autistic-like traits in a general population study of young adults
Research has proposed that autistic-like traits in the general population lie on a continuum, with clinical ASD representing the extreme end of this...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchSeptember 2013A "bottom-up" approach to aetiological research in autism spectrum disorders
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are currently diagnosed in the presence of impairments in social interaction and communication, and a restricted range of...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJuly 2013Diet in the early years of life influences cognitive outcomes at 10 years: A prospective cohort study
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between diet during the first 3 years of life and cognitive outcomes at 10 years of age.
Published research Nutrition Autism ResearchJuly 2013Autism spectrum disorder in children born preterm: Role of exposure to perinatal inflammation
This review aims to summarise and evaluate the potential mechanisms and evidence for the role of prenatal infection on the central nervous system, and how it...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Intellectual Disability Autism Research ORIGINSJune 2013Maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy and offspring eating disorder risk in adolescence
This is the first study to link low gestational vitamin D to increased eating disorder risk in female offspring of Caucasian mothers.
Published research Vitamin D and Sunlight Autism Research InflammationMay 2013Associations between Handedness and Cerebral Lateralisation for Language: A Comparison of Three Measures in Children
It has been suggested that quantitative measures of differential hand skill or reaching preference may provide more valid measures than traditional...
Published research Language Development Autism ResearchMay 2013Complementary and alternative medicine for autism spectrum disorders: Rationale, safety and efficacy
There is insufficient evidence to draw conclusions on the efficacy of modified diets, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, immune therapy, and vitamin and fatty acid...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Intellectual Disability Autism ResearchMay 2013Evidence for Distinct Cognitive Profiles in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Specific Language Impairment
This finding supports distinct cognitive profiles in ASD and SLI and may provide further evidence for distinct aetiological mechanisms in the two conditions.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Language Development Autism ResearchApril 2013Brief Report: Do the Nature of Communication Impairments in Autism Spectrum Disorders Relate to the Broader Autism Phenotype in Parents?
This research explored the relationship between the broader autism phenotype (BAP) among parents, an index of genetic liability for ASD, and proband...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Language Development Autism ResearchApril 2013Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy predict parent-reported difficult temperament in infancy
These data suggest that the link between maternal hypertensive diseases of pregnancy and child behavioral development begins in the first year of life.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchApril 2013Delivery at 37 weeks' gestation is associated with a higher risk for child behavioural problems
We suggest that 37 weeks' gestation may not be the optimal cutoff for defining perinatal risk as it applies to behavioural development.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchApril 2013Is autism one or multiple disorders?
Elucidating the underlying nature of the disorder(s) is a crucial step towards tailoring intervention to the biological and cognitive makeup of each individual.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Intellectual Disability Autism ResearchFebruary 2013The association between perinatal testosterone concentration and early vocabulary development
Prenatal exposure to testosterone is known to affect fetal brain maturation and later neurocognitive function.
Published research Language Development Autism ResearchJanuary 2013Adolescent peer aggression and its association with mental health and substance use in an Australian cohort
Prospective longitudinal birth cohort data was used to examine the association between peer aggression at 14yrs and mental health and substance use at 17yrs...
Published research Bullying Depression and Anxiety Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism Research Youth HealthJanuary 2013Fetal Testosterone, Socio-Emotional Engagement and Language Development
The present study investigated the relations among fetal testosterone, child socio-emotional engagement and language development...
Published research Language Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchJanuary 2013Umbilical Cord Blood Testosterone and Childhood Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior: A Prospective Study
Antenatal testosterone exposure influences fetal neurodevelopment and gender-role behavior in postnatal life and may contribute to differences in...
Published research Academic Biostatistics Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchJanuary 2013Maternal Vitamin D Levels and the Autism Phenotype Among Offspring
We tested whether maternal vitamin D insufficiency during pregnancy is related to the autism phenotype.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Vitamin D and Sunlight Autism Research Inflammation Human ImmunologyOctober 2012Perinatal testosterone exposure and autistic-like traits in the general population: a longitudinal pregnancy-cohort study
Increased prenatal testosterone exposure has been hypothesized as a mechanism underlying autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchAugust 2012Androgen concentrations in umbilical cord blood and their association with maternal, fetal and obstetric factors
The aim of this study was to measure umbilical blood androgen concentrations in a birth cohort using a highly specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass...
Published research Academic Biostatistics Autism ResearchJuly 2012Sex-specific associations between umbilical cord blood testosterone levels and language delay in early childhood
Preliminary evidence suggests that prenatal testosterone exposure may be associated with language delay.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Language Development Autism ResearchMarch 2012Are Prenatal Ultrasound Scans Associated with the Autism Phenotype? Follow-up of a Randomised Controlled Trial
An existing randomised controlled trial was used to investigate whether multiple ultrasound scans may be associated with the autism phenotype.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchMarch 2012Maternal serum vitamin D levels during pregnancy and offspring neurocognitive development
The objective was to determine the association between maternal serum 25(OH)-vitamin D concentrations and behavioural, emotional and language outcomes...
Published research Language Development Vitamin D and Sunlight Autism Research Inflammation Human ImmunologyMarch 2012Do hypertensive diseases of pregnancy disrupt neurocognitive development in offspring?
The current study sought to determine whether gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia are associated with neurocognitive outcomes in middle childhood.
Published research Language Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchFebruary 2012Maternal Serum Vitamin D Levels During Pregnancy and Offspring Neurocognitive Development
New research links poor language to lack of Vitamin D in womb.
Published research Language Development Vitamin D and Sunlight Autism Research Inflammation Human ImmunologyFebruary 2012Do Children with Specific Language Impairment have a Cognitive Profile Reminiscent of Autism? A Review of the Literature
This paper reviews relevant literature on whether individuals with SLI exhibit cognitive characteristics reminiscent of autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Language Development Autism ResearchJanuary 2012Sex-specific associations between umbilical cord blood testosterone levels and language delay in early childhood
Preliminary evidence suggests that prenatal testosterone exposure may be associated with language delay. However, no study has examined a large sample of...
Published research Academic Biostatistics Language Development Autism ResearchJanuary 2012Fetal head circumference growth in children with specific language impairment
The aim was to characterise fetal brain growth in children with specific language impairment (SLI). A nested case-control study was set in Perth, WA.
Published research Language Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchJanuary 2012The Dyslexia Candidate Locus on 2p12 Is Associated with General Cognitive Ability and White Matter Structure
To further explore the effect of disorder-associated genes on cognitive functions, we investigated whether they play a role in broader cognitive traits.
Published research Language Development Autism ResearchDecember 2011Are autistic traits in the general population stable across development?
There is accumulating evidence that autistic traits (AT) are on a continuum in the general population.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchNovember 2011Evaluating the twin testosterone transfer hypothesis: A review of the empirical evidence
In this paper we review the evidence that fetuses gestated with a male co-twin are masculinized in development, perhaps due to the influence of prenatal...
Published research Autism ResearchNovember 2011Do hypertensive diseases of pregnancy disrupt neurocognitive development in offspring?
Do hypertensive diseases of pregnancy disrupt neurocognitive development in offspring?
Published research Autism ResearchOctober 2011Where were those rabbits? A new paradigm to determine cerebral lateralisation of visuospatial memory function in children
In this study we devised a child-friendly version of a paradigm to assess lateralisation of visuospatial memory using functional transcranial Doppler...
