Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms Among Children Enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined the phenotypic profiles of children aged 30–68 months in the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED). Children classified as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), developmental delay (DD) with ASD symptoms, DD without ASD symptoms, and population comparison (POP) differed significantly from each other on cognitive, adaptive, behavioral, and social functioning and the presence of parent-reported conditions. Children with ASD and DD with ASD symptoms had mild to severe ASD risk on several measures compared to children with other DD and POP who had little ASD risk across measures. We conclude that children in SEED have varying degrees of ASD impairment and associated deficits. SEED thus provides a valuable sample to explore ASD phenotypes and inform risk factor analyses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrahams, B. S., & Geschwind, D. H. (2008). Advances in autism genetics: On the threshold of a new neurobiology. Nature Review Genetics, 9(5), 341–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Achenbach, T. (1992). Child behavior checklist. Burlington, VT: Achenbach System of Empirically based Assessment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, C., Silove, N., Williams, K., & Hutchins, P. (2007). Validity of the social communication questionnaire in assessing risk of autism in preschool children with developmental problems. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(7), 1272–1278.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, A., Le Couteur, A., Gottesman, I., Bolton, P., Simonoff, P., Yuzda, E., & Rutter, M. (1995). Autism as a strongly genetic disorder: Evidence from a British twin study”. Psychological Medicine, 25(1), 63–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boyle, C. A., Boulet, S., Schieve, L. A., Cohen, R. A., Blumberg, S. J., Yeargin-Allsopp, M., et al. (2011). Trends in the prevalence of developmental disabilities in US children, 1997–2008. Pediatrics, 127, 1034–1042.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson, L. H., Norrelgen, F., Kjellmer, L., Westerlund, J., Gillberg, C., & Fernell, E. (2013). Coexisting disorders and problems in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder. The Scientific World Journal, 2013, 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders among children 8 years - autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States, 2010. MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 63(SS02), 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Close, H. A., Lee, L.-C., Kaufmann, C. N., & Zimmerman, A. W. (2012). Co-occurring conditions and change in diagnosis in autism spectrum disorder. Pediatrics, 129, 305–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Constantino, J. (2002). The social responsiveness scale. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Constantino, J. (2011). The quantitative nature of autistic social impairment. Pediatric Research, 69, 55R–62R.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Health and Human Services Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee website: http://iacc.hhs.gov/strategic-plan/2013/index.shtml.

  • Georgiades, S., Szatmari, P., Boyle, M., Hanna, S., Duku, E., Zwaigenbaum, L., et al. (2013). Investigating phenotypic heterogeneity in children with autism spectrum disorder: A factor mixture modeling approach. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54, 206–215.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gerdts, J., & Bernier, R. (2011). The broader autism phenotype and its implications on the etiology and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Autism Research and Treatment., 2011, 545901. doi:10.1155/2011/545901. Epub 2011 Aug 17.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geschwind, D. H. (2011). The genetics of autism spectrum disorders. Trends in Cognitive Science, 15(9), 409–416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, S., & Schwebach, A. J. (2004). The comorbidity of pervasive developmental disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Results of a retrospective chart review. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34, 329–339.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gotham, K., Risi, S., Pickles, A., & Lord, C. (2007). The autism diagnostic observation schedule: Revised algorithms for improved diagnostic validity. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 613–627.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hallmayer, J., Cleveland, S., Torres, A., Phillips, J., Cohen, B., Torigoe, T., et al. (2011). Genetic heritability and shared environmental factors among twin pairs with autism. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68, 1095–1102.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). (2014). IACC strategic plan for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research—2013 Update. April 2014. Retrieved from the US.

