title: Assessment of Autism Symptoms During the Neonatal Period: Is There Early Evidence of Autism Risk?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define neonatal social characteristics related to autism risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two preterm infants underwent neonatal neurobehavioral testing. At age 2 yr, participants were assessed with the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive autism screening was associated with absence of gaze aversion, χ=5.90, p=01, odds ratio=5.05, and absence of endpoint nystagmus, χ=4.78, p=.02, odds ratio=8.47. Demonstrating gaze aversion was related to better language outcomes, t(55)=-3.07, p≤.003. Displaying endpoint nystagmus was related to better language outcomes, t(61)=-3.06, p=.003, cognitive outcomes, t(63)=-5.04, p<.001, and motor outcomes, t(62)=-2.82, p=.006.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atypical social interactions were not observed among infants who later screened positive for autism. Instead, the presence of gaze aversion and endpoint nystagmus was related to better developmental outcomes. Understanding early behaviors associated with autism may enable early identification and lead to timely therapy activation to improve function.
authors.affiliation: Roberta Pineda, PhD, OTR/L, is Assistant Professor, Program in Occupational Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO; pineda_r@kids.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.affiliation: Kelsey Melchior, MSOT, is Occupational Therapy Student, Program in Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Kelsey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Melchior
authors.affiliation: Sarah Oberle, OTD, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Program in Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oberle
authors.affiliation: Terrie Inder, MD, is Mary Ellen Avery Professor in Pediatrics in the Field of Newborn Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, and Professor in Pediatrics, Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Terrie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inder
authors.affiliation: Cynthia Rogers, MD, is Assistant Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005133:Eye Movements; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007804:Language Development; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009760:Nystagmus, Physiologic; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012919:Social Behavior