Purpose: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibits heterogeneous developmental trajectories; however, longitudinal studies using the Korean Childhood Autism Rating Scale (K-CARS) are scarce.This study examined diagnostic changes and related developmental characteristics through repeated K-CARS assessments.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children who underwent repeated K-CARS assessments between May 2021 and December 2024 at Gyeongsang National University Hospital.Based on diagnostic status at the initial (T1) and follow-up (T2) evaluations, participants were classified as having persistent ASD (ASD at T1 and T2), emerging ASD (non-ASD at T1 but ASD at T2), or desisting ASD (ASD at T1 but non-ASD at T2). Developmental profiles were evaluated using the social quotient (SQ), visual-motor integration (VMI), and language quotients.Results: Forty-three children (32 boys; median age, 2.9 years at T1 and 4.3 years at T2) were included.Twenty-two met ASD criteria at T1, and 15 (68%) retained the diagnosis at T2.Across the cohort, 15 (35%) had persistent ASD, 21 (49%) had emerging ASD, and seven (16%) had desisting ASD.The desisting group showed higher baseline VMI and better outcomes at follow-up.The emerging group initially had higher SQ and VMI than the persistent group, but these differences disappeared over time.Higher baseline VMI was associated with desisting status and higher baseline SQ with emerging ASD (odds ratios, 3.14 and 2.59 per standard deviation increase, respectively; P=0.06 and P=0.07).Conclusion: Early ASD diagnoses were generally stable yet variable, supporting repeated assessment.Baseline VMI and SQ may relate to later diagnostic changes.
Yeom et al. (Wed,) studied this question.