PREDICTORS IN OUTCOME OF CHILDREN WITH ASD

Background: It is important to understand what may predict different developmental trajectories of children with ASD in order to improve intervention strategies and prognosis.We examined clinical features of 30 children with ASD,at age 3 ,who were re-evaluated at age 6.

Objectives: Compare outcome for children diagnosed with ASD at age 3 and at age 6,trying to understand predictors for different trajectories,comparing the optimal outcome group and the worse outcome group.

Methods: 30 children diagnosed with ASD at age 3 were re-evaluated 3 years later.They were assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale as a measure of symptom severity and using the Psychoeducational Profile Revised (PEP-R) as a measure of developmental and behavioral profile.

Results: Findings suggest that mainly differences between children who had optimal outcome and children with worse outcome,were noticed in some PEP-R subscales,such as:Imitation;Cognitive Performance;Relating and Affect ;Play and interest in materials

Conclusions: Is difficult to find predictors in ASD but those results may suggest that is possible.Further research is necessary to confirm our findings since they may be important to predict outcome in ASD and to plan intervention priorities.