Research Question
The research question impacted the choice of the study for analysis:
What are the early signs of autism?
Literature Search
For this reason, the articles containing the information on the topic were selected. The search was performed using the databases such as NCBI, PubMed, and SAGE. The criteria included the primary article with the authors’ investigation using a hypothesis, a specific sample, and data collection and research methods. For this reason, the article from the SAGE library, Parent-reported early symptoms of autism spectrum disorder in children without intellectual disability who were diagnosed at school age, was selected. It met all requirements as it is a primary research study.
Study Summary
Purpose
The investigators delve into the problem of autism spectrum disorder and its symptoms. The authors formulate two goals to discuss the theme comprehensively and generate an enhanced vision. The first aim was to assess the historical symptom profiles of children diagnosed during their school age and children diagnosed as toddlers (Goodwin et al., 2019).
The second goal was to determine the most common autism spectrum disorder (ASD) signs peculiar to late-diagnosed children before their school age (Goodwin et al., 2019). The researchers assumed better language, cognitive functioning, and milder ASD systems would be found in late-diagnosed children (Goodwin et al., 2019). The assumption rests on the previous research and findings linked to the problem.
The main point of the study is related to discovering ASD in children. The authors assume that regardless of the effort to detect the disease during early ages, many children remain undiagnosed until they enter school (Goodwin et al., 2019). For this reason, the correct understanding of symptoms and signs that might be reported is vital for attaining positive shifts in working with the cohort and providing assistance when necessary. It impacted the choice of the research aspect and the methods used by the authors.
Participants
The study participants were selected based on the goals and the need to analyze the symptoms of ASD. The authors formed the sample by using 48 school-aged individuals who had ASD diagnosis confirmed by using standard tests such as ADI-R and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) (Goodwin et al., 2019). The age range of 5-18 ensured that all participants had sufficient time for practical assessment (Goodwin et al., 2019). In such a way, the sampling approach and the clear inclusion criteria contributed to the increased credibility of the findings.
Methodology
The data collection and analysis methods implied using specific tests to determine the ASD symptoms and their severity. The ADI-R tests with interviews were employed to determine behaviors in three domains (Goodwin et al., 2019). The ADOS tool was conducted within six months of the previous measurement (Goodwin et al., 2019). Additionally, intelligence tests were used to evaluate participants’ cognitive abilities (Goodwin et al., 2019). The approach contributed to acquiring reliable and accurate data necessary for making conclusions and proving the assumptions made by the authors.
Results and Limitations
The findings show that signs were similar between pre and age-school children. Both negative and positive symptoms might indicate ASD. The last ones, such as unusual preoccupations, rituals, and mannerisms, are less commonly reported; however, they should be given the same attention as impairment and deficit in social behaviors (Goodwin et al., 2019). The additional assessment might help determine symptoms and introduce necessary measures.
In general, the authors use an effective method to investigate the problem and discuss the onset of specific behaviors in children with ASD belonging to various age groups. For this reason, the article can be considered a valuable source for enhancing understanding of positive and negative signs of the condition and how they can be determined. The paper can be recommended as the basis for new investigations aimed at cultivating a better knowledge of ASD and the peculiarities of its diagnosis among children.
Reference
Goodwin, A., Matthews, N. L., & Smith, C. J. (2019). Parent-reported early symptoms of autism spectrum disorder in children without intellectual disability who were diagnosed at school age. Autism, 23(3), 770-782. Web.