The goal of the Early Risk Study was to understand the earliest signs of autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. This study focused on younger siblings of children with autism, younger siblings of children with ADHD, and children of parents with ADHD – all of whom are at elevated risk for these conditions – as well as younger siblings of typically developing children. We followed the development of infants and toddlers at high and low risk for ASD and ADHD multiple times from early in life through age 3, monitoring early attention skills, communication, motor activity, self-control, social skills, and play behaviors. We used a variety of methods including eye tracking, interactive tasks between the infant/toddler and an examiner, and parent interviews. At age 3, diagnostic determinations (autism, ADHD concerns, etc.) were made. The ultimate goal of this study was to understand the links between autism and ADHD, and to determine which behaviors early in life differ vs. overlap between infants/toddlers who develop these conditions. We hope that this research will help to improve early identification of autism and ADHD, and that it might lead to treatments that can be applied across various groups of children with, or at risk for, a range of neurodevelopmental concerns.

Although we are no longer recruiting for this study, we are eager to see the families and children who generously volunteered their time to participate again in the future. We hope to reach out to all participating families sometime in the next few years.

Families who are interested in participating in similar studies can read about the LAAMB Study.