Autism severity as a predictor of inattention and impulsivity in toddlers

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate how severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms predicts attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in atypically developing toddlers.

Method: Parents/caregivers of 2300 atypically developing toddlers’ ages 18–37 months were assessed about their children’s behaviours using the Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits (BISCUIT) Part 1 and the inattention/impulsivity subscale of the BISCUIT-Part 2.

Results: ASD symptom severity was positively and significantly correlated with inattention/impulsivity, indicating that children with more severe symptoms of ASD tended to have higher scores on the measure of inattention/impulsivity, R² = 0.49, F (1, 2298) = 2234.72, p < 0.001. Additionally, ASD symptom severity significantly predicted inattention/impulsivity, β = 0.70, t (2298) = 47.27, p < 0.001.

Conclusions: ASD symptom severity predicts rates of ADHD symptoms in atypically developing toddlers. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of other research.

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• autism spectrum disorders
• Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits (BISCUIT)
• inattention

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interests. The authors alone are solely responsible for the content and writing of the paper.