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Rate of head growth decelerates and symptoms worsen in the second year of life in autism.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Dawson, G; Munson, J; Webb, SJ; Nalty, T; Abbott, R; Toth, K
Published in: Biol Psychiatry
February 15, 2007

BACKGROUND: Longitudinal studies of head circumference growth in infants later diagnosed with autism are needed to understand the accelerated head growth in this disorder. METHODS: We analyzed longitudinal head circumference data from birth to 3 years in 28 children later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder on the basis of individual growth curve analyses using hierarchical linear models. RESULTS: Head circumference Z scores relative to norms significantly increased in the autism sample from birth to 12 months, but this pattern did not persist beyond 12 months. Rather, the rate of change in head circumference from 12 to 36 months was not different from the normative sample. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a period of exceptionally rapid head growth occurs during the first year of life in autism; after 12 months of age, the rate of head circumference growth decelerates relative to the rate during the first year of life. Studies of behavioral development in infants later diagnosed with autism suggest that the period of acceleration of head growth precedes and overlaps with the onset of behavioral symptoms, and the period of deceleration coincides with a period of worsening of symptoms in the second year of life.

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Published In

Biol Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0006-3223

Publication Date

February 15, 2007

Volume

61

Issue

4

Start / End Page

458 / 464

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Reference Values
  • Psychiatry
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Linear Models
  • Humans
  • Head
  • Disease Progression
  • Child, Preschool
  • Child Development
 

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Dawson, G., Munson, J., Webb, S. J., Nalty, T., Abbott, R., & Toth, K. (2007). Rate of head growth decelerates and symptoms worsen in the second year of life in autism. Biol Psychiatry, 61(4), 458–464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.07.016
Dawson, Geraldine, Jeff Munson, Sara Jane Webb, Theresa Nalty, Robert Abbott, and Karen Toth. “Rate of head growth decelerates and symptoms worsen in the second year of life in autism.Biol Psychiatry 61, no. 4 (February 15, 2007): 458–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.07.016.
Dawson G, Munson J, Webb SJ, Nalty T, Abbott R, Toth K. Rate of head growth decelerates and symptoms worsen in the second year of life in autism. Biol Psychiatry. 2007 Feb 15;61(4):458–64.
Dawson, Geraldine, et al. “Rate of head growth decelerates and symptoms worsen in the second year of life in autism.Biol Psychiatry, vol. 61, no. 4, Feb. 2007, pp. 458–64. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.07.016.
Dawson G, Munson J, Webb SJ, Nalty T, Abbott R, Toth K. Rate of head growth decelerates and symptoms worsen in the second year of life in autism. Biol Psychiatry. 2007 Feb 15;61(4):458–464.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biol Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0006-3223

Publication Date

February 15, 2007

Volume

61

Issue

4

Start / End Page

458 / 464

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Reference Values
  • Psychiatry
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Linear Models
  • Humans
  • Head
  • Disease Progression
  • Child, Preschool
  • Child Development