Publication date: September 2019
Source: Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Volume 65
Author(s): Maurice A. Feldman, Alicia Azzano, Rebecca A. Ward, Melissa Hudson, Calvin P. Sjaarda, Xudong Liu
Abstract
Background
Early identification and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) could be facilitated by knowledge of family history of medical, developmental and psychiatric conditions associated with showing early signs of ASD.
Method
The current study used nonparametric analysis of covariance to compare the number of family history conditions n 69 high-risk (biological sibling with ASD) and 108 low-risk (no family history of ASD) infants. Spearman correlation was used to assess the relationship between family history of various conditions and early ASD signs as measured by an early screener, the Parent Observation of Early Markers Scale (POEMS).
Results
There were significantly more family history conditions in the families of the high-risk infants, and significant positive relationships between the number of family history problems and early markers of ASD in both groups.
Conclusions
The results suggest that family history conditions may play an important role in screening infants not yet diagnosed with ASD and reveal etiological pathways.