Table 5 Summary of subgroup differences for children on the autism spectrum in the Australian Autism Biobank, based on four-class latent profile model
From: Identification of subgroups of children in the Australian Autism Biobank using latent class analysis
| Â | Class one: fewer support needs group | Class two: higher support needs with prominent language and cognitive challenges group | Class three: moderate support needs with emotional challenges group | Class four: higher support needs with prominent medical and psychiatric and comorbidity group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Social Communication Difficulties | Mean subgroup levels of difficulty below overall group mean scores | Mean subgroup levels of difficulty above overall group mean, and most different from group mean overall | Mean subgroup levels of difficulty similar to overall group mean | Mean levels of difficulty above overall group mean scores |
Restricted, Repetitive, Stereotyped Behaviours | Average levels of difficulty below group mean across all RRB categories | Sensory seeking and hyposensitivity subgroup scores above overall group mean. Repetitive speech, insistence on sameness, ritualistic and routine-focused behaviour, and sensory sensitivity scores below overall group mean scores | Subgroup mean similar to overall group mean across all RRB categories | Mean scores above overall group mean scores across all RRB categories |
Cognitive ability | Subgroup mean similar to overall group mean | Mean subgroup cognitive ability below overall group mean, and most different overall | Subgroup mean similar to overall group mean | Subgroup mean similar to overall group mean |
Adaptive Functioning | Subgroup mean above overall group mean | Subgroup mean below overall group mean and most different overall | Subgroup mean similar to overall group mean | Subgroup mean below overall group mean |
Regression | Subgroup probability of regression lower than overall group | Highest probability of regression | Subgroup probability of regression similar to overall group | Subgroup probability of regression higher than overall group |
Language | Subgroup probability of language delay similar to overall group | Highest probability of language delay | Subgroup probability of language delay similar to overall group | Subgroup probability of language delay similar to overall group |
Motor | Subgroup probability of motor delay higher than overall group | Subgroup probability of motor delay higher than overall group | Subgroup probability of motor delay lower than overall group | Subgroup probability of motor delay similar to overall group |
Medical comorbidity | Subgroup probability of seizures, gastrointestinal dysfunction, allergy lower than overall group | Subgroup probability of seizures, gastrointestinal dysfunction, allergy, similar to overall group | Subgroup probability of seizures, gastrointestinal dysfunction, allergy similar to overall group | Subgroup probability of seizures, gastrointestinal dysfunction, allergy higher than overall group |
Psychiatric comorbidity | Lowest probability of anxiety and ADHD, with probability of depression, defiance, hallucinations, and tics lower than in overall group | Lowest probability of defiance and depression, with probability of anxiety lower than in overall group but scores of inattention higher than in overall group | Highest probability of depression, with probability of defiance higher than in overall group | Highest probability of anxiety, ADHD, defiance and hallucinations, with subgroup probability of depression and tics higher than in overall group |
Sleep | Lowest probability of sleep onset and maintenance difficulties | Probability of sleep onset difficulties similar to overall group with higher probability of sleep maintenance difficulties | Probability of sleep onset difficulties higher but probability of sleep maintenance difficulties lower than overall group | Highest probability of sleep onset and maintenance difficulties |
Self-injurious behaviour (SIB) | Subgroup probability of SIB lower than overall group | Highest probability of SIB | Subgroup probability of SIB similar to overall group | Subgroup probability of SIB higher than overall group |