Published research Autism ResearchAugust 2011Where were those rabbits? A new paradigm to determine cerebral lateralisation of visuospatial memory function in children
In the majority of people, functional differences are observed between the two cerebral hemispheres: language production is typically subserved by the left...
Published research Autism ResearchAugust 2011Are autistic traits in the general population stable across development?
The current investigation measured AT in 360 males and 400 males from the general population close to two decades apart, using the Pervasive Developmental...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchAugust 2011Autistic-like traits in childhood predict later age at menarche in girls
We investigated the relationship between autistic-like traits in early childhood and age at menarche in typically developing girls.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchAugust 2011Late-talking and risk for behavioral and emotional problems during childhood and adolescence
Although many toddlers with expressive vocabulary delay ("late talkers") present with age-appropriate language skills by the time they are of school age,...
Published research Depression and Anxiety Language Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchJuly 2011Late-talking and risk for behavioural and emotional problems during childhood and adolescence
Although many toddlers with expressive vocabulary delay ("late talkers") present with age-appropriate language skills by the time they are of school age...
Published research Language Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchJune 2011CNTNAP2 variants affect early language development in the general population
We tested the hypothesis that these CNTNAP2 variants affect communicative behavior, measured at 2 years of age in a large epidemiological sample...
Published research Autism ResearchMay 2011No association between early gastrointestinal problems and autistic-like traits in the general population
No association between early gastrointestinal problems and autistic-like traits in the general population, determine whether gastrointestinal problems, early...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchMarch 2011Autism and intellectual disability are differentially related to sociodemographic background at birth
We used population data on Western Australian singletons born from 1984 to 1999 (n = 398,353) to examine the sociodemographic characteristics of children...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Academic Biostatistics Intellectual Disability Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Child Disability Autism ResearchMarch 2011Analysis of dyslexia candidate genes in the Raine cohort representing the general Australian population
We have conducted an association study in a novel sample derived from the Australian population to further investigate the role of dyslexia candidate genes.
Published research Autism ResearchJanuary 2011Prenatal maternal stress associated with ADHD and autistic traits in early childhood
Research suggests that offspring of mothers who experience high levels of stress during pregnancy are more likely to have problems in neurobehavioral...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research ADHD Autism ResearchJanuary 2011Duration of breast-feeding and language ability to middle childhood
There is controversy over whether increased breast-feeding duration has long-term benefits for language development.
Published research Breastfeeding Language Development Autism ResearchJanuary 2011Breastfeeding duration and academic achievement at ten years
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between duration of breastfeeding and educational outcomes.
Published research Breastfeeding Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchJanuary 2011A preliminary study of fetal head circumference growth in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Fetal head circumference (HC) growth was examined prospectively in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJanuary 2011The effects of breast-feeding duration on language ability to middle childhood
Modern societies are challenged by "wicked problems" - by definition, those that are difficult to define, multi-casual and hard to treat.
Published research Breastfeeding Language Development Autism ResearchNovember 2010Narrowing the broader autism phenotype: A study using the Communication Checklist
This study investigated whether the Communication Checklist - Adult (CC-A) could identify subtypes of social and communication dysfunction in autism probands an
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchAugust 2010Is there a sex ratio difference in the familial aggregation of specific language impairment? A meta analysis
This meta-analysis examined whether there is a sex ratio difference in the risk for impairment among family members of an SLI proband
Published research Language Development Autism ResearchAugust 2010Maternal life events during pregnancy and offspring language ability in middle childhood
There is accumulating evidence for a link between maternal stress during pregnancy and later behavioural and emotional problems in children.
Published research Language Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchApril 2010Cell phone use by adolescents with Asperger Syndrome
While young people have generally been at the forefront of the adoption and use of new communications technologies, little is known of uses by exceptional youth
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchMarch 2010Free testosterone levels in umbilical cord blood predict infant head circumference in girls
Fetal androgens influence fetal growth as well as postnatal neurocognitive ability.
Published research Autism ResearchMarch 2010Free testosterone levels in umbilical-cord blood predict infant head circumference in females
Fetal androgens influence fetal growth as well as postnatal neurocognitive ability
Published research Autism ResearchFebruary 2010Unpacking the complex nature of the autism epidemic
This paper discusses changes in diagnostic criteria, decreasing age at diagnosis, improved case ascertainment, diagnostic substitution, and social influences.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Child Disability Autism ResearchNovember 2009Reliability of a novel paradigm for determining hemispheric lateralization of visuospatial function
In most individuals, language production and visuospatial skills are subserved predominantly by the left and right hemispheres, respectively.
Published research Language Development Autism ResearchNovember 2009No clear genetic influences on the association between dyslexia and anxiety in a population-based sample of female twins
Individuals with dyslexia are at an increased risk for anxiety disorders (e.g. generalized anxiety disorder, stress disorders, panic disorder).
Published research Depression and Anxiety Autism ResearchAugust 2009Inner speech impairment in children with autism is associated with greater nonverbal than verbal skills
We present a new analysis of Whitehouse, Maybery, and Durkin's (2006, Experiment 3) data on inner speech in children with autism (CWA).
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Language Development Autism ResearchJuly 2009Adult psychosocial outcomes of children with specific language impairment, pragmatic language impairment and autism
Evidence that some children also develop autistic symptomatology over time has raised suggestions that developmental language disorder...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Language Development Autism ResearchJuly 2009Qualitative aspects of developmental language impairment relate to language and literacy outcome in adulthood
Developmental language disorder is a heterogeneous diagnostic category. Little research has compared the long-term outcomes of children with different...
Published research Language Development Autism ResearchJuly 2009Hemispheric division of function is the result of independent probabilistic biases
Causal theories propose that functional asymmetry is an obligatory pattern of organisation, while statistical theories maintain this is a reflection...
Published research Autism ResearchApril 2009Friendship, loneliness and depression in adolescents with Asperger's Syndrome
This study investigated the relation between friendship, loneliness and depressive symptoms in adolescents with Asperger's Syndrome (AS).
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Depression and Anxiety Autism ResearchJanuary 2009Differentiating between childhood communication disorders: Implications for language and psychosocial outcomes
Differentiating between childhood communication disorders: Implications for language and psychosocial outcomes
Published research Language Development Autism ResearchDecember 2008Cerebral dominance for language function in adults with specific language impairment or autism
A link between developmental language disorders and atypical cerebral lateralization has been postulated since the 1920s, but evidence has been indirect and...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Language Development Autism ResearchJuly 2008Do children with autism 'switch off' to speech sounds? An investigation using event-related potentials
Autism is a disorder characterized by a core impairment in social behaviour. A prominent component of this social deficit is poor orienting to speech.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchMay 2008Autism and diagnostic substitution: Evidence from a study of adults with a history of developmental language disorder
Rates of diagnosis of autism have risen since 1980, raising the question of whether some children who previously had other diagnoses are now being diagnosed...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Language Development Autism ResearchSeptember 2007The recruitment and retention of Speech and Language Therapists: What do university students find important?
The increasing need for speech and language therapy (SLT) services, coupled with poor employment retention rates, poses serious cost-benefit considerations.
Published research Language Development Autism ResearchAugust 2007The broader language phenotype of Autism: A comparison with Specific Language Impairment
Some individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) experience linguistic difficulties similar to those found in individuals with specific language...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Language Development Autism ResearchMay 2007Evidence against poor semantic encoding in individuals with autism
This article tests the hypothesis that individuals with autism poorly encode verbal information to the semantic level of processing, instead paying greater...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchNovember 2006The development of the picture superiority effect
When pictures and words are presented serially in an explicit memory task, recall of the pictures is superior.
