University of Wisconsin–Madison
Karla Ausderau, PhD

Karla Ausderau, PhD

Professor, Kinesiology

Karla Ausderau, PhD

Biography

PhD, University of Southern California

Contact Information

3195 Medical Sciences Center 1300 University Avenue Madison, WI 53706 608-262-0653 kausderau@wisc.edu The Ausderau Lab Waisman Contact Information 1500 Highland Ave, Room 493 Room 493 Madison, WI 53705 608-263-5149

Research Statement

My research program focuses on families and child with autism spectrum disorder. I study daily occupations, specifically eating and mealtimes, to elucidate the impact on the child’s health, family wellness, and overall daily participation. I also study sensory features in children with autism spectrum disorder, including their development, characterization, and impact on daily participation. I hope to have an impact on the daily life of families with children with autism by further understanding the behaviors that influence the child’s daily participation. Also, with better characterization of feeding and sensory behaviors, we will be able to develop more effective assessment tools, targeted treatment strategies, and improved outcomes for children and families.

Selected Publications

Pubmed

Skaletski, E. C., Rodriguez, R. M., Gartland, S. G., Ausderau, K. K., Bishop, L., Li, J. J., & Travers, B. G. (2025). Quality of Life in Autistic Children: Discrepancies Between Self- and Caregiver-Proxy Reports and Associations With Individual Characteristics. Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 10.1002/aur.70108. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.70108

Kabakov, S. A., Surgent, O. J., Skaletski, E. C., Sideris, J., Ausderau, K. K., & Travers, B. G. (2025). Application of Sensory Subtypes: Understanding Core Autism Features, Adaptive Behaviors, and Motor Skills in Autistic Children. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 10.1007/s10803-025-06995-6. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-025-06995-6

St John, B., Chen, H. T., Woolley, A., & Ausderau, K. (2025). Convergent Validity of the Feeding and Eating in AutiSm Together Assessment (FEAST). The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 79(4), 7904205110. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2025.051077

Schwartz, A. E., McDonald, K., & Research Ethics for All Consortium (2025). Social validity of Research Ethics for All: Social-behavioral research ethics education for community research partners with developmental disabilities. Disability and health journal, 18(2), 101762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2024.101762

Hladik, L., St John, B. M., Korbel, A., Nelson, N., Umana, M., Kant, S., & Ausderau, K. K. (2025). “Giving Me the Self-Confidence to Tackle It”: Mothers’ Experiences Participating In The Engaged Eaters Program, A Caregiver-Mediated Feeding Intervention. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 55(3), 1045–1056. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06250-4

Skaletski, E. C., Barry, K., Dennis, E., Donnelly, R., Huerta, C., Jones, A., Schmidt, K., Kabakov, S., Ausderau, K. K., Li, J. J., & Travers, B. G. (2025). Sensorimotor Features and Daily Living Skills in Autistic Children With and Without ADHD. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 55(3), 1088–1100. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06256-y

St John, B. M., & Ausderau, K. K. (2024). The characterization of feeding challenges in autistic children. Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 28(9), 2381–2393. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241227518

Caudill, A., Hladik, L., Gray, M., Dulaney, N., Barton, K., Rogers, J., Noblet, N., & Ausderau, K. K. (2024). Health Narratives as a Therapeutic Tool for Health Care Access for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Occupational therapy in health care, 38(3), 750–767. https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2022.2099603

St John, B. M., & Ausderau, K. K. (2024). Changes in Caregiver Outcomes After Participation in the Engaged Eaters Program: A Caregiver-Mediated Feeding Intervention for Autistic Children and Their Families. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 78(3), 7803205040. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050444

Williams, Z. J., Schaaf, R., Ausderau, K. K., Baranek, G. T., Barrett, D. J., Cascio, C. J., Dumont, R. L., Eyoh, E. E., Failla, M. D., Feldman, J. I., Foss-Feig, J. H., Green, H. L., Green, S. A., He, J. L., Kaplan-Kahn, E. A., Keçeli-Kaysılı, B., MacLennan, K., Mailloux, Z., Marco, E. J., Mash, L. E., … Woynaroski, T. G. (2023). Examining the latent structure and correlates of sensory reactivity in autism: a multi-site integrative data analysis by the autism sensory research consortium. Molecular autism, 14(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-023-00563-4

Hladik, L., St John, B., Carbery, M., Gray, M., Drew, J. R., Jr, & Ausderau, K. K. (2023). Benefits and Challenges of a Telehealth Eating and Mealtime Intervention for Autistic Children: Occupational Therapy Practitioners’ Perspectives. OTJR : occupation, participation and health, 43(3), 540–548. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492231175069

