In particular , there is little evidence that the identified tools would be good at detecting change in intervention studies .
The obvious gaps in available outcome measurement include well-being and participation outcomes for children , and family quality -of-life outcomes , domains particularly valued by our informants ( young people with ASD and parents ) .
This is the first systematic review of the quality and appropriateness of tools design ed to monitor progress and outcomes of young children with ASD .
BACKGROUND The needs of children with autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) are complex and this is reflected in the number and diversity of outcomes assessed and measurement tools used to collect evidence about children 's progress .
Relevant outcomes include improvement in core ASD impairments , such as communication , social awareness , sensory sensitivities and repetitiveness ; skills such as social functioning and play ; participation outcomes such as social inclusion ; and parent and family impact .
OBJECTIVES To examine the measurement properties of tools used to measure progress and outcomes in children with ASD up to the age of 6 years .
To identify outcome areas regarded as important by people with ASD and parents .
Early Language and Communication Development of Infants Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder
ABSTRACT . It is well recognized that delayed " first words " is among the most common presenting symptoms of autistic spectrum disorders ( ASD ) . However , data on earlier language and communication development in children with ASD are limited to retrospective reports from parents and from home videos . In this study , we prospect ively collected parent report data on early communication and language development in 97 infant siblings of children with ASD and 49 low-risk controls . Parents completed the  MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory-Infant Form  at 12 and 18 months . Analysis compared 3 groups defined on the basis of diagnostic assessment at 24 months : ( 1 ) siblings with ASD ( n = 15 ) , ( 2 ) siblings not meeting diagnostic criteria for ASD ( n = 82 ) , and ( 3 ) low-risk controls , none of whom had ASD ( n = 49 ) . Children with ASD showed delays in early language and communication compared with non-ASD siblings and controls . At 12 months , the ASD group was reported to underst and significantly fewer phrases and to produce fewer gestures . At 18 months , they showed delays in their underst and ing of phrases , comprehension and production of single words , and use of gestures . Siblings not diagnosed with ASD also used fewer play-related gestures at 18 months than low-risk controls , even when children with identified language delays were excluded . Overall , this prospect i ve study confirms that delays in communication and language development are apparent early in life in children with ASD , and emphasizes that developmental surveillance should include monitoring for delays in gesture , which may be among the earliest signs of ASD
In particular , there is little evidence that the identified tools would be good at detecting change in intervention studies .
The obvious gaps in available outcome measurement include well-being and participation outcomes for children , and family quality -of-life outcomes , domains particularly valued by our informants ( young people with ASD and parents ) .
This is the first systematic review of the quality and appropriateness of tools design ed to monitor progress and outcomes of young children with ASD .
BACKGROUND The needs of children with autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) are complex and this is reflected in the number and diversity of outcomes assessed and measurement tools used to collect evidence about children 's progress .
Relevant outcomes include improvement in core ASD impairments , such as communication , social awareness , sensory sensitivities and repetitiveness ; skills such as social functioning and play ; participation outcomes such as social inclusion ; and parent and family impact .
OBJECTIVES To examine the measurement properties of tools used to measure progress and outcomes in children with ASD up to the age of 6 years .
To identify outcome areas regarded as important by people with ASD and parents .