Play and Developmental Outcomes in Infant Siblings of Children with Autism

Abstract

We observed infant siblings of children with autism later diagnosed with ASD (ASD siblings; n = 17), infant siblings of children with autism with and without other delays (Other Delays and No Delays siblings; n = 12 and n = 19, respectively) and typically developing controls (TD controls; n = 19) during a free-play task at 18 months of age. Functional, symbolic, and repeated play actions were coded. ASD siblings showed fewer functional and more non-functional repeated play behaviors than TD controls. Other Delays and No Delays siblings showed more non-functional repeated play than TD controls. Group differences disappeared with the inclusion of verbal mental age. Play as an early indicator of autism and its relationship to the broader autism phenotype is discussed.

Sensory and Motor Behaviors of Infant Siblings of Children With and Without Autism

“…It may be that differences in types of play and other behaviors may not be clear until after age 12 mo. Christensen et al (2010), for example, in a study of infant siblings of children with ASD at age 14 mo, found that high-risk infants engaged less often in functional play than did age-matched, typically developing counterparts.…”

Autistic Traits Below the Clinical Threshold: Re-examining the Broader Autism Phenotype in the 21st Century

“…To date, a modest number of studies have suggested that the relatives of autistic probands display a milder version of these clinical manifestations. In a study on infant siblings of children with autism, Christensen et al (2010) reported significantly higher frequency of nonfunctional repeated play behaviours compared to typically developing infants. In a study involving older relatives, Smith et al (2009) carried out a factor analysis on the restricted, repetitive behaviours and interests (RRBI) domain of autism using the Autism Diagnostic InterviewRevised and examined associations between RRBI and personality traits linked to autism in the parents.…”

“…Other studies looking at the early social BAP include Toth et al (2007) and Christensen et al (2010) who examined play behaviour in at-risk siblings. Using the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scale-Developmental Profile (Wetherby and Prizant 2002), Toth et al reported that infant siblings of children with autism displayed less symbolic behaviour as well as fewer responsive social smiles and distal gestures such as pointing during social interactions.…”

Early detection of autism spectrum disorders: From retrospective home video studies to prospective ‘high risk’ sibling studies

“…As far as retrospective studies are concerned, several works focused on the analysis of movement and sensory-motor development Damiano et al, 2013;Flanagan et al, 2012;LeBarton and Iverson, 2013;Loh et al, 2007;Mulligan and White, 2012;Nickel et al, 2013), on the analysis of social behaviors (Christensen et al, 2010;Cornew et al, 2012;Landa et al, 2007;Nadig et al, 2007;Ozonoff et al, 2010;Presmanes et al, 2007;Sullivan et al, 2007), and on the precursors of communication such as crying or vocalizations (Paul et al, 2011;Sheinkopf et al, 2012). Other studies analyzed parent-infant interaction, during the face to face-still face paradigm (Cassel et al, 2007;Chow et al, 2010;Hutman et al, 2012;Ibanez et al, 2013;Rozga et al, 2011;Yirmiya et al, 2006) or during unstructured play sessions.…”