Surgent, O., Riaz, A., Ausderau, K. K., Adluru, N., Kirk, G. R., Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Skaletski, E. C., Kecskemeti, S. R., Dean Iii, D. C., Weismer, S. E., Alexander, A. L., & Travers, B. G. (2022). Brainstem white matter microstructure is associated with hyporesponsiveness and overall sensory features in autistic children. Molecular autism, 13(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00524-3

St John, B. M., Hickey, E., Kastern, E., Russell, C., Russell, T., Mathy, A., Peterson, B., Wigington, D., Pellien, C., Caudill, A., Hladik, L., & Ausderau, K. K. (2022). Opening the door to university health research: recommendations for increasing accessibility for individuals with intellectual disability. International journal for equity in health, 21(1), 130. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-022-01730-4

Raasch, L. E., Yamamoto, K., Newman, C. M., Rosinski, J. R., Shepherd, P. M., Razo, E., Crooks, C. M., Bliss, M. I., Breitbach, M. E., Sneed, E. L., Weiler, A. M., Zeng, X., Noguchi, K. K., Morgan, T. K., Fuhler, N. A., Bohm, E. K., Alberts, A. J., Havlicek, S. J., Kabakov, S., Mitzey, A. M., … Dudley, D. M. (2022). Fetal loss in pregnant rhesus macaques infected with high-dose African-lineage Zika virus. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 16(8), e0010623. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010623

Little, L. M., Ausderau, K., Freuler, A., Sideris, J., & Baranek, G. T. (2022). Caregiver strategies to sensory features for children with autism and developmental disabilities. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 905154. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.905154

Hladik, L., Meyer, R., Allen, S., Bonnici, S., Froelke, N. A., Romaniak, H., Ougayour, Y., Nelson, N., Alkhamees, A. K., Davis, H., & Ausderau, K. K. (2022). Accessibility and Inclusion for Families with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Cultural Institutions. Curator : a quarterly publication of the American Museum of Natural History, 65(2), 435–449. https://doi.org/10.1111/cura.12468

Travers, B. G., Lee, L., Klans, N., Engeldinger, A., Taylor, D., Ausderau, K., Skaletski, E. C., & Brown, J. (2022). Associations Among Daily Living Skills, Motor, and Sensory Difficulties in Autistic and Nonautistic Children. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 76(2), 7602205020. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.045955

St John, B., & Ausderau, K. (2021). Relationships Between Household Income and Functional Independent Behavior for Children With Autism. OTJR : occupation, participation and health, 41(4), 243–250. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492211012654

Ausderau, K., Kabakov, S., Razo, E., Mitzey, A. M., Bach, K. M., Crooks, C. M., Dulaney, N., Keding, L., Salas-Quinchucua, C., Medina-Magües, L. G., Weiler, A. M., Bliss, M., Eickhoff, J., Simmons, H. A., Mejia, A., Antony, K. M., Morgan, T., Capuano, S., 3rd, Schneider, M. L., Aliota, M. T., … Mohr, E. L. (2021). Neonatal Development in Prenatally Zika Virus-Exposed Infant Macaques with Dengue Immunity. Viruses, 13(9), 1878. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13091878

Doyle, K. L., Toepfer, M., Bradfield, A. F., Noffke, A., Ausderau, K. K., Andreae, S., & Pickett, K. A. (2021). Systematic Review of Exercise for Caregiver-Care Recipient Dyads: What Is Best for Spousal Caregivers-Exercising Together or Not at All?. The Gerontologist, 61(6), e283–e301. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaa043

St John, B., Gray, M., Malzacher, A., Hladik, L., Lurie, S., & Ausderau, K. (2021). Using photovoice with people with intellectual disability to illuminate definitions of health and factors influencing participation in health promotion. Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARID, 34(3), 866–876. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12868

Surgent, O. J., Walczak, M., Zarzycki, O., Ausderau, K., & Travers, B. G. (2021). IQ and Sensory Symptom Severity Best Predict Motor Ability in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 51(1), 243–254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04536-x

Pickett KA, Schultz-Darken N, Bradfield AF, Malicki K, Pape B, Ausderau KK, Emborg ME. (2020). Spatiotemporal quantification of gait in common marmosets. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 330:108517. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2019.108517.

Althoff CE, Dammann CP, Hope SJ, Ausderau KK. (2019). Parent-Mediated Interventions for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73(3):7303205010p1-7303205010p13. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2019.030015.

Ausderau KK, St John B, Kwaterski KN, Nieuwenhuis B, Bradley E. (2019). Parents’ Strategies to Support Mealtime Participation of Their Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73(1):7301205070p1-7301205070p10. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2019.024612.

St John BM, Hladik E, Romaniak HC, Ausderau KK. (2018). Understanding health disparities for individuals with intellectual disability using photovoice. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 3:1-11. doi: 10.1080/11038128.2018.1502349.