Published research Autism ResearchAugust 2006Inner speech impairments in autism
Three experiments investigated the role of inner speech deficit in cognitive performances of children with autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Language Development Autism ResearchDecember 2022Improving the Journey Before, During and After Diagnosis of a Neurodevelopmental Condition: Suggestions from a Sample of Australian Consumers and Professionals
The current study used a transdiagnostic approach to explore experiences of consumers and professionals on how the process of assessing and diagnosing neurodevelopmental conditions can be improved.
Published research Human Development and Community Wellbeing Child Disability Autism Research Youth Mental Health Subsite: CliniKids Early Neurodevelopment and Mental Health Youth mental healthDecember 2022Continuity of temperament subgroup classifications from infancy to toddlerhood in the context of early autism traits
Our previous cross-sectional investigation (Chetcuti et al., 2020) showed that infants with autism traits could be divided into distinct subgroups based on temperament. This longitudinal study builds on this existing work by exploring the continuity of temperament subgroup classifications and their associations with behavioral/clinical phenotypic features from infancy to toddlerhood.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Youth Mental Health Subsite: CliniKidsDecember 2022Caregiver sensitivity predicts infant language use, and infant language complexity predicts caregiver language complexity, in the context of possible emerging autism
While theory supports bidirectional effects between caregiver sensitivity and language use, and infant language acquisition-both caregiver-to-infant and also infant-to-caregiver effects-empirical research has chiefly explored the former unidirectional path. In the context of infants showing early signs of autism, we investigated prospective bidirectional associations with 6-min free-play interaction samples collected for 103 caregivers and their infants (mean age 12-months; and followed up 6-months later).
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Language Development Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsMarch 2022Occurrence of psychosis and bipolar disorder in adults with autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Evidence suggests that individuals with autism spectrum disorder have increased rates of co-occurring psychosis and/or bipolar disorder. Considering the peak age of onset for psychosis and bipolar disorder occurs in adulthood, we investigated the co-occurrence of these disorders in adults with autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Youth Mental Health Subsite: CliniKids Youth mental healthMarch 2022Parent-reported Early Atypical Development and Age of Diagnosis for Children with Co-occurring Autism and ADHD
Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often co-occur. This survey of 288 New Zealand parents of children diagnosed with autism, ADHD, or both conditions, examined the relations between age of diagnosis and early atypical development, the age specialist consultation was needed and types of specialists seen.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research ADHD Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsMarch 2022Age of Diagnosis for Co-occurring Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder During Childhood and Adolescence: a Systematic Review
Early identification and intervention are recognised as important elements of the clinical pathway for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children with ASD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be diagnosed at a different age than children who only have one of these diagnoses.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research ADHD Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsMarch 2022An investigation of a novel broad autism phenotype: increased facial masculinity among parents of children on the autism spectrum
The broad autism phenotype commonly refers to sub-clinical levels of autistic-like behaviour and cognition presented in biological relatives of autistic people. In a recent study, we reported findings suggesting that the broad autism phenotype may also be expressed in facial morphology, specifically increased facial masculinity.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsFebruary 2022A Survey of Autistic Adults from New Zealand on the Autism Diagnostic Process During Adolescence and Adulthood
The diagnostic experiences of autistic adults in New Zealand have not been investigated and little is known globally about autistic adults' satisfaction with the autism diagnostic process. This study describes the diagnostic experiences of 70 autistic adults living in New Zealand and explores how these experiences are related to satisfaction during three stages of the diagnostic process. The results show that autistic adults were reasonably satisfied with the early query and diagnostic assessment stages, but were dissatisfied with the post-diagnostic support stage, with significant unmet needs. Dissatisfaction during the post-diagnostic support stage was also related to satisfaction during previous stages and poor coordination of supports. Suggestions are made on how to improve the autism diagnostic pathway for autistic adults in New Zealand.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsFebruary 2022Potential role for immune-related genes in autism spectrum disorders: Evidence from genome-wide association meta-analysis of autistic traits
Autism spectrum disorders are complex, with a strong genetic basis. Genetic research in autism spectrum disorders is limited by the fact that these disorders are largely heterogeneous so that patients are variable in their clinical presentations. To address this limitation, we investigated the genetics of individual dimensions of the autism spectrum disorder phenotypes, or autistic-like traits. These autistic-like traits are continuous variations in autistic behaviours that occur in the general population.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsFebruary 2022Eye Gaze in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review of Neural Evidence for the Eye Avoidance Hypothesis
Reduced eye contact early in life may play a role in the developmental pathways that culminate in a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. However, there are contradictory theories regarding the neural mechanisms involved. According to the amygdala theory of autism, reduced eye contact results from a hypoactive amygdala that fails to flag eyes as salient. However, the eye avoidance hypothesis proposes the opposite-that amygdala hyperactivity causes eye avoidance. This review evaluated studies that measured the relationship between eye gaze and activity in the 'social brain' when viewing facial stimuli.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsFebruary 2022Modifiable child and caregiver factors that influence community participation among children with Down syndrome
To investigate modifiable child and caregiver factors influencing community participation among children with Down syndrome.
Published research Child Disability Subsite: CliniKids Child disabilityJanuary 2022Occurrence of psychosis and bipolar disorder in adults with autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Evidence suggests that individuals with autism spectrum disorder have increased rates of co-occurring psychosis and/or bipolar disorder. Considering the peak age of onset for psychosis and bipolar disorder occurs in adulthood, we investigated the co-occurrence of these disorders in adults with autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Youth Mental Health Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKids Early Neurodevelopment and Mental Health Youth mental healthNovember 2022Characterising the Early Presentation of Motor Difficulties in Autistic Children
This study aimed to explore the rates of motor difficulties in children from the Australian Autism Biobank, and how early motor concerns impacted on children functionally.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsNovember 2022The use of language in autism research
The past three decades have seen a major shift in our understanding of the strong links between autism and identity. These developments have called for careful consideration of the language used to describe autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Gender Diversity Subsite: CliniKidsNovember 2022Hypothesis-driven genome-wide association studies provide novel insights into genetics of reading disabilities
Reading Disability is often characterized by difficulties in the phonology of the language. While the molecular mechanisms underlying it are largely undetermined, loci are being revealed by genome-wide association studies.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Subsite: CliniKids Child disabilityNovember 2022Perceived Support Needs of School-Aged Young People on the Autism Spectrum and Their Caregivers
With increasing demands for health, disability and education services, innovative approaches can help distribute limited resources according to need. Despite an increased focus on support needs within the clinical pathway and policy landscape, the body of research knowledge on this topic is at a relatively early stage. However, there appears to be a sense of unmet support needs and dissatisfaction with the provision of required support following an autism diagnosis amongst caregivers of young people on the spectrum.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKids Child disabilityNovember 2022Discovery of 42 genome-wide significant loci associated with dyslexia
Reading and writing are crucial life skills but roughly one in ten children are affected by dyslexia, which can persist into adulthood. Family studies of dyslexia suggest heritability up to 70%, yet few convincing genetic markers have been found.
