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

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, 3052, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Anita K. Chisholm, Francesca Lami, Kristina M. Haebich, Alex Ure, Amanda Brignell, Alice Maier, Hayley Darke, Gabriel Dabscheck, Vicki A. Anderson, Katrina Williams, Kathryn N. North &  Jonathan M. Payne

  2. Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, 3010, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Anita K. Chisholm, Francesca Lami, Kristina M. Haebich, Tiba Maloof, Gabriel Dabscheck, Vicki A. Anderson, Katrina Williams, Kathryn N. North &  Jonathan M. Payne

  3. The Royal Children’s Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, 3052, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Anita K. Chisholm, Tiba Maloof, Alice Maier, Gabriel Dabscheck, Vicki A. Anderson &  Jonathan M. Payne

  4. Kids Neuroscience Centre, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, 178A Hawkesbury Road, 2145, Westmead, NSW, Australia

    Natalie A. Pride, Melissa Rouel & Belinda Barton

  5. Center for Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine, Children’s National Hospital, Michigan Avenue NW, 20310, Washington, DC, United States

    Karin S. Walsh & Yael Granader

  6. Department of Paediatrics, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, 246 Clayton Road, 3168, Clayton, VIC, Australia

    Alex Ure, Amanda Brignell & Katrina Williams

  7. Developmental Paediatrics, Monash Children’s Hospital, 246 Clayton Road, 3168, Clayton, VIC, Australia

    Alex Ure & Katrina Williams

  8. Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, 2050, Camperdown, NSW, Australia

    Belinda Barton

  9. Children’s Hospital Education Research Institute, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, 178A Hawkesbury Road, 2145, Westmead, NSW, Australia

    Belinda Barton

  10. School of Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, 3125, Burwood, VIC, Australia

    Ian Fuelscher

  11. Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Road, 3052, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Jonathan M. Payne

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  1. Anita K. Chisholm
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  2. Francesca Lami
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Chisholm, A.K., Lami, F., Haebich, K.M. et al. Sex- and age-related differences in autistic behaviours in children with neurofibromatosis type 1. J Autism Dev Disord 53, 2835–2850 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05571-6

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