scholarly journals Using Wearable Sensor Technology to Measure Motion Complexity in Infants at High Familial Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 616
Author(s):  
Rujuta B. Wilson ◽  
Sitaram Vangala ◽  
David Elashoff ◽  
Tabitha Safari ◽  
Beth A. Smith

Background: Motor dysfunction has been reported as one of the first signs of atypical development in infants at high familial risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (HR infants). However, studies have shown inconsistent results regarding the nature of motor dysfunction and whether it can be predictive of later ASD diagnosis. This is likely because current standardized motor assessments may not identify subtle and specific motor impairments that precede clinically observable motor dysfunction. Quantitative measures of motor development may address these limitations by providing objective evaluation of subtle motor differences in infancy. Methods: We used Opal wearable sensors to longitudinally evaluate full day motor activity in HR infants, and develop a measure of motion complexity. We focus on complexity of motion because optimal motion complexity is crucial to normal motor development and less complex behaviors might represent repetitive motor behaviors, a core diagnostic symptom of ASD. As proof of concept, the relationship of the motion complexity measure to developmental outcomes was examined in a small set of HR infants. Results: HR infants with a later diagnosis of ASD show lower motion complexity compared to those that do not. There is a stronger correlation between motion complexity and ASD outcome compared to outcomes of cognitive ability and adaptive skills. Conclusions: Objective measures of motor development are needed to identify characteristics of atypical infant motor function that are sensitive and specific markers of later ASD risk. Motion complexity could be used to track early infant motor development and to discriminate HR infants that go on to develop ASD.

2022 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
pp. 101662
Author(s):  
Yixiao Hu ◽  
Qianhan Xiong ◽  
Qiandong Wang ◽  
Ci Song ◽  
Duo Wang ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine E MacDuffie ◽  
Lauren Turner-Brown ◽  
Annette M Estes ◽  
Benjamin S Wilfond ◽  
Stephen R Dager ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Predictive testing for familial disorders can guide healthcare and reproductive decisions. Familial disorders with onset in childhood (e.g., autism spectrum disorder [ASD]) are promising targets for presymptomatic prediction; however, little is known about parent perceptions of risk to their children in the presymptomatic period. The current study examined risk perceptions in parents of infants at high familial risk for ASD enrolled in a longitudinal study of brain and behavior development. Methods Semistructured interviews were conducted with 37 parents of high-risk infants during the presymptomatic window (3–15 months) that precedes an ASD diagnosis. Infants were identified as high familial risk due to having an older sibling with ASD. Parent interview responses were coded and interpreted to distill emerging themes. Results The majority of parents were aware of the increased risk of ASD for their infants, and risk perceptions were influenced by comparisons to their older child with ASD. Parents reported a variety of negative emotions in response to perceived risk, including worry, fear, and sadness, and described impacts of perceived risk on their behavior: increased vigilance to emerging symptoms, altered reproductive and healthcare decisions, and seeking ongoing assessment through research. Conclusions Parents of children at high familial risk for childhood-onset disorders like ASD face a period of challenging uncertainty during early development. In anticipation of a future in which presymptomatic testing for ASD is made available, it is important to understand how parents react to and cope with the elevated—but still highly uncertain—risk conveyed by family history.


2018 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 34-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricarda Braukmann ◽  
Emma Ward ◽  
Roy S. Hessels ◽  
Harold Bekkering ◽  
Jan K. Buitelaar ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1094-1094
Author(s):  
A Garagozzo ◽  
L Katz ◽  
M Scott ◽  
S Hunter

Abstract Objective Comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ADHD are associated with greater symptom severity, including social impairment. Furthering work by Lerner, Pothoff, and Hunter (2015), we sought to identify unique and shared factors that contribute to parent-reported social deficits in children with ADHD, ASD, and ADHD+ASD. We hypothesized attention, hyperactivity, and motor skills would predict social deficits in ADHD, while functional communication and motor skills would predict social deficits in ASD; and additively, all factors would predict social deficits in ADHD+ASD. Method Utilizing a clinical database, we identified 236 participants (4-21 years; Mage = 10.6; 71% male; 28% African American; FSIQ M = 94.31) with diagnoses of ADHD, ASD, and ADHD+ASD. We examined FSIQ from the WISC-4/5, WPPSI-3, or DAS-2, motor skills and social impairment from the SIB-R and attention, hyperactivity, and functional communication from the BASC-2/3. Results Using hierarchical linear regression and controlling for FSIQ, hypotheses were partially supported. FSIQ was controlled for in each group. For ADHD, hyperactivity, functional communication, and motor skills contributed significantly to the model (p < .001), while for ASD, motor skills contributed significantly to the model (p < .001). For ASD + ADHD, functional communication and motor skills contributed significantly to the model (p < .001) Conclusion Results support previous findings that motor deficits and functional communication are associated with social impairment in children with ADHD and ASD, independently and comorbidly. This suggests that targeting motor dysfunction and functional communication concurrently may be effective for improving social interaction skills in children with ADHD +ASD.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya St. John ◽  
Annette M. Estes ◽  
Stephen R. Dager ◽  
Penelope Kostopoulos ◽  
Jason J. Wolff ◽  
...  

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