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. 2023 Jul;53(7):2835-2850.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-022-05571-6. Epub 2022 Apr 20.

Sex- and age-related differences in autistic behaviours in children with neurofibromatosis type 1

Anita K Chisholm  1   2   3 , Francesca Lami  1   2 , Kristina M Haebich  1   2 , Alex Ure  1   4   5 , Amanda Brignell  1   4 , Tiba Maloof  2   3 , Natalie A Pride  6 , Karin S Walsh  7 , Alice Maier  1   3 , Melissa Rouel  6 , Yael Granader  7 , Belinda Barton  6   8   9 , Hayley Darke  1 , Ian Fuelscher  10 , Gabriel Dabscheck  1   2   3 , Vicki A Anderson  1   2   3 , Katrina Williams  1   2   4   5 , Kathryn N North  1   2 , Jonathan M Payne  11   12   13   14
Affiliations

Sex- and age-related differences in autistic behaviours in children with neurofibromatosis type 1

Anita K Chisholm et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2023 Jul.

Abstract

This study investigated sex and age differences in autistic behaviours in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) who scored within the clinical range on the Social Responsiveness Scale - Second Edition (T score ≥ 60). Thirty-four males and 28 females (3-16 years) were assessed with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - Second Edition and Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised. Across both measures, males exhibited greater social communication deficits relative to females. Age-related abatement of social communication difficulties was observed for males but not females. Conversely, no sex differences were found for restricted/repetitive behaviours, which were stable over time for both males and females. The findings are discussed within the context of broader neurodevelopmental considerations that are common in NF1.

Keywords: Age-related differences; Autism; Autistic; Children; Neurofibromatosis type 1; Sex differences.

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