  • Law, J., Boyle, J., Harris, F., Harkness, A., & Nye, C. (2000). Prevalence and natural history of primary speech and language delay: Findings from a systematic review of the literature. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 35(2), 165–188.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, L., David, A. B., Rusyniak, J., Landa, R., & Newschaffer, C. J. (2007). Performance of the social communication questionnaire in children receiving preschool special education services. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 1, 126–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levy, S. E., Giarelli, E., Lee, L. C., Schieve, L., Kirby, R., Cunniff, C., et al. (2010). Autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring developmental, psychiatric, and medical conditions among children in multiple populations of the United States. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 31(4), 267–275.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Risi, S., Lambrecht, L., Cook, E. H, Jr, Leventhal, B. L., DiLavore, P. C., et al. (2000). the autism diagnostic observation schedule-generic: A standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30(3), 205–223.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P. C., & Risi, S. (1999). Autism diagnostic observation schedule. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., & Le Couteur, A. L. (1994). Autism diagnostic interview-revised: A revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24(5), 659–685.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miles, J. H. (2011). Autism spectrum disorders: A genetics review. Genetic Medicine, 13, 278–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J. S., Gabrielsen, T., Villalobos, M., Alleman, R., Wahmhoff, M., Carbone, P. S., & Sequra, P. (2011). The each child study: Systematic screenign for autism spectrum disorders in a pediatric setting. Pediatrics, 127, 866–871.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mullen, E. (1995). Mullen scales of early learning. San Antonio, TX: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peacock, G., Djesika, A., Lijing, O., & Grosse, S. (2012). Autism spectrum disorders and health care expenditures: The role of co-occurring conditions. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 33, 2–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. A., Bailey, A., & Lord, C. (2003). The social communication questionnaire. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psycholgical Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schendel, D., DiGuiseppi, C., Croen, L., Fallin, D., Reed, P., Schieve, L., et al. (2012). The study to explore early development (SEED): A multi-site epidemiologic study of autism by the centers for autism and developmental disabilities research and epidemiology (CADDRE) network. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42, 2121–2140.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simonoff, E., Pickles, A., Charman, T., Chandler, S., Loucas, T., & Baird, G. (2008). Psychiatric disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders: Prevalence, comorbidity, and associated factors in a population-derived sample. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 47(921), 929.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinzig, J., Walter, D., & Doepfner, M. (2009). Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: Symptom or syndrome? Journal of Attention Disorders, 13(2), 117–126.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow, S., Balla, D., & Cicchetti, D. (2005). Vineland adaptive behavior scales (2nd ed.). San Antonio, TX: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taurines, R., Schwenck, C., Westerwald, E., Sachse, M., Siniatchkin, M., & Freitag, C. (2012). ADHD and autism: differential diagnosis or obverlapping traits? A selective review. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders, 4, 115–139.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tomchek, S. D., & Dunn, W. (2007). Sensory processing in children with and without autism: A comparative study using the short sensory profile. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61, 190–200.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tuchman, R., Cucarro, M., & Alessandri, M. (2010). Autism and epilepsy: Historical perspective. Brain and Development, 32(9), 709–718.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van der Meer, J. M., Oerlemans, A. M., van Steijn, D. J., Lappenschaar, M. G., de Sonneville, L. M., Buitelaar, J. K., & Rommelse, N. N. (2012). Are autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder different manifestations of one overarching disorder? Cognitive and symptom evidence from a clinical and population-based sample. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 51, 1160–1172.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Viscidi, E. W., Triche, E. W., Pescosolido, M. F., McLean, R. L., Joseph, R. M., Spense, S. J., & Morrow, E. M. (2013). Clinical characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring epilepsy. PLoS ONE, 8(7), e67797.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Visser, S. N., Bitsko, R. H., Danielson, M. L., & Perou, R. (2010). Increasing prevalence of parent-reported attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among children—United States, 2003 and 2007. MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 59, 1439–1443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, C. K., Krakowiak, P., Baker, A., Hansen, R., Ozonoff, S., & Hertz-Picciotto, I. (2014). Preecalmpsia, placental insufficiency, and autism spectrum disorder or developmental delay. JAMA Pediatrics. Advance on-line publication. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.2645.

  • Wiggins, L. D., Bakeman, R., Adamson, L. B., & Robins, D. L. (2007). The utility of the social communication questionnaire in screening for autism in children referred for early intervention. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 22, 33–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiggins, L. D., Reynolds, A., Rice, C., Moody, E. J., Bernal, P., Blaskey, L., et al. (2015). Using standardized diagnostic instruments to classify children with autism in the study to explore early development. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45, 1271–1280.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Aimee Alexander for her assistance with data cleaning and the SEED principal investigators, co-principal investigators, project coordinators, project staff, and children and families who participated in this research. This publication was supported by six cooperative agreements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Cooperative Agreement Number U10DD000180, Colorado Department of Public Health; Cooperative Agreement Number U10DD000181, Kaiser Foundation Research Institute (CA); Cooperative Agreement Number U10DD000182, University of Pennsylvania; Cooperative Agreement Number U10DD000183, Johns Hopkins University; Cooperative Agreement Number U10DD000184, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and Cooperative Agreement Number U10DD000498, Michigan State University. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ellen Giarelli

    Present address: School of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

  2. Catherine Rice

    Present address: Emory Autism Research Center, Emory University, Druid Hills, GA, USA

  3. Diana Schendel

    Present address: Section for Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Åarhus, Denmark

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road MS E-86, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA

    Lisa D. Wiggins, Laura Schieve, Catherine Rice, Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp & Diana Schendel

  2. Center for Autism Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Susan E. Levy, Lisa Blaskey & Ellen Giarelli

  3. Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Julie Daniels

  4. Autism Research Program, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA

    Lisa A. Croen

  5. Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA

    Carolyn DiGuiseppi

  6. JFK Partners, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA

    Ann Reynolds & Cordelia Robinson Rosenberg

  7. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Li-Ching Lee

  8. School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Jennifer Pinto-Martin & Lisa Young

  9. Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Patrick Thompson

  10. Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Susan E. Levy

  11. Department of Economics and Business, National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Åarhus, Denmark

    Diana Schendel

  12. Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Diana Schendel

Authors
  1. Lisa D. Wiggins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Susan E. Levy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Julie Daniels
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Laura Schieve
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lisa A. Croen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Carolyn DiGuiseppi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Lisa Blaskey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Ellen Giarelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Li-Ching Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Jennifer Pinto-Martin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Ann Reynolds
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Catherine Rice
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Cordelia Robinson Rosenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Patrick Thompson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. Lisa Young
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. Diana Schendel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lisa D. Wiggins.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wiggins, L.D., Levy, S.E., Daniels, J. et al. Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms Among Children Enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED). J Autism Dev Disord 45, 3183–3194 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2476-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2476-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation