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Co-occurring autism in Down syndrome: Screening, diagnostic, and symptom monitoring tools

April 8, 2025 from 8:30 am to 9:50 am

Autism co-occurs in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) at a higher rate than in the general population (CDC, 2024; Glennon et al., 2017). However, accurately screening for and diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in this population that also has co-occurring intellectual disability and carries its own phenotype related to social communication remains challenging. This symposium brings together research groups who have addressed this challenge in various ways to learn more about how to best apply the current gold-standard ASD screening and diagnostic tools as well as explore other promising tools for screening and monitoring symptoms over time in individuals with DS from early childhood through young adulthood.

Chair: Marie Channell, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,

Discussant: Somer Bishop, University of California San Francisco

First Presentation: Autism Screening and Symptom Monitoring Tools for Youth with Down Syndrome
Marie Channell, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Laura J. Mattie, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Tracie C. Rosser, Emory University
Natasha Ludwig, Kennedy Krieger Institute
Amy Cohen, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Alexandria Barkhimer, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Rebekah Bosley, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Vini Singh, Kennedy Krieger Institute
Luther Kalb, Kennedy Krieger Institute

Second Presentation: Co-Occurring Autism Spectrum Disorder in Preschool-Aged Children with Down syndrome: Rates and Adaptive Profiles
Elizabeth Will, University of South Carolina, Chandler E. Knott, University of South Carolina; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Kim J. Hills, University of South Carolina

Third Presentation: Neurobehavioral Patterns in the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Down Syndrome
Lina Patel, Children’s Hospital Colorado,