Evaluation of the early markers of autism tool in low-risk infants

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2021

First Committee Member

MacDonald, Rebecca

Second Committee Member

Dickson, Chata

Third Committee Member

Thompson, Rachel

Abstract

"The purpose of this study was to pilot the Early Markers of Autism (EMA) tool to assess social behaviors in children who do not have a sibling with ASD and are at lower risk for an ASD diagnosis. The EMA was created to assess behaviors of autism in children from birth to 18 months. Low-risk (LR) participants in this study were recruited from the New England Center for Children’s daycare beginning at 6 weeks old. Participants in the high-risk group (HR) included a subset of 3 infants from the Infant Sibling Project. Findings showed low scores of responding in LR participants and higher scores in HR participants. Orienting, localizing a sound, babbling consonants, and reciprocal cooing were some of the items in which participants showed patterns of deficits across months. By identifying behavioral markers earlier in the child’s first year of life, treatment allows for opportunities to change long-term outcomes."

This document is available upon request to Western New England University faculty, students, and staff. Please contact D'Amour Library at for access.

Share

COinS