What is the purpose of this study?

Drs. Stephen R. Dager and Annette Estes, researchers at the University of Washington, want to learn more about brain development in young siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The information gained in this study may: 1) improve methods of early detection, 2) improve intervention for infants who may be at risk for developing autism, and 3) lead to better outcome for young children and their families.

How can I participate? What are the criteria?

Families with: A child who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, AND A younger sibling 6 months old or younger

What does participation in the study mean?

• Cognitive, social, and developmental assessments at the University of Washington Autism Center for 6-month-old siblings of children with an autism spectrum disorder and comprehensive follow-up evaluations at 12-months and 24-months of age.
• Developmental screening for the older sibling.
• Completion of questionnaires and phone interviews for parents.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center.

What is the time commitment for participation in the study?

You will be asked to complete several questionnaires, respond to a number of questions over the phone and participate in assessment visits at the UW Autism Center when your infant is 6, 12, and 24 months old. At each time point, the questionnaires will take approximately two hours, each phone call lasts approximately two hours, and we will ask that you schedule two 90-minute visits to the Autism Center. You will also be asked to bring your child to Children’s Hospital for an MRI scan at each age point (6, 12, and 24 months). Each completed MRI scanning session takes approximately 1 hour.

What will my family get out of the study?

• All families will receive developmental evaluations of their infant at 6, 12, and 24 months along with a detailed clinical report.
• All families will receive advice regarding appropriate intervention services.
• Information regarding your children’s developmental profile that can be used in educational planning.
• Advice and referral information regarding your children’s development and behavior.
• Compensation for parking and a $75 check at each age point (6, 12, and 24 months).

What are the risks to participating in this study and what safeguards are in place to minimize any risks?

This study is approved by a human subjects committee at the Children’s Hospital and all efforts are made to minimize any potential risks. Psychological and behavioral testing of your child may reveal difficulties with language, mental processing or socialization, as well as a diagnosis of an ASD at 24 months of age, that will be reported to you with appropriate follow-up recommendations. Similarly, although no clinically significant brain structural findings are expected, all MRIs will be evaluated by a board-certified pediatric neuroradiologist, and you will be informed of any clinically significant findings with appropriate follow up recommendations.

Who are the investigators involved in this project?

The members of the research team involved in this project are:
Stephen R. Dager, M.D.
Annette Estes, Ph.D.
Dennis Shaw, M.D.
Alan A. Artru, M.D.
Kenneth Martay, M.D.
Todd Richards, Ph.D.
Seth D. Friedman, Ph.D.
Helen Petropoulos, BSc.
Lindsey Sterling, M.S.
Lauren Elder, M.S.
Karen Burner, B.A.
Vanessa Hus, MSc.
Vanessa Rivera, B.A.

Whom should I contact to get involved?

To learn more about any of our studies, please contact our Project Scheduler at our toll-free number: 1-800-994-9701 University of Washington and Children's Hospital Infant Brain Imaging Study Box 357920, Seattle, WA 98195 phone: 1-800-994-9701 email: ddrinfo@u.washington.edu Additional IBIS information available at: www.ibis-network.org Please remember we can not guarantee the confidentiality of email.