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Research
Autistic and autism community perspectives on infant and family support in the first two years of life: Findings from a community consultation surveyMost support programmes for Autistic children are available only after they are diagnosed. Research suggests that parenting supports may be helpful for parents and their infants, when provided in the first 2 years of life - before a formal diagnosis is given, but when information suggests an infant is more likely to be Autistic. However, we do not know how acceptable these types of supports might be to the Autistic and autism communities.
Research
Behavioural and neuropsychological outcomes in children exposed in utero to maternal labour epidural analgesiaRecent studies report conflicting results regarding the relationship between labour epidural analgesia (LEA) in mothers and neurodevelopmental disorders in their offspring. We evaluated behavioural and neuropsychological test scores in children of mothers who used LEA.
Research
Parent-Child Interactions May Help to Explain Relations Between Parent Characteristics and Clinically Observed Child Autistic BehavioursThe importance of supporting parent-child interactions has been noted in the context of prodromal autism, but little consideration has been given to the possible contributing role of parental characteristics, such as psychological distress. This cross-sectional study tested models in which parent-child interaction variables mediated relations between parent characteristics and child autistic behaviour in a sample of families whose infant demonstrated early signs of autism.
Research
How we measure language skills of children at scale: A call to move beyond domain-specific tests as a proxy for languageThe aim of this research note is to encourage child language researchers and clinicians to give careful consideration to the use of domain-specific tests as a proxy for language; particularly in the context of large-scale studies and for the identification of language disorder in clinical practice.
Research
The use of language in autism researchThe past three decades have seen a major shift in our understanding of the strong links between autism and identity. These developments have called for careful consideration of the language used to describe autism.
Research
Characterising the Early Presentation of Motor Difficulties in Autistic ChildrenThis study aimed to explore the rates of motor difficulties in children from the Australian Autism Biobank, and how early motor concerns impacted on children functionally.
Research
Investigating associations between birth order and autism diagnostic phenotypesBirth order effects have been linked to variability in intelligence, educational attainment and sexual orientation. First- and later-born children have been linked to an increased likelihood of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, with a smaller body of evidence implicating decreases in cognitive functioning with increased birth order. The present study investigated the potential association between birth order and ASD diagnostic phenotypes in a large and representative population sample.
News & Events
Leading autism researcher named The Kids new Deputy Director (Research)Professor Andrew Whitehouse, the Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research and CliniKids Director, has been appointed Deputy Director (Research) at The Kids Research Institute Australia.
News & Events
NDIA backs The Kids Research Institute Australia's program to support babies developing differentlyA world-first program for babies with delays in their social and communication skills has been launched in Western Australia, thanks to support from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
News & Events
Autism researcher a finalist for WA's Australian of the YearProfessor Andrew Whitehouse, who has helped transform clinical support for children on the autism spectrum in Australia, is nominated for WA's 2023 Australian of the Year.