The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) is widely used to assess autistic traits and is recommended in clinical guidelines to screen for and assess autism in adults. However, evidence for its accuracy largely comes from case–control studies, which tend to overestimate diagnostic performance. This systematic review and meta-analysis (1) evaluated how well the AQ predicts autism diagnostic status in adults, (2) calculated pooled sensitivity and specificity of the AQ, and (3) considered number of false positives and false negatives across different prevalence levels. Eligible studies needed to administer the AQ prior to a diagnostic assessment to confirm diagnostic status. Twelve studies were synthesised, with up to 2536 people included in each analysis. Random effects meta-analysis estimated pooled area under the curve (AUC) values, and bivariate random effects models pooled sensitivity and specificity. Predictive values were calculated across prevalence rates from 10
Early brain overgrowth is well-documented in autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, longitudinal brain development has not been systematically charted. We performed a meta-analysis of longitudinal total brain volume (TBV) trajectories in ASD compared to controls, including 6 studies, 453 ASD and 3,510 controls aged 6 months to 18 years. Cross-sectional TBV was larger in ASD than controls (Hedges’ g = 0.22, p = 0.014). Meta-regressions showed larger TBV was specific to early childhood, with reduced TBV in late adolescence in ASD (F(2, 13) = 37.51, b=-0.06, p<0.001). Longitudinally, TBV growth was reduced over time in ASD versus controls (g=-0.09, p = 0.06). In summary, TBV alterations in ASD are age dependent, it remains unclear whether alterations persist into adulthood due to a lack of studies beyond age 18.
Parenting involves the practices and efforts caregivers use to support a child’s development. Caring for Autistic children presents unique challenges, requiring continuous adaptation of caregiving strategies. This systematic review synthesizes current evidence on parenting school-aged Autistic children, analyzing 54 studies from an initial pool of 2068 records. Results show a tendency toward permissive parenting, which may reflect efforts to preserve closeness and/or cope with caregiving strain in contexts of limited support. Parental involvement in interventions was found to benefit children, caregivers and the family system. Further, social and family support networks were shown to be crucial for caregiver well-being and sense of competence. This systematic review underscores the need for further investigation of parental experiences and the development of psychoeducational programs to mitigate societal barriers and improve the well-being of Autistic individuals and their families.
Anxiety related to public locker rooms is a significant barrier to sports and exercise participation for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This scoping review examines the locker room experiences of individuals with ASD and identifies strategies for creating inclusive environments. A search across six electronic databases and relevant journals identified 13 studies. Most studies focused on physical education settings, with participants reporting negative experiences due to sensory overload, privacy concerns, and social anxiety. These challenges often led to avoidance of locker rooms and reduced physical activity. The review categorizes challenges and potential solutions into three key areas: sensory and environmental factors, supervision and structural elements, and social interactions. These insights can inform the design of more ASD-friendly locker rooms, fostering greater participation in physical activity.
This meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of the dialogic reading (DR) intervention for children with disabilities using a systematic meta-analytic approach based on single-case experimental studies. Relevant databases and reference lists were searched, and eight single-case experimental studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the analysis. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated according to the standards of the What Works Clearinghouse for single-case research. Visual analysis and Tau-U effect size calculations were jointly used to ensure reliable interpretation of intervention effects. The findings indicated that DR intervention produced strong and consistent intervention effects on expressive language and social-pragmatic communication skills among preschool children with disabilities. The weighted mean Tau-U effect size was 0.78, demonstrating that the intervention was highly effective. Overall, the results suggest that DR is an evidence-based early intervention approach for children with disabilities.
