title: Parental recognition of developmental problems in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) begin to manifest during the first 2 years; there is limited evidence regarding type and timing of symptom onset. We examined factors related to parental age of recognition (AOR) of early abnormalities and the association between AOR and diagnosis and levels of functioning at 2 and 4 years in 75 toddlers with ASD. Results suggest significant differences between autism and PDD-NOS in the AOR and type of first concerns. Early social and motor delays as well as maternal age was associated with AOR. Later AOR was associated with poorer social-communicative and nonverbal cognitive functioning at 2 and 4. The findings are discussed in a context of identifying distinct developmental trajectories within the autism spectrum.
authors.affiliation: Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA. katarzyna.chawarska@yale.edu
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chawarska
authors.forename: Rhea
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Ami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klin
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hannigen
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Dichtel
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Volkmar
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D010290:Parents; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior