Early symptoms of autism spectrum disorders and association with Brazilian children's development and behavior.

This Brazilian study looked at 221 young children (18-34 months old) to see if early autism signs were linked to development delays. They found that 33% of children showed early autism signs - much higher than expected. These children had more behavioral challenges and scored lower on tests measuring communication, motor skills, and social development. The differences were clearer in older children (30-34 months).

This suggests doctors should regularly check all young children's development to catch autism signs early.

This cross-sectional study examined 221 Brazilian children aged 18-34 months to investigate associations between early autism spectrum disorder (ASD) signs and developmental/behavioral performance. Using the Parental Observations of Social Interaction (POSI) screening tool, researchers found 33% of children were at risk for ASD - higher than typically reported rates. Children screening positive for ASD risk demonstrated significantly worse socio-emotional behaviors and lower developmental scores across multiple domains including communication, fine motor skills, and personal-social development. Age-related differences were observed, with more pronounced disparities in children aged 30-34 months.

The findings support the need for systematic developmental surveillance during routine healthcare visits to improve early ASD detection.

Findings support implementing systematic developmental surveillance during routine healthcare visits. The high frequency of positive ASD screening suggests need for improved early detection protocols. Age-related differences indicate screening may be most effective after 30 months. Results emphasize importance of holistic assessment including socio-emotional and developmental domains for early ASD identification.

Single cross-sectional study design limits causal inferences. Conducted in one geographic region (Brazil) which may limit generalizability. The abstract doesn't specify diagnostic confirmation of ASD cases, only screening results. Sample characteristics and recruitment methods not fully detailed.

to examine the association between the early autism spectrum disorder (ASD) signs and developmental and behavioral performance of Brazilian children aged 18 to 34 months. A cross-sectional study with 221 children recruited at public healthcare and early education services. Early symptoms of ASD were screened using the Parental Observations of Social Interaction (POSI). Children's development and behavior were examined using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3) and Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC-BR).

The results of children at risk for ASD were compared to the no-risk ones using Chi-square and t-test. The overall frequency of children at risk for ASD (POSI-positive screening) was 33% and did not differ across children's age range and gender. Children at risk for ASD showed worse socio-emotional behaviors (p=0.004) and lower scores for overall development (p=0.0001), communication (p=0.0007), fine motor (p=0.04), and personal-social domains (p=0.01). Differences between groups varied according to children's age and across developmental/behavioral domains and were more evident in older children.

Children aged 30 to 34 months presented significant differences in overall development (p=0.001), behavior (p=0.004), and the personal-social domains (p=0.03). The frequency of children at risk for ASD was higher than described in the literature. Also, the development and behavior of children at risk for ASD were significantly different from their peers and compatible with the presentation of ASD in young children. Our findings reinforce the need for systematic and holistic surveillance of child development during well-being visits to improve ASD early detection.