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Head circumference and height in autism: a study by the Collaborative Program of Excellence in Autism.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lainhart, JE; Bigler, ED; Bocian, M; Coon, H; Dinh, E; Dawson, G; Deutsch, CK; Dunn, M; Estes, A; Tager-Flusberg, H; Folstein, S; Hepburn, S ...
Published in: Am J Med Genet A
November 1, 2006

Data from 10 sites of the NICHD/NIDCD Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism were combined to study the distribution of head circumference and relationship to demographic and clinical variables. Three hundred thirty-eight probands with autism-spectrum disorder (ASD) including 208 probands with autism were studied along with 147 parents, 149 siblings, and typically developing controls. ASDs were diagnosed, and head circumference and clinical variables measured in a standardized manner across all sites. All subjects with autism met ADI-R, ADOS-G, DSM-IV, and ICD-10 criteria. The results show the distribution of standardized head circumference in autism is normal in shape, and the mean, variance, and rate of macrocephaly but not microcephaly are increased. Head circumference tends to be large relative to height in autism. No site, gender, age, SES, verbal, or non-verbal IQ effects were present in the autism sample. In addition to autism itself, standardized height and average parental head circumference were the most important factors predicting head circumference in individuals with autism. Mean standardized head circumference and rates of macrocephaly were similar in probands with autism and their parents. Increased head circumference was associated with a higher (more severe) ADI-R social algorithm score. Macrocephaly is associated with delayed onset of language. Although mean head circumference and rates of macrocephaly are increased in autism, a high degree of variability is present, underscoring the complex clinical heterogeneity of the disorder. The wide distribution of head circumference in autism has major implications for genetic, neuroimaging, and other neurobiological research.

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Published In

Am J Med Genet A

DOI

ISSN

1552-4825

Publication Date

November 1, 2006

Volume

140

Issue

21

Start / End Page

2257 / 2274

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Siblings
  • Reference Values
  • Parents
  • National Institutes of Health (U.S.)
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Intelligence
  • Humans
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Lainhart, J. E., Bigler, E. D., Bocian, M., Coon, H., Dinh, E., Dawson, G., … Volkmar, F. (2006). Head circumference and height in autism: a study by the Collaborative Program of Excellence in Autism. Am J Med Genet A, 140(21), 2257–2274. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.a.31465
Lainhart, Janet E., Erin D. Bigler, Maureen Bocian, Hilary Coon, Elena Dinh, Geraldine Dawson, Curtis K. Deutsch, et al. “Head circumference and height in autism: a study by the Collaborative Program of Excellence in Autism.Am J Med Genet A 140, no. 21 (November 1, 2006): 2257–74. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.a.31465.
Lainhart JE, Bigler ED, Bocian M, Coon H, Dinh E, Dawson G, et al. Head circumference and height in autism: a study by the Collaborative Program of Excellence in Autism. Am J Med Genet A. 2006 Nov 1;140(21):2257–74.
Lainhart, Janet E., et al. “Head circumference and height in autism: a study by the Collaborative Program of Excellence in Autism.Am J Med Genet A, vol. 140, no. 21, Nov. 2006, pp. 2257–74. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.31465.
Lainhart JE, Bigler ED, Bocian M, Coon H, Dinh E, Dawson G, Deutsch CK, Dunn M, Estes A, Tager-Flusberg H, Folstein S, Hepburn S, Hyman S, McMahon W, Minshew N, Munson J, Osann K, Ozonoff S, Rodier P, Rogers S, Sigman M, Spence MA, Stodgell CJ, Volkmar F. Head circumference and height in autism: a study by the Collaborative Program of Excellence in Autism. Am J Med Genet A. 2006 Nov 1;140(21):2257–2274.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Med Genet A

DOI

ISSN

1552-4825

Publication Date

November 1, 2006

Volume

140

Issue

21

Start / End Page

2257 / 2274

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Siblings
  • Reference Values
  • Parents
  • National Institutes of Health (U.S.)
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Intelligence
  • Humans