Black children with autism are diagnosed at an older age. Whether or not late detection is paralleled by differing clinical presentation is not known. We evaluated symptom profiles of 245 Black and 488 sex- and age-matched White non-Hispanic participants (82.8% male; mean age: 4.2 years) referred for ASD diagnosis. Both groups showed similar…

Emerging evidence suggests that physical activity may be associated with improved sleep in autistic children. We aimed to determine whether physical activity associated with sufficient sleep duration in children and whether this association was modified by reported autism spectrum disorder (ASD) status. We analyzed existing data of children 6-17…

Schools need cost and resource-efficient strategies to improve the academic performance of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). High-quality research demonstrates peer-mediated interventions effects on improved social skills for students with ASD. However, effects of peer-mediated interventions on academic outcomes are less understood…

Siblings play an important role in shaping the developmental trajectories of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Having siblings has been associated with better social communication, non-verbal communication, and theory of mind abilities in autism spectrum disorder. However, little is known about the impact of siblings on adaptive skill…

Restricted interests are an established diagnostic symptom of autism spectrum disorder. While there is considerable evidence that these interests have maladaptive consequences, they also provide a range of benefits. This article introduces a new instrument, the Survey of Favorite Interests and Activities, and uses it to examine the nature of…

A retrospective data analysis using 2004-2014 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample was conducted to examine in-hospital mortality among adults with autism spectrum disorders in the United States compared to individuals in the general population. We modeled logistic regressions to compare inpatient hospital mortality…

The purpose of this study was to examine current overweight and obesity prevalence rates among US youth (aged 10-17 years) with and without autism spectrum disorder, based on the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health. Analyses of weight status, derived from parent-reported height and weight measures, were conducted for a weighted sample of…

Prior research has demonstrated that paid work experience while in school is a predictor of postschool employment outcomes for youth with disabilities. For youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), early paid work experience in high school can provide a place to learn occupational skills as well as develop communication, problem solving and…

Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at-risk for academic difficulties, particularly reading comprehension. The implementation of research-supported reading comprehension interventions for this population is critical for optimal academic success. The current meta-analysis of single-case design (SCD) studies evaluates the…

The number of secondary-level students with high-functioning autism (HFA) served in public school settings has increased in recent years, and many of these students have difficulty with social-behavioral expectations in such settings. Instructional specialists must know which interventions have been shown to be effective, so they can make informed…

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of child race-ethnicity and neighborhood characteristics on age of treatment receipt among children with autism spectrum disorder. Here, we included 1309 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in the National Survey of Children's Health, 2011-2012. Controlling for key covariates, we used a…

This study aimed to describe rates of antipsychotic medication use and the association between their use and demographics, clinical variables, and the use of behavioral/education services among children with ASD. For children with ASD ages 2-11 (n = 4749) and those 12-17 (n = 401), 5.4 and 17.7% were prescribed at least one atypical antipsychotic…

We examined racial and ethnic differences in the prevalence of behavioral problems measured by the Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL), sleep disturbances measured by the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), and medication use among children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). We analyzed data from the Autism Treatment Network (ATN) dataset…

Rates of children identified as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continue to increase in both medical and school settings. While procedures for providing a medical diagnosis are relatively consistent throughout the United States, the process for determining special education eligibility under an ASD classification varies by state, with many…

Decreased engagement in beneficial physical activity and increased levels of sedentary behavior and unhealthy weight are a continued public health concern in adolescents. Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder may be at an increased risk compared with their typically developing peers. Weekly physical activity, sedentary behavior, and body mass…