Developmental profiles of infants and toddlers with autism spectrum disorders identified prospectively in a
Josephine Barbaro1, Cheryl Dissanayake
1School of Psychological Science, Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia. j.barbaro@latrobe.edu.au
Insights
Early identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is crucial. Children with Autistic Disorder (AD) show early receptive language delays, a key red flag for developmental surveillance programs.
Area of Science:
- Developmental psychology
- Pediatric neurology
- Clinical audiology
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis relies on social and communication deficits.
- Early developmental surveillance is key for identifying neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Understanding early cognitive profiles aids in timely intervention for ASD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To chart developmental trajectories in young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
- To identify early cognitive markers for Autistic Disorder (AD) and broader ASD.
- To assess the utility of receptive language as an early indicator for ASD.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, longitudinal study design.
- Assessment of 109 children with Autistic Disorder (AD), broader ASD, and developmental/language delays (DD/LD).
- Utilized Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) at 12, 18, and 24 months.
Main Results:
- Children with AD demonstrated poorer overall performance on the MSEL compared to ASD and DD/LD groups.
- Children with AD/ASD exhibited uneven cognitive profiles, with weaker verbal (especially receptive language) than nonverbal skills.
- Evidence of developmental slowing in verbal skills from 18 to 24 months was observed in children with AD/ASD.
Conclusions:
- A significant receptive language deficit emerges early in children with AD/ASD.
- This cognitive profile, particularly poor receptive language, may serve as an additional red flag alongside social and communication deficits.
- Stringent monitoring of receptive language in the second year of life is recommended for autism spectrum disorder surveillance programs.
Abstract:
This prospective, longitudinal, study charted the developmental profiles of young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) identified through routine developmental surveillance. 109 children with Autistic Disorder (AD), 'broader' ASD, and developmental and/or language delays (DD/LD) were assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) at 12-months (n = 10 assessments), 18-months (n = 45 assessments), and 24-months (n = 99 assessments). The children with AD performed most poorly, overall, than the ASD and DD/LD groups on the MSEL. Furthermore, the children with AD/ASD displayed an uneven cognitive profile, with poorer performance on verbal (particularly receptive language) relative to nonverbal skills. There was also evidence of developmental slowing in verbal skills from 18- to 24-months for children on the spectrum, especially those with AD. Given that the poor receptive, relative to expressive, language profile emerges very early in life for children with AD/ASD, this cognitive profile may serve as an additional red flag to social attention and communication deficits. Receptive language should therefore be stringently monitored in any developmental surveillance program for autism spectrum disorders in the second year of life.
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