Accelerated head and body growth in infants later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders: a comparative study of optimal outcome children.
Previous research has demonstrated accelerated head and body growth during infancy in children with autism spectrum disorders. No study has yet examined head growth in children who lose their autism spectrum disorder diagnoses. Head circumference, length, and weight growth during infancy for 24 children who maintained their diagnoses were compared with 15 children who lost their diagnoses, and to 37 typically developing controls. Results showed that head circumference and weight growth were significantly greater in both autism spectrum disorder groups compared with controls, with no significant differences between autism spectrum disorder groups. However, when length and weight were controlled for, accelerated head growth remained significant in the children who lost their diagnoses. Findings suggest that children who lose their autism spectrum disorder diagnoses and children who maintain their diagnoses show similar head circumference, length, and weight growth trajectories during infancy, although subtle differences in body growth between groups may exist.
Mraz
Krista D
KD
Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, USA. dalbecmraz@yahoo.com
Dixon
James
J
Dumont-Mathieu
Thyde
T
Fein
Deborah
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D049628:Body Size; D001835:Body Weight; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological