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Subtypes Of Toddlers With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Implications For Early And Future Diagnosis, Lisa D. Wiggins

Psychology Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of disorders that affect social, communication, and behavioral development. Identification of clinically distinct subtypes of ASDs, especially in the developmental period when delays or deficits are first recognized (i.e., in the first few years of life), can lend clues to etiology and trajectory and enhance current knowledge on early manifestations of the disorders. Moreover, identification of clinically distinct subtypes of ASDs may inform early identification efforts. Past research suggests that social relations, verbal abilities, nonverbal abilities, and the presence of certain stereotyped interests and behaviors (SIB) may be important factors in delineating subtypes …