Multiplex developmental disorder.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Autistic Disorder↗
Biomedical subjects
A Klin
Publications and source records attributed to A Klin.
Field trial for autistic disorder in DSM-IV.
OBJECTIVE: This project focused on the development of the definition of autism for DSM-IV. METHOD: Multiple sites were involved in obtaining information regarding 977 patients with the following clinician-assigned diagnoses: autism (N = 454), other pervasive developmental disorders (N = 240), and other disorders (N = 283). A standard coding system was used, and the raters (N = 125) had a range of experience in the diagnosis of autism. Patterns of agreement among existing diagnostic systems were examined, as was the rationale for inclusion of other disorders within the class of pervasive developmental disorders. RESULTS: The DSM-III-R definition of autism was found to be overly broad. The proposed ICD-10 definition most closely approximated the clinicians' diagnoses. Inclusion of other disorders within pervasive developmental disorders appeared justified. Partly on the basis of these data, modifications in the ICD-10 definition were made; this and the DSM-IV definition are conceptually identical. CONCLUSIONS: The resulting convergence of the DSM-IV and ICD-10 systems should facilitate both research and clinical service.
Age of Onset↗
Listening preferences in regard to speech in four children with developmental disabilities.
In a previous experimental study of children's listening responses in regard to speech sounds, autistic children showed preferential patterns which were in sharp contrast to a group of mentally-handicapped and normally-developing children. The present study reports the data obtained for four children whose clinical diagnosis (1) became available only some time after the study was carried out, and/or (2) differed from previously recorded clinical impressions. The results obtained support previous findings according to which a lack of attraction to speech sounds appears to be a feature of young autistic children's overall disregard to people. The present technique is discussed as a viable method to examine experimentally young autistic children's social unresponsiveness.
Acoustic Stimulation↗
Autistic social dysfunction: some limitations of the theory of mind hypothesis.
This study examined the extent to which the social disabilities found in autism can be accounted for by the "Theory of Mind" hypothesis. Items related to social development from the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales were administered to 29 CA-, MA- and IQ-matched pairs of young autistic and non-autistic, developmentally disabled children. These items were evaluated in relation to expected ages of acquisition based on the Vineland standardization database. Our results indicate that the social dysfunction in autism affects very basic and early emerging social behaviors which are typically present prior to the time at which even the earliest precursors of a theory of mind apparently emerge.
Age Factors↗
Young autistic children's listening preferences in regard to speech: a possible characterization of the symptom of social withdrawal.
Autism is a childhood disorder diagnosed primarily in the presence of severe social unresponsiveness in the first 3 years of life (Volkmar, 1987). Since speech exerts a prepotent attraction on the attention of normally developing infants, hence facilitating social engagement, we designed a technique to examine whether this inborn reaction could be at fault in young autistic children. They were given a choice between their mothers' speech and the noise of superimposed voices (a sound effect obtained in a busy canteen). Data were obtained utilizing a specially designed automated and computerized device which recorded the children's responses in their own homes. In contrast to comparison groups of mentally retarded and normally developing children who showed the expected strong preference for their mothers' speech, the autistic children actively preferred the alternative sound or showed a lack of preference for either audio segment. These results suggest that such abnormal reactions to speech are a feature of these children's overall disregard to people.
Arousal↗
Unique profile for erythrocyte membrane acetylcholinesterase in hereditary spherocytosis.
Acetylcholinesterase of human erythrocytes from healthy donors and from patients with hematological disorders was analysed in a search for differential membrane parameters. Two substrates were used to estimate the exposure of acetylcholinesterase active site in the membrane: phenylacetate, a hydrophobic substrate, to determine total enzyme activity, and acetylcholine, an ionic substrate, to measure the externally reactive enzyme. The sensitivity of acetylcholinesterase to added stearic acid was also analysed. Three categories of the disorders studied were discerned: (a) The erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase profile was indistinguishable from normal control in beta-thalassemia minor and groups of patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia or congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type II. (b) A marked decline in acetylcholinesterase with both substrates and reduced sensitivity to stearic acid were exhibited by the erythrocytes of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, beta-thalassemia major and other autoimmune hemolytic anemia and congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type II patients. Normal erythrocytes, either aged or pretreated to 50 degrees C, also showed similar characteristics. (c) Hereditary spherocytosis was singly differentiated by an elevated acetylcholinesterase activity with acetylthiocholine and by a vastly diminished sensitivity to stearic acid, while activity with phenylacetate was equal to control. This distinct profile may reflect the unique organization of the erythrocyte membrane in hereditary spherocytosis.
Acetylcholinesterase↗