Muesbeck J, St John BM, Kant S, Ausderau KK. (2018). Use of Props During Mealtime for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Self-Regulation and Reinforcement. OTJR (Thorofare N J), 38(4):254-260. doi: 10.1177/1539449218778558.

St John B, Mihaila I, Dorrance K, DaWalt LS, Ausderau KK. (2018). Reflections From Co-Researchers With Intellectual Disability: Benefits to Inclusion in a Research Study Team. Intellectual & Developmental Disabilies, 56(4):251-262. doi: 10.1352/1934-9556-56.5.251.

Ausderau KK, Dammann C, McManus K, Schneider M, Emborg ME, Schultz-Darken N. (2017). Cross-species comparison of behavioral neurodevelopmental milestones in the common marmoset monkey and human child. Developmental Psychobiology. 59(7):807-821. doi: 10.1002/dev.21545.

Reynolds S, Glennon TJ, Ausderau K, Bendixen RM, Kuhaneck HM, Pfeiffer B, Watling R, Wilkinson K, Bodison SC. (2017). Using a Multifaceted Approach to Working With Children Who Have Differences in Sensory Processing and Integration. American Journal of Occupational Therapy.  71(2):7102360010p1-7102360010p10. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2017.019281.

Ausderau KK, Sideris J, Little LM, Furlong M, Bulluck JC, Baranek GT. (2016). Sensory subtypes and associated outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism Research, 9(12):1316-1327. doi: 10.1002/aur.1626.

Flynn TA, Jones BA, Ausderau KK. (2016) Guided Imagery and Stress in Pregnant Adolescents. American Journal of Occupational Therapy,  70(5):7005220020p1-7. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2016.019315.

Little LM, Ausderau K, Sideris J, Baranek GT. (2015) Activity Participation and Sensory Features Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(9):2981-90. doi: 10.1007/s10803-015-2460-3.

Ausderau K, Sideris J, Furlong M, Little LM, Bulluck J, Baranek GT. (2014) National survey of sensory features in children with ASD: factor structure of the sensory experience questionnaire (3.0). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 44(4):915-25. doi: 10.1007/s10803-013-1945-1. (NIHMSID529641).

Baranek, G.T., Little, L.M., Parham, D., Ausderau, K.K., & Sabatos-DeVito, Maura. (2014) Sensory features in autism spectrum disorders In Volkmer, F. R., Paul, R., Klin, A., & Cohen, D.J. (Eds.), Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Diagnosis, Development, Neurobiology, and Behavior. New Jersey, Wiley. Volume 1, 5th Edition.

Little LM, Sideris J, Ausderau K, Baranek GT. (2014) Activity participation among children with autism spectrum disorder. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 68(2):177-85. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2014.009894. (PMC4012568).

Ausderau KK, Furlong M, Sideris J, Bulluck J, Little LM, Watson LR, Boyd BA, Belger A, Dickie VA, Baranek GT. (2014) Sensory subtypes in children with autism spectrum disorder: Latent profile transition analysis using a national survey of sensory features. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 55(8):935-44. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12219. (NIHMSID586849).

Juarez M, Bartling K, Ehlers K, Rego A, Rusin T, Ausderau KK . (2014) Let’s go out to eat! Creating a sensory-friendly dining experience for children with autism spectrum disorders and their families. OT Practice. 19(2), 10–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.7138/otp.2014.192f2.

Martin GE, Ausderau KK, Raspa M, Bishop E, Mallya U, Bailey DB Jr. (2013) Therapy service use among individuals with fragile X syndrome: findings from a US parent survey. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 57(9):837-49.

Bartling K, Ausderau K. (2013) When it’s okay to play with your food: Providing sensory experiences around mealtimes for children with gastrostomy tubes. OT Practice. 18(12) 12-17. http://dx.doi.org/10.7138/otp.2013.1812f1.

Patten E, Ausderau KK, Watson L, Baranek GT. (2013) Sensory Response Patterns in Nonverbal Children with ASD. Autism Research & Treatment. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/436286. (PMC3727194).

Ausderau KK, Juarez M. (2013) The impact of autism spectrum disorder on family mealtimes. ICAN: Infant Child and Adolescent Nutrition. 5(5) 315-323. doi: 10.1177/1941406413502808.

Feeney, S., Ayoob, K., Kleinman, R., Auserdau, K., & Miller, J. (2010) Using Physical Assessment When Assessing Nutritional Status. ICAN: Infant, Child, & Adolescent Nutrition. 2(2), 100-105.

Novak P, Wilson KE, Auserdau K, Cullinane D. (2009) The Use of Blenderized Tube Feedings. ICAN: Infant, Child, & Adolescent Nutrition. 1(1), 21-23.