title: Predictors of optimal outcome in toddlers diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: A diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is usually taken to be permanent. In this study, 13 two-year-old children with ASD lost the diagnosis by age 4, at which time they scored within the normal range on standardized measures of cognitive and adaptive functioning. No differences were found in symptom severity, socialization, or communication between children who lost the ASD diagnosis and children who did not, but children with PDD-NOS were significantly more likely than those with full autistic disorder to move off the spectrum. The clearest distinguishing factor was motor skills at age 2. Results support the idea that some toddlers with ASD can lose their diagnosis and suggest that this is difficult to predict.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA. saasha.sutera@uconn.edu
authors.forename: Saasha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sutera
authors.forename: Juhi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Emma L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Esser
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: Leandra B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: Diana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Robins
authors.forename: Thyde
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dumont-Mathieu
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fein
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003289:Convalescence; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012951:Socialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires