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The Kids' autism research takes place at CliniKids, a centre that integrates world-class research with a clinical service for children with developmental delay and/or autism and their families.

News & Events
Australia’s first draft national guideline for autism diagnosis releasedAustralia’s first draft national guideline for autism diagnosis has today been released for public consultation.

News & Events
The Kids Research Institute Australia researcher awarded prestigious Eureka awardProfessor Andrew Whitehouse awarded the most prestigious award in the country for young researchers – the 3M Eureka Prize for Emerging Leader in Science.

News & Events
Computer algorithm links facial masculinity to autismA new study led by The Kids Research Institute Australia has found a link between masculine facial features and autism.
Research
The use of psychotropic medications in autistic individuals (21 years and younger) in Western Australia: A preliminary investigationPrescriptions and use of medications to treat mental health conditions in young autistic populations are inconsistent worldwide. This makes it hard to compare findings from international studies to the Australian autistic population, where there are limited relevant studies. Apart from risperidone, there are no other medications specified for direct use in autistic persons. This study aims to gain initial broad understanding of the use of medications, commonly prescribed for mental health conditions, specifically by autistics under the age of 21 years.
Research
Sex-Specific Effects of Birth Weight on Longitudinal Behavioral Outcomes: A Mendelian Randomization Approach Using Polygenic ScoresIt is unclear whether sex differences in behavior arising from birth weight (BW) are genuine because of the cross-sectional nature and potential confounding in previous studies. We aimed to test whether sex differences associated with BW phenotype were reproducible using a Mendelian randomization approach, i.e., association between polygenic score (PGS) for BW and behavior outcomes across childhood and adolescence.
Research
Low-intensity parent- and clinician-delivered support for young autistic children in Aotearoa New Zealand: a randomised controlled trialAotearoa New Zealand does not provide publicly-funded intensive autism support. While parent-mediated supports are promising, children and families may also benefit from direct clinician support. We tested the efficacy of a low-intensity programme involving parent- and clinician-delivered support for autistic children.
Research
The misnomer of ‘high functioning autism’: Intelligence is an imprecise predictor of functional abilities at diagnosisWe argue that 'high functioning autism' is an inaccurate clinical descriptor when based solely on intelligence quotient demarcations
Research
A prospective study of fetal head growth, autistic traits and autism spectrum disorderThis large population-based study identified no consistent association across two cohorts between prenatal head growth and postnatal autistic traits
Research
Symptom severity in autism spectrum disorder is related to the frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: a retrospective case-control studyInvestigating whether the presence and severity of nausea and vomiting may be related to symptom severity in offspring with autism spectrum disorder