Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Assessments

    Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has no distinct cause. It is a developmental disorder that has causes linked to genetics, biology, and even living environments (CDC). There are different signs that can help a parent identify ASD in their child, but the most common early signs are avoidance of eye contact and lack of recognition when someone is speaking to them. When looking at trends in people with ASD it can be seen that the disorder is more common in men than woman, hinting that there may be a factor in the development of ASD that is genetic. In addition, the CDC noted that people with certain genetic disorders such as fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, and down syndrome are more likely to have ASD. It is important to note that genetic testing can not alone diagnose ASD, it rather can find possible genetic causes of ASD. 

    Maggie Guy's article Cortical Source Analysis of the Face Sensitive N290 ERP Component in Infants at High Risk for Autism investigated the components of potential indicators in infants who are at risk for ASD. During the team's experimentation, it was noted how important it is to use group-specific head models in order to produce the most accurate results. A finding that stemmed from this project was that the IBIS model turned out to be the most consistent and overall better choice than the study-specific or group-specific models. The study used methods of cortical source analysis to study N290 event-related potentials (ERP). Guy's team studied the ERP reactivity in children with varying risks of having ASD, specifically looking into the magnitude of responses when the children were presented with faces or toys. It was found that the children had a greater ERP response when presented with faces rather than toys. Guy's work on studying face sensitive N290 ERPs implies that there still is much to discover regarding early ASD indicators when studying children at varying risks for ASD.

    A study titled Autism screening tests: A narrative issue that features researchers
Fatemeh Fekar Gharamaleki and Boshra Bahrami analyzed 19 different Autism screening assessments. As mentioned in the article, ASD symptoms are present even as early as within the first two years of a child's life (Journal of Public Health Research). By evaluating various screening assessments the team was able to learn the strengths and weaknesses of each type of testing, as well as gain insight into which method of testing is most efficient for different children. The team investigated different forms of assessments: 1 confrontation game, 8 checklists, and 10 questionnaires. Because the goal of the research was to gather data regarding different screening assessments to ultimately help therapists select the most relevant form for their patients, the study focused primarily on the components to each assessment and the demographic that each of the 19 assessments were intended for. 

    The two studies share a common topic relating to ASD and different methods you can take to identify ASD in children. Guy's study focus on ERP responses in children offers a potential biological indicator of ASD, while Gharamaleki's study conveys various methods of screening in children who may be suspected to have ASD. Both approaches indicate a possibility of narrowing down ASD diagnoses in children. Results such as these are important when therapists and doctors move forward in diagnosis and treatment. Screening assessments and cortical source analysis are two methods of detecting ASD or ASD related symptoms in children, and when used together can potentially solidify the diagnostic or treatment plans of therapists, psychiatrists, and doctors. 

Sources:

“Autism Spectrum Disorder, Family Health History, and Genetics.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 May 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/autism.htm.

“Genetic Testing for Autism.” Autism Speaks, https://www.autismspeaks.org/expert-opinion/should-i-or-we-have-genetic-testing-autism.

Gharamaleki, Fatemeh Fekar, et al. “Autism Screening Tests: A Narrative Review .” Sage Journals, 16 May 2022, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.4081/jphr.2021.2308.

Guy, Maggie W., et al. “Cortical Source Analysis of the Face Sensitive N290 ERP Component in Infants at High Risk for Autism.” MDPI, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 25 Aug. 2022, https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/9/1129.