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The first six months of life: A systematic review of early markers associated with later autismThere is now good evidence that behavioural signs of autism spectrum conditions (autism) emerge over the first two years of life. Identifying clear developmental differences early in life may facilitate earlier identification and intervention that can promote longer-term quality of life. Here we present a systematic review of studies investigating behavioural markers of later autism diagnosis or symptomology taken at 0-6 months.
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Validation of a novel theory of mind measurement tool: The social robot video taskSocial communication difficulties in autism spectrum disorder have been associated with poor Theory of Mind (ToM), an ability to attribute mental states to others. Interventions using humanoid robots could improve ToM that may generalize to human-human interactions. Traditionally, ToM has been measured using the Firth-Happe Animations (FHA) task which depicts interactions between two animated triangles.
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The associations between autistic and communication traits in parents and developmental outcomes in children at familial risk of autism at 6 and 24 months of ageSeveral studies have explored relationships between parent broader autism phenotype and offspring communication, and have reported that autistic-like traits in parents are related to offspring communication difficulties and autism severity. However, past research has focused on studying such associations in childhood and we know very little about them in infancy. With accumulating evidence that interventions administered during infancy may be most effective in reducing ASD symptoms, it is imperative to examine whether relationships between parent autistic-like traits and child communication appear even earlier during this critical period of life.
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Functioning, participation, and quality of life in children with intellectual disability: an observational studyTo investigate associations between functioning, community participation, and quality of life (QoL) and identify whether participation mediates the effects of functioning on QoL.
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An investigation of adherence to best practice guidelines for autism diagnosis in New ZealandMany clinicians in New Zealand do not follow guidelines for best practice in autism diagnosis. In this study, we investigated the processes that health professionals in New Zealand follow when diagnosing autistic children and adults. We asked 117 health professionals from a range of services and regions in New Zealand, how they identify and diagnose autism.
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Reduced goal-directed action control in autism spectrum disorderInvestigate whether impairments in the ability to execute flexible goal-directed actions may be an underlying feature in ASD contributing to these symptoms
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Perceived gender ratings for high and low scorers on the autism-spectrum quotient consistent with the extreme male brain account of autismThis study tested the 'Extreme Male Brain' theory & androgyny accounts of Autism spectrum disorder.
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Commentary: Are we expecting too much from the extreme male brain theory of autism? A reflection on Kung et al. (2016)This commentary highlights inconsistent findings that undermine the extreme male brain theory autism but data may not present an adequate test of the hypothesis
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Umbilical cord androgens and estrogens in relation to verbal and nonverbal abilities at age 10 in the general populationThese data suggest that late gestation sex steroids do not exert a major effect on nonverbal and verbal abilities in middle childhood.
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Short report: Relationship between restricted and repetitive behaviours in children with autism spectrum disorder and their parentsRestricted and repetitive behaviours constitute a core symptom domain of autism spectrum disorder