Published research Language Development Subsite: CliniKids Child disabilityOctober 2022Quality of life beyond diagnosis in intellectual disability – Latent profiling
To compare quality of life (QOL) across diagnoses associated with intellectual disability, construct QOL profiles and evaluate membership by diagnostic group, function and comorbidities.
Published research Child Disability Subsite: CliniKids Child disabilityOctober 2022“It Was Such a Different Experience”: a Qualitative Study of Parental Perinatal Experiences When Having a Subsequent Child After Having a Child Diagnosed with Autism
Children who have an older sibling diagnosed with autism have an increased likelihood of being diagnosed with autism or developing broader developmental difficulties. This study explored perinatal experiences of parents of a child diagnosed with autism, spanning pre-conception until the subsequent child’s early developmental period.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Early Childhood Development Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsOctober 2022The effect of oxytocin nasal spray on social interaction in young children with autism: a randomized clinical trial
Early supports to enhance social development in children with autism are widely promoted. While oxytocin has a crucial role in mammalian social development, its potential role as a medication to enhance social development in humans remains unclear.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Subsite: CliniKidsOctober 2022An Evaluation of the Overall Utility of Measures of Functioning Suitable for School-Aged Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Scoping Review
A diagnosis of an autism spectrum condition (autism) provides limited information regarding an individual’s level of functioning, information key in determining support and funding needs.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research School Attendance Subsite: CliniKidsSeptember 2022Harmonized Phenotypes for Anxiety, Depression, and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
In multi-cohort consortia, the problem often arises that a phenotype is measured using different questionnaires. This study aimed to harmonize scores based on the Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL) and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for anxiety/depression and ADHD.
Published research ADHD Depression and Anxiety Subsite: CliniKids Raine studySeptember 2022Non-pharmacological interventions for autistic children: An umbrella review
The breadth of available non-pharmacological interventions for autistic children, with varying evidence for efficacy summarised in multiple systematic reviews, creates challenges for parents, practitioners, and policymakers in navigating the research evidence. In this article, we report the findings of an umbrella review of 58 systematic reviews of non-pharmacological interventions for autistic children (aged 0–12 years).
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Subsite: CliniKidsSeptember 2022Evaluation of Low-intensity Therapist-Delivered Intervention in Addition to Parent Coaching for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Parents are often expected to be the primary implementers of intervention for their young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The provision of a few hours a week of intervention by a trained therapist, in addition to parent-implemented intervention, could increase child outcomes compared to parent-implemented intervention in isolation.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Subsite: CliniKidsSeptember 2022Australian Clinicians’ Considerations When Choosing an Assessment of Functioning Tool for Children with Neurodevelopmental Conditions
In the Australian disability context, the assessment of children with neurodevelopmental conditions’ functioning (across all domains) is of increasing importance, particularly since the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Currently, there is wide variability across assessment of functioning practices, including the choice and use of published tools for assessment.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKids Child disabilitySeptember 2022Modelling quality of life in children with intellectual disability using regression trees
To identify factors associated with quality of life (QoL) in children with intellectual disability. We aimed to identify patterns of association not observable in previous hypothesis-driven regression modelling using the same data set from a cross-sectional observational study.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Child Disability Autism Research Subsite: CliniKids Child disabilityAugust 2022Devising a Missing Data Rule for a Quality of Life Questionnaire - A Simulation Study
The aim of this study was to devise an evidence-based missing data rule for the Quality of Life Inventory-Disability (QI-Disability) questionnaire specifying how many missing items are permissible for domain and total scores to be calculated using simple imputation.
Published research Child Disability Subsite: CliniKids Child disabilityAugust 2022The prevalence of and potential risk factors for Developmental Language Disorder at 10 years in the Raine Study
This study sought to determine the prevalence of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) in Australian school-aged children and associated potential risk factors for DLD at 10 years.
Published research Early Childhood Development Language Development Ear Health Youth Mental Health Subsite: CliniKidsAugust 2022Genome-wide analyses of individual differences in quantitatively assessed reading- and language-related skills in up to 34,000 people
The use of spoken and written language is a fundamental human capacity. Individual differences in reading- and language-related skills are influenced by genetic variation, with twin-based heritability estimates of 30 to 80% depending on the trait. The genetic architecture is complex, heterogeneous, and multifactorial, but investigations of contributions of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were thus far underpowered.
Published research Early Childhood Development Subsite: CliniKidsAugust 2022A genome-wide association study of total child psychiatric problems scores
Substantial genetic correlations have been reported across psychiatric disorders and numerous cross-disorder genetic variants have been detected. To identify the genetic variants underlying general psychopathology in childhood, we performed a genome-wide association study using a total psychiatric problem score.
Published research ADHD Subsite: CliniKidsAugust 2022A longitudinal examination of perinatal testosterone, estradiol and vitamin D as predictors of handedness outcomes in childhood and adolescence
The developmental origins of handedness remain elusive, though very early emergence suggests individual differences manifesting in utero could play an important role. Prenatal testosterone and Vitamin D exposure are considered, yet findings and interpretations remain equivocal.
Published research Vitamin D and Sunlight Child Disability Subsite: CliniKids Child disabilityAugust 2022A systematic review of the biological, social, and environmental determinants of intellectual disability in children and adolescents
This systematic review aimed to identify the most important social, environmental, biological, and/or genetic risk factors for intellectual disability.
Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Child Disability Autism Research Subsite: CliniKids Early Neurodevelopment and Mental Health Child disabilityJuly 2022Toward better characterization of restricted and unusual interests in youth with autism
Despite being highly prevalent among people with autism, restricted and unusual interests remain under-researched and poorly understood. This article confirms that restricted interests are very frequent and varied among children and adolescents with autism. It also further extends current knowledge in this area by characterizing the relationship between the presence, number, and type of restricted interests with chronological age, sex, cognitive functioning, and social and communication symptoms.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsJune 2022Dental care experiences and clinical phenotypes in children on the autism spectrum
Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder may be at higher likelihood of experiencing poorer oral health and difficulties accessing dental health care. However, identifying which children on the autism spectrum may be more vulnerable to experiencing dental care difficulties is still unknown.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsJune 2022Patterns of sensory modulation by age and sex in young people on the autism spectrum
Sensory modulation symptoms form a diagnostic criterion for autism spectrum disorder and are associated with significant daily functional limitations. Utilizing caregiver report on Short Sensory Profile-2 (SSP-2) for 919 autistic children (3–14.11 years), we examined the expression of sensory modulation symptoms by age and sex and investigated the existence of specific sensory modulation subtypes.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsJune 2022A Parent-Mediated Intervention for Newborns at Familial Likelihood of Autism: Initial Feasibility Study in the General Population
Developmental theory and previous studies support the potential value of prodromal interventions for infants at elevated likelihood of developing autism. Past research has supported the efficacy of parent-mediated prodromal therapies with infants from as early as 7 months. We outline the rationale for implementing interventions following this model from even earlier in development and report on the feasibility of a novel intervention developed following this model of parent-mediated infant interventions.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Early Childhood Development Autism Research Subsite: CliniKids Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentJune 2022Anesthetic Exposure During Childhood and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Clinical studies of neurodevelopmental outcomes after anesthetic exposure have evaluated a range of outcomes with mixed results.
Published research Subsite: CliniKids Paediatric anaesthesiaMay 2022Content validation of common measures of functioning for young children against the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and Code and Core Sets relevant to neurodevelopmental conditions
Young children who have developmental delay, autism, or other neurodevelopmental conditions can have difficulties doing things in different areas of their life. What they can and cannot do is called their level of functioning. There are lots of assessment measures that aim to assess functioning.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Cerebral Palsy Published research ADHD Early Childhood Development Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsApril 2022Genome-wide Association Meta-analysis of Childhood and Adolescent Internalizing Symptoms
To investigate the genetic architecture of internalizing symptoms in childhood and adolescence.
Published research Subsite: CliniKidsMarch 2021Mental health difficulties among trans and gender diverse young people with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Findings from Trans Pathways
Recent research highlights an overlap of gender diversity and autism spectrum disorders (ASD); however, data on individuals who are trans and also on the autism spectrum are largely from clinical samples and may not be representative of individuals who are trans with ASD in the general population. In addition, there is scant literature on the mental health of these individuals and their experiences in accessing gender-affirming care.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsMarch 2021Delayed cortical processing of auditory stimuli in children with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis of electrophysiological studies
Several researchers have hypothesised that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show encoding delays in their obligatory event-related potentials (ERPs)/ event-related fields (ERFs) for low-level auditory information compared to neurotypical (NT) samples. However, empirical research has yielded varied findings, such as low-level auditory processing in ASD samples being unimpaired, superior, or impaired compared to NT samples. Diverse outcomes have also been reported for studies investigating ASD-NT differences in functional lateralisation of delays.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsDecember 2021An evidence-based framework for determining the optimal amount of intervention for autistic children
The provision of timely, effective, and socially valid non-pharmacological intervention is at the core of efforts to support the development of young autistic children. These efforts are intended to support children to develop skills, empower their caregivers, and lay the foundation for optimal choice, independence, and quality of life into adulthood.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsDecember 2021Developmental Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnant Rats Does Not Induce Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy disorder characterized by hypertension. Epidemiological studies have associated preeclampsia with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring, such as autism and schizophrenia. Preeclampsia has also been linked with maternal vitamin D deficiency, another candidate risk factor also associated with autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Vitamin D and Sunlight Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsDecember 2021Co-design of a neurodevelopment assessment scale: A study protocol
Neurodevelopmental disorders are a heterogeneous group of conditions with overlapping symptomatology and fluctuating developmental trajectories that transcend current diagnostic categorisation. There is a need for validated screening instruments which dimensionally assess symptomatology from a holistic, transdiagnostic perspective.
Published research Early Childhood Development Subsite: CliniKidsDecember 2021Caregiver Psychological Distress Predicts Temperament and Social-Emotional Outcomes in Infants with Autism Traits
Child temperament and caregiver psychological distress have been independently associated with social-emotional difficulties among individuals with autism. However, the interrelationship among these risk factors has rarely been investigated.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsDecember 2021Exploring the Experience of Seeking an Autism Diagnosis as an Adult
Emerging research suggests that seeking an autism diagnosis as an adult is usually difficult and time-consuming but brings relief once a diagnosis is made. This study explored the experience of the pathway to an autism diagnosis during adulthood for adults living in Australia.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsFebruary 2021Analysis of common genetic variation and rare CNVs in the Australian Autism Biobank
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition whose biological basis is yet to be elucidated. The Australian Autism Biobank (AAB) is an initiative of the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC) to establish an Australian resource of biospecimens, phenotypes and genomic data for research on autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsFebruary 2021Performance of the Autism Observation Scale for Infants with community-ascertained infants showing early signs of autism
We investigated whether a commonly used research assessment - the Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI) - accurately measures autism behaviours among infants showing early signs of autism identified within the community. The AOSI is often included in studies tracking the development of infants at increased likelihood of autism, such as the infant siblings of diagnosed children. However, the suitability of this measure has not previously been tested with community-referred infants.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related DisordersFebruary 2021Temperament in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A systematic review
The study of temperament in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has the potential to provide insight regarding variability in the onset, nature, and course of both core and co-morbid symptoms. The aim of this systematic review was to integrate existing findings concerning temperament in the context of ASD. Searches of Medline, PsychInfo and Scopus databases identified 64 relevant studies. As a group, children and adolescents with ASD appear to be temperamentally different from both typically developing and other clinical non-ASD groups, characterized by higher negative affectivity, lower surgency, and lower effortful control at a higher-order level.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related DisordersJanuary 2021The unmet clinical needs of children with developmental coordination disorder
The aim of this study was to understand the challenges experienced by families obtaining a diagnosis and therapy for developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Parents of 435 children aged 4-18 years with persistent motor difficulties consistent with a diagnosis of DCD completed an online survey. Diagnostic timeline and diagnostic label/s received were examined, along with therapies accessed.
Published research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKids Developmental Coordination DisorderJanuary 2021Functioning, participation, and quality of life in children with intellectual disability: an observational study
To investigate associations between functioning, community participation, and quality of life (QoL) and identify whether participation mediates the effects of functioning on QoL.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Academic Biostatistics Child Disability Autism ResearchNovember 2021Autism-related dietary preferences mediate autism-gut microbiome associations
There is increasing interest in the potential contribution of the gut microbiome to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, previous studies have been underpowered and have not been designed to address potential confounding factors in a comprehensive way.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsNovember 2021A national harmonised data collection network for neurodevelopmental disorders: A transdiagnostic assessment protocol for neurodevelopment, mental health, functioning and well-being
Children with neurodevelopmental disorders share common phenotypes, support needs and comorbidities. Such overlap suggests the value of transdiagnostic assessment pathways that contribute to knowledge about research and clinical needs of these children and their families.
Published research Subsite: CliniKids Child disabilityNovember 2021Facial asymmetry in parents of children on the autism spectrum
Greater facial asymmetry has been consistently found in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) relative to children without ASD. There is substantial evidence that both facial structure and the recurrence of ASD diagnosis are highly heritable within a nuclear family. Furthermore, sub-clinical levels of autistic-like behavioural characteristics have also been reported in first-degree relatives of individuals with ASD, commonly known as the 'broad autism phenotype'.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsSeptember 2021Early Intervention Delivery Methods for New Zealand Children with Autism: Current Practices Versus Parental Preferences
Little is known about parent preferences regarding delivery methods of early interventions. This research examined, through parent report, the current and preferred delivery methods of seven common educational early interventions accessed by New Zealand children with autism spectrum disorder.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research ADHD Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related DisordersSeptember 2021Evidence that infant and early childhood developmental impairments are associated with hallucinatory experiences: Results from a large, population-based cohort study
Cognitive and motor dysfunction are hallmark features of the psychosis continuum, and have been detected during late childhood and adolescence in youth who report psychotic experiences (PE). However, previous investigations have not explored infancy and early childhood development.
Published research Autism Research Youth Mental Health Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKids Youth mental healthSeptember 2021Effect of Preemptive Intervention on Developmental Outcomes Among Infants Showing Early Signs of Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Outcomes to Diagnosis
Intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) typically commences after diagnosis. No trial of an intervention administered to infants before diagnosis has shown an effect on diagnostic outcomes to date.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Academic Biostatistics Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsSeptember 2021Genetic counseling as preventive intervention: toward individual specification of transgenerational autism risk
Although autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are among the most heritable of all neuropsychiatric syndromes, most affected children are born to unaffected parents. Recently, we reported an average increase of 3-5% over general population risk of ASD among offspring of adults who have first-degree relatives with ASD in a large epidemiologic family sample.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsSeptember 2021Prenatal Exposure to General Anesthesia and Childhood Behavioral Deficit
Exposure to surgery and anesthesia in early childhood has been found to be associated with an increased risk of behavioral deficits. While the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned against prenatal exposure to anesthetic drugs, little clinical evidence exists to support this recommendation.
