Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
Biographic Data
| ID | 172845 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Lonnie Zwaigenbaum |
| GIVEN NAMES | Lonnie |
| FAMILY NAME | Zwaigenbaum |
| SIGNATURE | ZWAIGENBAUM L |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Alberta |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-9607-0799 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 15 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 15 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 15 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2013 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Influence of a Short-Term Attention Intervention on the Attentional Skills of Toddlers With Suspected or Confirmed Autism Spectrum Disorder
Examination of the effectiveness of an attention intervention using a randomized controlled trial for toddlers with suspected or confirmed autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Data was collected from Alberta, Ontario, and Nova Scotia, Canada between February 2018 and February 2020 (halted due to COVID-19 pandemic). Participants were 35 toddlers randomized to the attention condition (age at start: 25.49 + 3.91 months; 29 boys; mother’s ethnicity: 65% w…
Prevalence and incidence of autism in children and adolescents in Manitoba, Canada
Increasing autism prevalence indicates a pressing public health need for sustained investment in specialized healthcare services and supports that promote the full inclusion of autistic people in society. Strengthening surveillance systems across Canada is essential for generating high-quality population-based data to inform policy development and resource allocation and ensuring the health and social needs of autistic people and their families a…
Disentangling global and domain‐level adaptive behavior trajectories among children with autism spectrum disorder
BACKGROUND: Heterogeneity in adaptive behavior abilities among people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is expressed not only as uneven levels of impairment across domains, but also in the developmental trajectories of adaptive skills. We studied the question of whether, after accounting for global adaptive behavior development, we find evidence of heterogeneity in the trajectories of specific domains of adaptive behavior. METHODS: A sample of …
Continuity of trajectories of autism symptom severity from infancy to childhood
BACKGROUND: Behavioral symptom trajectories are informative of the development of young children at increased likelihood for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: Developmental trajectories of early signs were examined in a cohort of siblings of children diagnosed with ASD (n = 502) from 6 to 18 months using the Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI), and from 18 months to 5-7 years using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).…
Middle‐childhood executive functioning mediates associations between early‐childhood autism symptoms and adolescent mental health, academic and functional outcomes in autistic children
BACKGROUND: Executive functioning (EF) varies in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is associated with clinical symptoms, academic, and adaptive functioning. Here, we examined whether middle-childhood EF mediates associations between early-childhood autism symptoms and adolescent outcomes in children with ASD. METHODS: The Pathways in ASD Cohort comprising children recruited at the time of ASD diagnosis (at 2-4 years-of-age) and fol…
Predictors of language regression and its association with subsequent communication development in children with autism
BACKGROUND: Language regression, broadly defined as the loss of acquired language skills in early childhood, is a distinctive feature of autism. Little is known about the factors underlying regression or the prognosis of children who exhibit regression. We examine potential predictors of language regression and test its association with language development in a prospective longitudinal sample of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from …
Infant vocalizing and phenotypic outcomes in autism
Infant vocalizations are early-emerging communicative markers shown to be atypical in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but few longitudinal, prospective studies exist. In this study, 23,850 infant vocalizations from infants at low (LR)- and high (HR)-risk for ASD (HR-ASD = 23, female = 3; HR-Neg = 35, female = 13; LR = 32, female = 10; 80% White; collected from 2007 to 2017 near Philadelphia) were analyzed at 6, 12, and 24 months. At 12 months, HR…
Examining the factor structure and discriminative utility of the Infant Behavior Questionnaire–Revised in infant siblings of autistic children
Using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire–Revised in a longitudinal sample of infant siblings of autistic children (HR; n = 427, 171 female, 83.4% White) and a comparison group of low-risk controls (LR, n = 200, 86 female, 81.5% White), collected between 2007 and 2017, this study identified an invariant factor structure of temperament traits across groups at 6 and 12 months. Second, after partitioning the groups by familial risk and diagnostic outc…
Diagnostic shifts in autism spectrum disorder can be linked to the fuzzy nature of the diagnostic boundary
BACKGROUND: Diagnostic shifts at early ages may provide invaluable insights into the nature of separation between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typical development. Recent conceptualizations of ASD suggest the condition is only fuzzily separated from non-ASD, with intermediate cases between the two. These intermediate cases may shift along a transition region over time, leading to apparent instability of diagnosis. METHODS: We used a cohort …
Symptom trajectories in the first 18 months and autism risk in a prospective high‐risk cohort
BACKGROUND: Although early autism spectrum disorder (ASD) detection strategies tend to focus on differences at a point in time, behavioral symptom trajectories may also be informative. METHODS: Developmental trajectories of early signs of ASD were examined in younger siblings of children diagnosed with ASD (n = 499) and infants with no family history of ASD (n = 177). Participants were assessed using the Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI…
Commentary
This commentary is offered in response to Kanne and Bishop (2020) who urge caution in adopting new devices and processes for ASD assessment and advocate that that comprehensive, expert‐driven, diagnostic models for ASD remain essential to maintain quality standards. While we agree that there is a critical shortage in current care, we propose that developing suites of tools and innovative approaches for screening, risk‐classification, formal diagn…
Assessment of Autism Symptoms From 6 to 18 Months of Age Using the Autism Observation Scale for Infants in a Prospective High-Risk Cohort
The objectives were to characterize behavioral signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in younger siblings of diagnosed children (high-risk; HR) and examine classification features of the Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI). Participants (501 HR and 180 low-risk [LR]) were assessed between 6 and 18 months using the AOSI and at age 3 for ASD diagnoses. Total AOSI scores differentiated HR infants later diagnosed with ASD starting at 12 mont…
Tensions in Maternal Care for Children, Youth, and Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder
This study explored the experiences of mothers caring for an individual with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ranging from 5 to 25 years of age, and examined pervasive tensions in caregiving. Guided by ethnographic methods, a retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. Interviews with 85 mothers were analyzed inductively. Prevalent tensions in maternal caregiving were identified: (a) difficulties obtaining, yet resistance to, an ASD diagnosi…
Live It to Understand It
Mothers of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) variably experience challenges in their caregiving role. This ethnographic study examined the caregiving experiences of mothers of a young person with ASD (aged ≤25 years). Semistructured interviews were conducted with 85 mothers across three Canadian regions. A follow-up subsample of 10 mothers took part in participant observation sessions in the home and/or other environments within the…
Parents' and professionals' perceptions of family-centered care for children with autism spectrum disorder across service sectors
Parents' and professionals' perceptions of family-centered care for children with autism spectrum disorder across service sectors
Live It to Understand It
Mothers of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) variably experience challenges in their caregiving role. This ethnographic study examined the caregiving experiences of mothers of a young person with ASD (aged ≤25 years). Semistructured interviews were conducted with 85 mothers across three Canadian regions. A follow-up subsample of 10 mothers took part in participant observation sessions in the home and/or other environments within the…
Parents' and professionals' perceptions of family-centered care for children with autism spectrum disorder across service sectors
Live It to Understand It
Mothers of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) variably experience challenges in their caregiving role. This ethnographic study examined the caregiving experiences of mothers of a young person with ASD (aged ≤25 years). Semistructured interviews were conducted with 85 mothers across three Canadian regions. A follow-up subsample of 10 mothers took part in participant observation sessions in the home and/or other environments within the…
Tensions in Maternal Care for Children, Youth, and Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder
This study explored the experiences of mothers caring for an individual with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ranging from 5 to 25 years of age, and examined pervasive tensions in caregiving. Guided by ethnographic methods, a retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. Interviews with 85 mothers were analyzed inductively. Prevalent tensions in maternal caregiving were identified: (a) difficulties obtaining, yet resistance to, an ASD diagnosi…
Diagnostic shifts in autism spectrum disorder can be linked to the fuzzy nature of the diagnostic boundary
BACKGROUND: Diagnostic shifts at early ages may provide invaluable insights into the nature of separation between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typical development. Recent conceptualizations of ASD suggest the condition is only fuzzily separated from non-ASD, with intermediate cases between the two. These intermediate cases may shift along a transition region over time, leading to apparent instability of diagnosis. METHODS: We used a cohort …
Symptom trajectories in the first 18 months and autism risk in a prospective high‐risk cohort
BACKGROUND: Although early autism spectrum disorder (ASD) detection strategies tend to focus on differences at a point in time, behavioral symptom trajectories may also be informative. METHODS: Developmental trajectories of early signs of ASD were examined in younger siblings of children diagnosed with ASD (n = 499) and infants with no family history of ASD (n = 177). Participants were assessed using the Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI…
Commentary
This commentary is offered in response to Kanne and Bishop (2020) who urge caution in adopting new devices and processes for ASD assessment and advocate that that comprehensive, expert‐driven, diagnostic models for ASD remain essential to maintain quality standards. While we agree that there is a critical shortage in current care, we propose that developing suites of tools and innovative approaches for screening, risk‐classification, formal diagn…
Assessment of Autism Symptoms From 6 to 18 Months of Age Using the Autism Observation Scale for Infants in a Prospective High-Risk Cohort
The objectives were to characterize behavioral signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in younger siblings of diagnosed children (high-risk; HR) and examine classification features of the Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI). Participants (501 HR and 180 low-risk [LR]) were assessed between 6 and 18 months using the AOSI and at age 3 for ASD diagnoses. Total AOSI scores differentiated HR infants later diagnosed with ASD starting at 12 mont…
Middle‐childhood executive functioning mediates associations between early‐childhood autism symptoms and adolescent mental health, academic and functional outcomes in autistic children
BACKGROUND: Executive functioning (EF) varies in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is associated with clinical symptoms, academic, and adaptive functioning. Here, we examined whether middle-childhood EF mediates associations between early-childhood autism symptoms and adolescent outcomes in children with ASD. METHODS: The Pathways in ASD Cohort comprising children recruited at the time of ASD diagnosis (at 2-4 years-of-age) and fol…
Predictors of language regression and its association with subsequent communication development in children with autism
BACKGROUND: Language regression, broadly defined as the loss of acquired language skills in early childhood, is a distinctive feature of autism. Little is known about the factors underlying regression or the prognosis of children who exhibit regression. We examine potential predictors of language regression and test its association with language development in a prospective longitudinal sample of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from …
Infant vocalizing and phenotypic outcomes in autism
Infant vocalizations are early-emerging communicative markers shown to be atypical in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but few longitudinal, prospective studies exist. In this study, 23,850 infant vocalizations from infants at low (LR)- and high (HR)-risk for ASD (HR-ASD = 23, female = 3; HR-Neg = 35, female = 13; LR = 32, female = 10; 80% White; collected from 2007 to 2017 near Philadelphia) were analyzed at 6, 12, and 24 months. At 12 months, HR…
Examining the factor structure and discriminative utility of the Infant Behavior Questionnaire–Revised in infant siblings of autistic children
Using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire–Revised in a longitudinal sample of infant siblings of autistic children (HR; n = 427, 171 female, 83.4% White) and a comparison group of low-risk controls (LR, n = 200, 86 female, 81.5% White), collected between 2007 and 2017, this study identified an invariant factor structure of temperament traits across groups at 6 and 12 months. Second, after partitioning the groups by familial risk and diagnostic outc…
Disentangling global and domain‐level adaptive behavior trajectories among children with autism spectrum disorder
BACKGROUND: Heterogeneity in adaptive behavior abilities among people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is expressed not only as uneven levels of impairment across domains, but also in the developmental trajectories of adaptive skills. We studied the question of whether, after accounting for global adaptive behavior development, we find evidence of heterogeneity in the trajectories of specific domains of adaptive behavior. METHODS: A sample of …
Continuity of trajectories of autism symptom severity from infancy to childhood
BACKGROUND: Behavioral symptom trajectories are informative of the development of young children at increased likelihood for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: Developmental trajectories of early signs were examined in a cohort of siblings of children diagnosed with ASD (n = 502) from 6 to 18 months using the Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI), and from 18 months to 5-7 years using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).…
Influence of a Short-Term Attention Intervention on the Attentional Skills of Toddlers With Suspected or Confirmed Autism Spectrum Disorder
Examination of the effectiveness of an attention intervention using a randomized controlled trial for toddlers with suspected or confirmed autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Data was collected from Alberta, Ontario, and Nova Scotia, Canada between February 2018 and February 2020 (halted due to COVID-19 pandemic). Participants were 35 toddlers randomized to the attention condition (age at start: 25.49 + 3.91 months; 29 boys; mother’s ethnicity: 65% w…
Prevalence and incidence of autism in children and adolescents in Manitoba, Canada
Increasing autism prevalence indicates a pressing public health need for sustained investment in specialized healthcare services and supports that promote the full inclusion of autistic people in society. Strengthening surveillance systems across Canada is essential for generating high-quality population-based data to inform policy development and resource allocation and ensuring the health and social needs of autistic people and their families a…
Autism (14 works) · Autism Spectrum Disorder Research (13 works) · Developmental psychology (13 works) · Psychology (13 works) · Autism spectrum disorder (12 works) · Family and Disability Support Research (11 works) · Medicine (8 works) · Clinical Psychology (6 works) · Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues (5 works) · Pediatrics (5 works)