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Published on: April 22, 2015
Predicting the rate of language development from early motor skills in at-risk infants who develop autism spectrum
Hayley C Leonard1, Rachael Bedford2, Andrew Pickles2
1Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths College, University of London, London, UK.
Insights
Early gross motor skills influence expressive language development in infants at high risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This finding is crucial for identifying potential developmental delays in at-risk siblings.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Infants with an older sibling diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have an increased familial risk.
- Early developmental trajectories, including motor and language skills, are critical for identifying at-risk infants.
- Understanding the interplay between early motor abilities and language development can inform early intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between early motor skills and the rate of language development in infants with a high familial risk of ASD.
- To determine if early motor deficits predict language development trajectories in at-risk infants.
- To examine differences in this relationship between infants later diagnosed with ASD and those not diagnosed.
Main Methods:
- Prospective longitudinal study design with data collected at 7, 14, 24, and 36 months.
- Latent growth curve modeling used to analyze the rate of language development (Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales) from 7 to 36 months.
- Mullen Scales of Early Learning (7 months) used to assess gross and fine motor skills as predictors of language growth.
Main Results:
- Early gross motor scores at 7 months significantly predicted a faster rate of expressive language development in infants later diagnosed with ASD.
- No significant prediction was found for receptive language development based on gross motor skills.
- A similar trend was observed for fine motor skills, but the relationship did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusions:
- Early gross motor skills appear to be an important predictor of expressive language development rate in infants at high risk for ASD.
- Motor delays, particularly in gross motor function, may indicate a higher risk for language development challenges in this population.
- These findings highlight the potential value of early motor assessments in identifying infants who may benefit from targeted language interventions.
Abstract:
The aim of the current paper was to use data from a prospective study to assess the impact of early motor skills on the rate of language development in infants with an older sibling with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who are at increased risk of developing ASD themselves. Infants were tested prospectively at four points (7, 14, 24 and 36 months), and were assessed for ASD at the last visit. Latent growth curve analysis was used to model rate of language development using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales between 7-36 months in infants at high and low familial risk for ASD. Motor scores from the Mullen Scales of Early Learning at 7 months were used as predictors of language growth. Gross motor scores predicted the subsequent rate of expressive, but not receptive, language development in at-risk siblings who were later diagnosed with ASD. Although the pattern was similar for fine motor skills, the relationship did not reach significance. It seems that early motor delay impacts the rate of development of expressive language, and this may be of particular importance to infants at increased risk of developing ASD.
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