Published research Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKids Perioperative MedicineAugust 2021The effects of JASPER intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review
Naturalistic developmental behavioural interventions are promising approaches for young children with, or suspected of having, autism spectrum disorder. Joint attention, symbolic play, engagement and regulation intervention (JASPER) is a well-researched naturalistic developmental behavioural intervention but, to date, no reviews have specifically evaluated its effects.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Child Disability Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsAugust 2021Investigating associations between birth order and autism diagnostic phenotypes
Birth order effects have been linked to variability in intelligence, educational attainment and sexual orientation. First- and later-born children have been linked to an increased likelihood of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, with a smaller body of evidence implicating decreases in cognitive functioning with increased birth order.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Academic Biostatistics Child Disability Autism Research Diabetes and Obesity Subsite: CliniKidsJuly 2021Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in autism spectrum disorder: Protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled clinical trial
There are no well-established biomedical treatments for the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A small number of studies suggest that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, may improve clinical and cognitive outcomes in ASD.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsJuly 2021Get it right, make it easy, see it all: Viewpoints of autistic individuals and parents of autistic individuals about the autism diagnostic process in Australia
The clinical process for being evaluated for an autism diagnosis is often time consuming and stressful for individuals and their caregivers. While experience of and satisfaction with the diagnostic process has been reviewed in the literature, few studies have directly investigated the viewpoints of individuals diagnosed with autism and caregivers of autistic individuals about what is important in the autism diagnostic process.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsJune 2021Genetic association study of childhood aggression across raters, instruments, and age
Childhood aggressive behavior (AGG) has a substantial heritability of around 50%. Here we present a genome-wide association meta-analysis (GWAMA) of childhood AGG, in which all phenotype measures across childhood ages from multiple assessors were included. We analyzed phenotype assessments for a total of 328 935 observations from 87 485 children aged between 1.5 and 18 years, while accounting for sample overlap.
Published research Subsite: CliniKidsJune 2021Brief Report: Facial Asymmetry and Autistic-Like Traits in the General Population
Atypical facial morphology, particularly increased facial asymmetry, has been identified in some individuals with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC). Many cognitive, behavioural and biological features associated with ASC also occur on a continuum in the general population.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Subsite: CliniKidsJune 2021Maternal immune-related conditions during pregnancy may be a risk factor for neuropsychiatric problems in offspring throughout childhood and adolescence
Emerging research suggests that maternal immune activation (MIA) may be associated with an increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental and mental health outcomes in offspring. Using data from the Raine Study, we investigated whether MIA during pregnancy was associated with increased behavioral and emotional problems in offspring longitudinally across development.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Academic Biostatistics ADHD Early Childhood Development Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsMay 2021The course and prognostic capability of motor difficulties in infants showing early signs of autism
Delays within the motor domain are often overlooked as an early surveillance marker for autism. The present study evaluated motor difficulties and its potential as an early predictive marker for later autism likelihood in a cohort of infants showing early behavioral signs of autism aged 9-14 months. The motor domain was evaluated using the motor subscales of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning at baseline, and at a 6-month follow-up.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsMay 2021An investigation of adherence to best practice guidelines for autism diagnosis in New Zealand
Many clinicians in New Zealand do not follow guidelines for best practice in autism diagnosis. In this study, we investigated the processes that health professionals in New Zealand follow when diagnosing autistic children and adults. We asked 117 health professionals from a range of services and regions in New Zealand, how they identify and diagnose autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsMay 2021The effect of functioning on Quality of Life Inventory-Disability measured quality of life is not mediated or moderated by parental psychological distress
The measurement of quality of life (QOL) in children with intellectual disability often relies upon proxy report via caregivers. The current study investigated whether caregiver psychological distress mediates or moderates the effects of impairment on their ratings of QOL in children with intellectual disability.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Academic Biostatistics Child Disability Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsMay 2021The Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory (CATI): development and validation of a new measure of autistic traits in the general population
Traits and characteristics qualitatively similar to those seen in diagnosed autism spectrum disorder can be found to varying degrees in the general population. To measure these traits and facilitate their use in autism research, several questionnaires have been developed that provide broad measures of autistic traits [e.g. Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ)]. However, since their development, our understanding of autism has grown considerably, and it is arguable that existing measures do not provide an ideal representation of the trait dimensions currently associated with autism. Our aim was to create a new measure of autistic traits that reflects our current understanding of autism, the Comprehensive Autism Trait Inventory (CATI).
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsMay 2021The associations between autistic and communication traits in parents and developmental outcomes in children at familial risk of autism at 6 and 24 months of age
Several studies have explored relationships between parent broader autism phenotype and offspring communication, and have reported that autistic-like traits in parents are related to offspring communication difficulties and autism severity. However, past research has focused on studying such associations in childhood and we know very little about them in infancy. With accumulating evidence that interventions administered during infancy may be most effective in reducing ASD symptoms, it is imperative to examine whether relationships between parent autistic-like traits and child communication appear even earlier during this critical period of life.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsApril 2021Comorbidities and quality of life in children with intellectual disability
Many children with intellectual disability live with medical comorbidities. This study examined the impacts of comorbidities on quality of life (QOL) of children with intellectual disabilities and whether impacts varied with caregiver perceptions that medical needs had been met.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Child Disability Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsDecember 2020Do sex hormones at birth predict later-life economic preferences? Evidence from a pregnancy birth cohort study: Hormones at birth and preferences
Economic preferences may be shaped by exposure to sex hormones around birth. Prior studies of economic preferences and numerous other phenotypic characteristics use digit ratios (2D : 4D), a purported proxy for prenatal testosterone exposure, whose validity has recently been questioned. We use direct measures of neonatal sex hormones (testosterone and oestrogen), measured from umbilical cord blood (n = 200) to investigate their association with later-life economic preferences (risk preferences, competitiveness, time preferences and social preferences) in an Australian cohort (Raine Study Gen2).
