title: A prospective case series of high-risk infants who developed autism.
abstract: The present paper documents the development of autism/autistic spectrum disorder in a consecutive series of nine high-risk infants followed prospectively from 6 months of age. Evidence is provided for two broadly defined subgroups: the first subgroup (n = 6) showed a decrease in IQ between 12 and 24 or 36 months (from average/near average to severe cognitive impairment), whereas the second subgroup (n = 3) continued to obtain average or near average IQs. Signs of autism emerged and/or were more striking earlier in the first subgroup. In all nine children, early impairment in social-communicative development coexisted with atypical sensory and/or motor behaviors, as did a temperamental profile marked by irritability/distress and dysregulated state. Discussion focuses on issues raised by the pattern of findings.
authors.affiliation: Autism Research Centre, IWK Health Centre, Dalhousie University, 5850 University Avenue, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3K 6R8. susan.bryson@iwk.nshealth.ca
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Bryson
authors.forename: Lonnie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zwaigenbaum
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brian
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Szatmari
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rombough
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McDermott
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D019370:Observation; D010641:Phenotype; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament