Identification of Autism Specific Impairments through Behavioral Observation of Brief Parent-Child Interactions

Background: Early identification of children with autism is crucial for the provision of early intervention services. Research suggests that autism-specific intervention provided before the age of 3 leads to improved long-term developmental outcomes.  In order to identify children early, however, behavioral characteristics must first be identified that can discriminate young children with autism from children with other developmental delays.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify behavioral characteristics of young children at risk for autism to determine if these characteristics could be used to effectively discriminate young children at risk for autism from children at risk for other developmental delays within a community-based setting.

Methods: This study utilized analysis of scores on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS; Sparrow, Balla & Cicchetti, 1984) and video analysis of parent-child interactions during 10 minutes of free play in a community-based screening setting. Two groups of children were identified including one group with autism spectrum disorder (n=15) and one group with developmental delays (n=18) with a mean age of 26.3 months (SD=4.4). Videotaped behavior samples were coded using interval scoring for specific child behaviors including: looking at face (eye contact), directed affect, and the initiation of joint attention. A MANOVA was used to analyze group means on the VABS scores and behavior variables.

Results: Results showed that the VABS scores on the Adaptive Behavior Composite, Communication, Daily Living, and Socialization were significantly lower in children with autism and the use of all three behaviors were also significantly lower in children with autism. These behavioral characteristics were evident in all of the children with autism spectrum disorders during only ten minutes of parent-child interaction.

Conclusions: The low rates of the behavioral variables were evident during brief parent-child interaction, suggesting that abnormalities can be detected in a short period of time and may be used to improve early identification practices.