Published research Early Childhood Development Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsDecember 2020Subgroups of Temperament Associated with Social-Emotional Difficulties in Infants with Early Signs of Autism
Links between temperament and social-emotional difficulties are well-established in normative child development but remain poorly characterized in autism. We sought to characterize distinct temperament subgroups and their associations with concurrent internalizing and externalizing symptoms in a sample of 103 infants showing early signs of autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Early Childhood Development Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related DisordersDecember 2020Developmental vitamin D deficiency increases foetal exposure to testosterone
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders which are more common in males. The 'prenatal sex steroid' hypothesis links excessive sex-steroid exposure during foetal life with the behavioural differences observed in ASD. However, the reason why sex steroid exposure may be excessive remains unclear. Epidemiological studies have identified several environmental risk factors associated with ASD, including developmental vitamin D (DVD) deficiency.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Vitamin D and Sunlight Autism Research Subsite: Autism & Related DisordersNovember 2020Investigating associations between birth order and autism diagnostic phenotypes
Birth order effects have been linked to variability in intelligence, educational attainment and sexual orientation. First- and later-born children have been linked to an increased likelihood of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, with a smaller body of evidence implicating decreases in cognitive functioning with increased birth order. The present study investigated the potential association between birth order and ASD diagnostic phenotypes in a large and representative population sample.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Subsite: CliniKidsAugust 2020Difficulties in developmental follow-up of preterm neonates in a randomised-controlled trial
Probiotics may be neuroprotective for preterm neonates due to their anti-inflammatory effects and ability to facilitate nutrition. AIM: To assess long-term effects of early probiotic supplementation on neuropsychological development in preterm infants
Published research Early Childhood Development Child DisabilityMarch 2020A preliminary investigation of the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on facial morphology in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
While early exposure to alcohol may influence the development of facial structures, it does not appear to be associated with ASD phenotypic variability
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Child Disability Autism ResearchFebruary 2020Prevalence of Motor Difficulties in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Analysis of a Population-Based Cohort
In this population-based cohort that included 2,084 children with autism aged ≤6 years, over one-third met the criteria for motor difficulties
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Child Disability Autism Research Youth Mental HealthFebruary 2020Examining parent use of specific intervention techniques during a 12-week training program based on the Early Start Denver Model
This study included five mothers of young children with autism who participated in a 12-week parent training program based on the Early Start Denver Model
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJanuary 2020The misnomer of ‘high functioning autism’: Intelligence is an imprecise predictor of functional abilities at diagnosis
We argue that 'high functioning autism' is an inaccurate clinical descriptor when based solely on intelligence quotient demarcations
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Child Disability Autism ResearchJanuary 2020A broad autism phenotype expressed in facial morphology
These data provide the first evidence for a broad autism phenotype expressed in a physical characteristic
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchMarch 2019The Brain Basis of Comorbidity in Neurodevelopmental Disorders
This review discusses early brain development and the etiological factors that may give rise to atypical developmental trajectories, along with neuroimaging insights
Published research Child Disability Autism Research Youth Mental HealthMarch 2019Brief social attention bias modification for children with autism spectrum disorder
Social attention can be acutely modified in children with ASD, with an increased tendency to orient attention toward faces after brief social attention training
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchMarch 2019Psychometric properties of the Quality of Life Inventory-Disability (QI-Disability) measure
Initial evaluation suggests that QI-Disability is a reliable and valid measure of quality of life across the spectrum of intellectual disability
Published research Child Disability Autism ResearchFebruary 2019Atypical nested 22q11.2 duplications are associated with neurodevelopmental phenotypes including autism spectrum disorder with incomplete penetrance
Our findings contribute to the genotype–phenotype data for atypical nested 22q11.2 duplications, with implications for genetic counseling
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJanuary 2019Characterizing the interplay between autism spectrum disorder and comorbid medical conditions: An integrative review
We review medical conditions that have been repeatedly highlighted as sharing the strongest associations with ASD-epilepsy, sleep, as well as gastrointestinal and immune functioning
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJanuary 2019Maternal pre-pregnancy weight and autistic-like traits among offspring in the general population
This study provides further evidence that maternal pre-pregnancy obesity is associated with autism-like behaviors in offspring
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJanuary 2019Parent-observed thematic data on quality of life in children with autism spectrum disorder
Parent observations provide an initial framework for understanding quality of life in autism spectrum disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Child Disability Autism ResearchNovember 2019An integrative analysis of non-coding regulatory DNA variations associated with autism spectrum disorder
Overall, we found that the regulatory variants in autism spectrum disorder cases were enriched in ASD-risk genes and genes involved in fetal neurodevelopment
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchOctober 2019Content validation of the Quality of Life Inventory—Disability
Satisfactory content validity is reported, where ongoing consumer feedback shaped the dataset from which the final items were selected
Published research Academic Biostatistics Child Disability Autism ResearchOctober 2019Effect of Fluoxetine on Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Treatment with fluoxetine compared with placebo resulted in significantly lower scores for obsessive-compulsive behaviors at 16 weeks
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchSeptember 2019Pre-emptive intervention versus treatment as usual for infants showing early behavioural risk signs of autism spectrum disorder
A pre-emptive intervention for the autism spectrum disorder prodrome had no immediate treatment effect on early autism spectrum disorder symptoms
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchSeptember 2019Mental Health Correlates of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Gender Diverse Young People: Evidence from a Specialised Child and Adolescent Gender Clinic in Australia
Current findings indicate that gender diverse children and adolescents with indicated ASD comprise an especially vulnerable group at risk of mental health difficulties
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Youth Mental HealthAugust 2019Sleep problems and anxiety from 2 to 8 years and the influence of autistic traits: a longitudinal study
Anxiety and sleep problems may be an early indicator of autism in young children and early autistic traits may also contribute to anxiety problems later in childhood
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchMay 2019Developmental vitamin D deficiency produces behavioral phenotypes of relevance to Autism in an animal model
Here we investigate these features in an animal model related to autism spectrum disorder - the DVD-deficient rat
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchMay 2019Parental experiences using the Therapy Outcomes by You (TOBY) application to deliver early intervention to their child with autism
Parental experience of TOBY was positive when use of the application aligned with parental proficiency, opportunities for use, and importantly, the needs of the child
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchMay 2019Gaps in Current Autism Research: The Thoughts of the Autism Research Editorial Board and Associate Editors
Mini‐commentaries on what they considered to be the current gaps in research on autism spectrum disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchDecember 2018Does perinatal exposure to exogenous oxytocin influence child behavioural problems and autistic-like behaviours to 20 years of age
This study is the first to investigate longitudinal mental health outcomes associated with the use of oxytocin-based medications during labour
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchAugust 2018Predicting language difficulties in middle childhood from early developmental milestones: A comparison of traditional regression and machine learning techniques
The current study provides preliminary evidence that machine learning algorithms provide equivalent predictive accuracy to traditional methods for language difficulties in middle childhood
Published research Language Development Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Autism ResearchAugust 2018Social impairments in autism spectrum disorder are related to maternal immune history profile
this study is the first to show an association between immune activation history in the mother and increased ASD symptom severity in children with ASD
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchAugust 2018Study protocol for the Australian autism biobank: an international resource to advance autism discovery research
The Australian Autism Biobank was initiated to establish a large-scale repository of biological samples and detailed clinical information about children diagnosed with ASD
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJuly 2018Does otitis media in early childhood affect later behavioural development? Results from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study
The relationship between early life episodes of otitis media and later behavioural development with adjustment for confounders.
Published research Ear Infections Autism Research Ear Health Genetics and HealthJune 2018No relationship between autistic traits and salivary testosterone concentrations in men from the general population
The current data add to the increasing evidence for the lack of relationship between autistic traits and postnatal levels of testosterone in men
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchMay 2018Vitamin D is crucial for maternal care and offspring social behaviour in rats
These data highlight that early life levels of vitamin D are an important consideration for maternal behavioural adaptations as well as offspring neuropsychiatry
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Vitamin D and Sunlight Autism ResearchApril 2018A prospective study of fetal head growth, autistic traits and autism spectrum disorder
This large population-based study identified no consistent association across two cohorts between prenatal head growth and postnatal autistic traits
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJanuary 2018The prevalence of mental health disorders and symptoms in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Mental health conditions and problems are often reported in children and adolescents with CP. A systematic review was undertaken to describe their prevalence.
Published research Child Disability Autism ResearchJanuary 2018A national guideline for the assessment and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in Australia
The Guideline aims to create greater consistency in diagnostic practices across the country to ensure individuals on the autism spectrum can receive the optimal care
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJanuary 2017Evidence of a reduction over time in the behavioral severity of autistic disorder diagnoses
This study provides the first clear evidence of a reduction over time in the behavioral severity of individuals diagnosed with Autistic Disorder during a period of stability in diagnostic criteria
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Academic Biostatistics Autism Research Youth Mental HealthJanuary 2017Evidence of a reduction over time in the behavioral severity of autistic disorder diagnoses
We examined whether there were changes over time in the qualitative and quantitative phenotype of individuals who received the diagnosis of Autistic Disorder.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJanuary 2017Beyond the hype and hope: Critical considerations for intranasal oxytocin research in autism spectrum disorder
In this review, we comprehensively evaluate the rationale for oxytocin as a therapeutic, evaluating evidence from various various sources.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchFebruary 2017Protective benefit of predominant breastfeeding against otitis media may be limited to early childhood: results from a prospective birth cohort study
Our findings are in line with a number of epidemiological studies which show a positive association between breastfeeding and OM in early childhood
Published research Breastfeeding Ear Infections Autism Research Genetics and HealthFebruary 2017Qualitative Analysis of Parental Observations on Quality of Life in Australian Children with Down Syndrome
We investigated parental observations to identify QOL domains in children with Down Syndrome and determined whether domains differed between children and teens.
Published research Child DisabilityMarch 2017Umbilical cord androgens and estrogens in relation to verbal and nonverbal abilities at age 10 in the general population
These data suggest that late gestation sex steroids do not exert a major effect on nonverbal and verbal abilities in middle childhood.
Published research Autism ResearchMay 2017A Relationship Between Early Language Skills and Adult Autistic-Like Traits: Evidence from a Longitudinal Population-Based Study
This is the first study to show an association between early language ability and autistic-like traits in adulthood
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchMay 2017Brief Report: An Exploratory Study of the Diagnostic Reliability for Autism Spectrum Disorder
We conducted a study that examined the concordance of diagnoses between a multidisciplinary assessment team and a range of clinicians in Australia.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJune 2017Late talkers and later language outcomes: Predicting the different language trajectories
The aim of the current study was to investigate the risk factors present at 2 years for children who showed language difficulties that persisted
Published research Child Health, Development & Education Language DevelopmentJune 2017Relationship between early motor milestones and severity of restricted and repetitive behaviors in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
This study provides the first evidence for the association between restricted and repetitive behaviors and age of attainment of early motor milestones.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJune 2017Elizabeth Usher Memorial Lecture: Rethinking the clinical pathway for autism spectrum disorder and challenging the status quo
The aim of the paper is to outline the future of early identification and intervention of ASD and the research goals to be addressed to achieve this vision.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJuly 2017Acoustic Properties of Cries in 12-Month Old Infants at High-Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder
There is preliminary evidence that infant siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder have an atypical pattern of crying
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJuly 2017Latent Class Analysis of Neurodevelopmental Deficit After Exposure to Anesthesia in Early Childhood
Some studies suggest an association between early exposure to anesthesia, surgery and long term developmental deficit, clinical phenotype of children is unknown
Published research Autism ResearchAugust 2017Investigating facial phenotype in autism spectrum conditions: The importance of a hypothesis driven approach
The identification of differences in the facial phenotype of individuals with ASC may contribute to efforts to promote early identification of the condition and help elucidate etiological pathways.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Child Disability Autism ResearchAugust 2017Hypermasculinised facial morphology in boys and girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder and its association with symptomatology
This is the first study demonstrating facial hypermasculinisation in ASD and its relationship to social-communication difficulties in prepubescent children
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchSeptember 2017A randomised controlled trial of an iPad-based application to complement early behavioural intervention in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Technology-based interventions may provide a relatively low-cost addition to existing therapist-delivered interventions for children with ASD
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchSeptember 2017Duration of general anaesthetic exposure in early childhood and long-term language and cognitive ability
Anaesthetic dose causing toxicity in animals has been evaluated, but the relationship between duration of VA exposure and development in children remains vague.
Published research Autism ResearchNovember 2017Prenatal maternal stress events and phenotypic outcomes in Autism Spectrum Disorder
ASD, in the context of prenatal maternal stress exposure, may be associated with a more severe phenotype, particularly when there are multiple prenatal exposures
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchNovember 2017Exploring quality of life of children with cerebral palsy and intellectual disability: What are the important domains of life?
An estimated half of all children with cerebral palsy also have comorbid intellectual disability, the domains of QOL for these children are not well understood
Cerebral Palsy Published research Intellectual Disability Autism ResearchDecember 2017Cytokine levels and associations with symptom severity in male and female children with autism spectrum disorder
ASD's are complex, pervasive and heterogeneous neurodevelopmental conditions with varying conditions, trajectories, significant male bias and unknown etiology.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchDecember 2016Commentary: Are we expecting too much from the extreme male brain theory of autism? A reflection on Kung et al. (2016)
This commentary highlights inconsistent findings that undermine the extreme male brain theory autism but data may not present an adequate test of the hypothesis
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchNovember 2016Obesity and associated factors in youth with an autism spectrum disorder
Prevalence of overweight/obesity in children and youth with autism spectrum disorder, and associations between weight status and range of factors
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchOctober 2016Randomised controlled trial of an iPad based early intervention for autism: TOBY playpad study protocol
This trial will determine the effectiveness of the TOBY App as a therapeutic complement to other early interventions children with ASD receive
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchOctober 2016A Genome-Wide Association Meta-Analysis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Population-Based Pediatric Cohorts
The SNP-based heritability for ADHD symptom scores indicates a polygenic architecture, and genes involved in neurite outgrowth are possibly involved
Published research ADHD Autism ResearchSeptember 2016Diagnostic evaluation for autism spectrum disorder: A survey of health professionals in Australia
Reported practice of some professionals in Australia may not be consistent with international best practice guidelines for ASD diagnosis
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchSeptember 2016Mothers of Children with Autism have Different Rates of Cancer According to the Presence of Intellectual Disability in Their Child
Mothers of children with autism without ID had increased risk of cancer, which may relate to common genetic pathways
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Academic Biostatistics Child Disability Autism ResearchJuly 2016Autism Spectrum Disorder, Language Disorder, and Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder: Overlaps, Distinguishing Features, and Clinical Implications
Strictly defined cases of social (pragmatic) communication disorder and specific language impairment can be distinguished from autism spectrum disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJuly 2016A genome-wide approach to children's aggressive behavior: The EAGLE consortium
Common variants at 2p12 show suggestive evidence for association with childhood aggression
Published research Autism ResearchJuly 2016CATALISE: A multinational and multidisciplinary Delphi consensus study. Identifying language impairments in children
Delayed or impaired language development is a common developmental concern, yet there is little agreement about the criteria used to identify and classify...
Published research Language Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchJune 2016Short report: Relationship between restricted and repetitive behaviours in children with autism spectrum disorder and their parents
Restricted and repetitive behaviours constitute a core symptom domain of autism spectrum disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchMarch 2016Conceptualizing a quality of life framework for girls with Rett syndrome using qualitative methods
Existing quality of life scales for children in the general population or with other disabilities did not capture the QOL of children with Rett syndrome
Published research Rett Syndrome Child Disability Autism ResearchFebruary 2016A Prospective Ultrasound Study of Prenatal Growth in Infant Siblings of Children With Autism
Identified no significant differences between the high- and low-risk fetuses in the rate of prenatal head and body growth throughout the 2nd and 3rd-trimester
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research