Links Between Early Prelinguistic Communication and Later Expressive Language in Toddlers With Autistic and
Jennifer E Markfeld1,2, Zoë Kiemel1,3, Pooja Santapuram4,5
1Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research : JSLHR
|December 5, 2024
Summary
Early intentional communication skills predict expressive language in toddlers with autistic siblings. These findings support early interventions to improve language outcomes for high-risk children.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Linguistics
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Background:
- Toddlers with autistic siblings (Sibs-autism) have a high likelihood for autism and language disorders.
- Early communication skills are crucial for language development.
- Understanding predictors of language in high-risk populations is essential for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if early prelinguistic communication skills predict expressive language in toddlers at high likelihood for autism.
- To compare predictive relationships in toddlers with autistic siblings (Sibs-autism) versus those with non-autistic siblings (Sibs-NA).
Main Methods:
- 51 toddlers (12-18 months) were assessed at two time points, 9 months apart.
- Prelinguistic skills (intentional communication, vocalization complexity, responding to joint attention) were measured using the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile-Behavior Sample.
- Expressive language was assessed at the second time point, and correlational and regression analyses were conducted.
Main Results:
- Intentional communication and vocalization complexity significantly correlated with expressive language across both sibling groups.
- Vocalization complexity and responding to joint attention did not add significant predictive value when intentional communication was controlled.
- Sibling group moderated the association; vocal complexity uniquely predicted expressive language in toddlers with non-autistic siblings (Sibs-NA) when controlling for intentional communication.
Conclusions:
- Early intentional communication skills are promising predictors of later expressive language in siblings of autistic children.
- Findings support the potential of early interventions targeting prelinguistic skills, particularly intentional communication, to enhance language acquisition in high-risk toddlers.
- This research underscores the importance of early communication assessment and intervention for optimizing language outcomes in toddlers with a high likelihood of autism and language disorder.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
61
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
61
01:22Language Development
317
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
317
01:27Language and Cognition
323
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
323
01:26Modeling in Therapy
48
Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
48
01:16Language
193
Language is a unique communication system that uses words and systematic rules to organize and transmit information. Unlike other forms of communication, which may involve postures, movements, odors, or vocalizations, language relies on symbols and grammar. This makes human communication distinct from that of other species, who also communicate but do not use language in the same way humans do.
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...
193
01:20Gene-Environment Interactions
250
Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
250