Developmental trajectories of adaptive behavior in autism spectrum disorder: a high‐risk sibling cohort

Abstract

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience impairments in adaptive behavior. Methods: Developmental trajectories of adaptive behavior in ASD were examined in children from high-risk (siblings of children diagnosed with ASD, n = 403) and low-risk (no family history of ASD, n = 163) families. Children were assessed prospectively at 12, 18, 24, and 36 months of age using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales and underwent a blind independent diagnostic assessment for ASD at 36 months of age. Results: The semi-parametric group-based modeling approach using standard scores on the Adaptive Behavior Composite revealed three distinct developmental trajectories: (a) Group 1 (21.2% of sample) showed average performance at 12 months and a declining trajectory; (b) Group 2 (52.8% of the sample) showed average performance at 12 months with a slightly declining trajectory; and (c) Group 3 (26.0% of the sample) showed a higher level of adaptive behavior at 12 months and a stable trajectory. The Mullen Scales of Early Learning Early Learning Composite and the Autism Observation Scale for Infants total score at 6 and 12 months predicted trajectory membership. Conclusions: The results emphasize heterogeneous development associated with ASD and the need for interventions tailored to individual presentations.Children with ASD often have impairments in adaptive behavior.Impairments in adaptive behavior appear by the first year of life in toddlers who will later be diagnosed with the disorder.Adaptive behavior is influenced by early signs of ASD (AOSI) and developmental delays (Mullen), as well as diagnostic measures (ADOS and ADI). Parents are an important source of early behavioral information regarding ASD and adaptive skills. 704

Resilience in Development and Psychopathology: Multisystem Perspectives

“…In these studies, trajectory analyses of symptoms among traumatized children all found one or more resilient trajectories, including a pattern of improving (falling) symptoms over time within a group of individuals as well as a group that showed consistently low symptoms, congruent with the theoretical resistance pathway. Similarly, studies of infants at heightened familial risk for ASD and low-risk controls consistently report subgroups with increasing trajectories of cognitive functioning in specific domains or overall adaptive behavior that include both high-and low-risk infants (Bussu et al 2019, Franchini et al 2018, Sacrey et al 2019.…”

Atypical Development of Attentional Control Associates with Later Adaptive Functioning, Autism and ADHD Traits

“…Indeed although as is standard in the literature we use the SRS-2 as a measure of autism traits, older children at least SRS scores may be sensitive to general behavioural and language difficulties (Hus et al 2013). Previously, cross-domain disruption between 14 and 36 months has been observed for a sub-group of infants with later-diagnosed autism Landa et al 2013;Sacrey et al 2019). Should this prove to be the case it invites the question whether disruption to development of attentional control, as a domain of fundamental importance to a broad range of aspects of cognition, is itself the trigger for domain-wide disruption (Hendry et al 2019;Johnson 2012Johnson , 2017.…”

“…Accounts of early developmental change may be improved still further by considering sub-group differences in development. For example, Bussu et al ( 2019 ) and Sacrey et al ( 2019 ) have identified separable trajectories of adaptive functioning between the ages of 8 and 36 months amongst EL and TL infants. In neither case was a diagnostic outcome of autism associated uniquely with one trajectory; i.e.…”

Atypical development of attentional control associates with later adaptive functioning, autism and ADHD traits

“…Indeed although as is standard in the literature we use the SRS-2 as a measure of autism traits, older children at least SRS scores may be sensitive to general behavioural and language difficulties (Hus et al, 2013). Previously, cross-domain disruption between 14 and 36 months has been observed for a sub-group of infants with later-diagnosed autism Landa, Gross, Stuart, & Faherty, 2013;Sacrey et al, 2019). Should this prove to be the case it invites the question whether disruption to development of attentional control, as a domain of fundamental importance to a broad range of aspects of cognition, is itself the trigger for domain-wide disruption (Hendry et al, 2019;Johnson, 2012Johnson, , 2017.…”