title: Restricted and repetitive behaviors in individuals with a history of ASDs who have achieved optimal outcomes.
abstract: Studies of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) suggest that restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are particularly difficult to remediate. We examined present and past RRBs in 34 individuals who achieved optimal outcomes (OOs; lost their ASD diagnosis), 45 high-functioning individuals with ASD (HFA) and 34 typically developing (TD) peers. The OO group exhibited minimal residual RRBs at the time of the study. All OO participants were reported to have at least one RRB in early childhood and almost 90 % met the RRB cutoff for ASD in early childhood, but RRBs were not more present in the OO than the TD group at the time of the study. History of RRBs in the HFA and OO groups differed only in oversensitivity to noise and insistence on sameness. Reports of current behavior indicated that RRB's had almost totally disappeared in the OO group. Thus, although RRB's were present in the OO group in childhood, they resolved along with social and communication deficits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA, etroyb@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Troyb
authors.forename: Alyssa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orinstein
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tyson
authors.forename: Inge-Marie
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Eigsti
authors.forename: Letitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Naigles
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult