Background: This study was carried out to compare the concurrent validity of the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test - Second Edition (KBIT-2) with that of two Wechsler Intelligence Scales (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition (WISC-V) and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - Fourth Edition (WPPSIIV)) in an Asian setting. Methods: A retrospective study reviewed the medical records of 101 children with developmental disorders who were being followed up at a tertiary child development unit. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients were calculated between the KBIT-2 and Wechsler assessment scores. Simple regression analysis was used to calculate standard errors of estimation to assess the accuracy of predicting Wechsler scores using KBIT-2 scores. Results: A strong positive correlation was observed between KBIT-2's Intelligence Quotient (IQ) Composite and WISC-V's Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) scores (r = 0.722, p < 0.01). KBIT-2 IQ composite scores showed a moderately strong positive correlation with WPPSI-IV FSIQ scores (r = 0.648, p < 0.01). Simple regression analysis showed that KBIT-2 scores tended to underestimate or overestimate the Wechsler scores, with the highest variability seen in KBIT-2's Non-Verbal IQ and Wechsler's Fluid Reasoning Index scores (error limits: -53.1 to 39.7). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that KBIT-2 has good concurrent validity when compared to other IQ tests such as the Wechsler scales, and it suggests that KBIT-2 is a good screening tool for assessing intelligence in a group of children with developmental disabilities. Further studies are needed to determine whether KBIT-2 can be used for the purpose of diagnostic decision-making or special education program placement.

Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD) is well known to be associated with significantly high rates of gastrointestinal problems, constipation being common among them, imposing a significant burden on child and the family. On account of multiple underlying factors, both diagnosis and subsequent management of constipation in children with ASD are much more challenging as compared to managing constipation in 'neurotypical' children. Associated higher rate of presentation to the hospital emergency and subsequent hospital admission rates add to the burden. Hence, there is a need for recognizing constipation as a problem in children with ASD. This review summarizes optimization of its management by adopting a multidisciplinary holistic approach to achieve good outcomes and enhance the quality of life for the child and the family.

Background: One of the core features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests and activities (RRBs). RRBs are known to adversely affect cognition and adaptive functioning. We explored the relationship of RRBs with cognition and adaptive functioning in children with ASD in an Asian setting.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary developmental pediatrics center in Singapore from September 2019 to October 2021. Parent-child dyads (parents and their children ≤7 years old diagnosed with ASD) were recruited. Parents completed the Repetitive Behavior Questionnaire-2 (RBQ-2), which reports total score and two subscales – Motor/Sensory Behaviors (RBQ-2 MS) and Rigidity/Routines/Preoccupation with Restricted Interests (RBQ-2 RRPRI). Standardized assessments included Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS-II). Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation.Results: Parents of 113 children [75.2% male, mean (SD) age 5.0 (1.2) years] participated. Median (IQR) RBQ-2 score was 29.0 (11.0). Significant negative correlations (adjusted for age, gender and family history of ASD) were observed for total RBQ-2 scores with MSEL ELC scores (r = −0.248, n = 101, p = 0.014) and VABS-II ABC scores (r = −0.281, n = 88, p = 0.009). Specifically, these correlations of fair strength were seen only with the RBQ-2 MS subscale for both ELC (r = −0.321, n = 101, p = 0.001) and ABC (r = −0.3478, n = 88, p = 0.001).Conclusion: In children with ASD, severity of RRBs correlated with adverse cognition and adaptive functioning measures in our study, consistent with Western literature. While our study does not show causality, it adds to literature serving as a foundation for further research for both clinicians and researchers to target RRBs in improving outcomes with children in ASD.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with rising obesity rates. Autistic children have a higher risk of obesity than neurotypical children. Our study aims to describe the changes in overweight/obesity rates in autistic children during the pandemic, and to identify contributing factors. Methods: This is a retrospective case record review of patients with a clinical diagnosis of autism, who were seen at a developmental-behavioral pediatrics clinic in a tertiary academic hospital, between 1 January 2019 and 24 October 2021. We compared the average monthly rates of overweight/obese status pre- and during the pandemic. We collected data on the patients’ and parents’ demographics, duration of screen time per day, degree of difficulties related to autism symptoms and cognition. We analyzed factors associated with being overweight/obese during the pandemic. Results: 1330 patient visits were included. The mean age was 45.4 months; 78% were male; 52% were Chinese. The average monthly rate of overweight/obese status increased by 1.8% during the pandemic (17.9% pre-pandemic; 19.7% during pandemic). Factors associated with being overweight/obese during the pandemic included: Malay ethnicity (OR 2.321, p < 0.01), developmental delay (OR 2.80, p < 0.01), and lower parental education level (father OR 1.73, p = 0.01; mother OR 1.63, p = 0.03). On multivariate analysis, only Malay ethnicity (OR 2.95, p = 0.01) was significant. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates a rising overweight/obesity rate amongst children with autism spectrum disorder during the pandemic. It also identified higher-risk patient profiles (Malay race, developmental delay, lower parental education). We hope this will facilitate the implementation of preventative health measures specifically supporting the high-risk children.

Background/Objectives: Feeding difficulties are more common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental conditions and are associated with nutritional risk and caregiver stress. However, they may be overlooked as growth tends to be preserved. We aimed to identify clinical and behavioral features associated with feeding difficulties among children with developmental conditions. Methods: This cross-sectional study included caregiver–child dyads, with children aged 1–7 years with ASD and other developmental conditions. Caregivers completed the Repetitive Behavior Questionnaire, Second Edition (RBQ-2) to assess child restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) and the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS) to assess feeding difficulties. Demographics, anthropometric measures and cognitive and adaptive scores were retrieved from medical records. Results: Of the 132 participants (mean age 41.8 months, range 15–67; 74.2% male) included, majority had normal weight (87.7%) and height (89.2%) z scores. Among participants, 54.5% had autism, 26.5% language delay and 18.9% other developmental diagnoses. Over half (53.0%) had elevated BPFAS scores. Children not enrolled in school showed significantly more feeding difficulties compared to those who were enrolled (32.6% vs. 16.7%, p < 0.05). The RBQ-2 total score positively correlated with the BPFAS total frequency score (r = 0.33, p = 0.01) after adjusting for gender, age and developmental diagnosis. Conclusions: Feeding difficulties were common in this sample. Higher RRBs and absence of formal schooling were associated with higher rates of feeding difficulties. Longitudinal studies are needed to ascertain the role of RRBs and school enrollment as clinical indicators associated with feeding difficulties.