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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
Use of a Video Scoring Anchor for Rapid Serial Assessment of Social Communication in Toddlers
Published on: March 14, 2018
Early joint attention abilities measured by the ADOS-2 predict subsequent expressive language development in
Tanya Nitzan1,2, Moran Bachrach1,2, Michal Ilan2,3
1Psychology Department Ben Gurion University of the Negev Beer Sheva Israel.
Background:
Most preschool autistic children exhibit substantial language delays, yet only ∼25% remain minimally verbal (MV) throughout life. Developing expressive language is crucial for improving outcomes. This study examined early predictors of later expressive language growth in MV preschool autistic children.
Methods:
Data from 99 MV autistic children (mean age 27.7 months at diagnosis) who completed ADOS-2 assessments at diagnosis and 12-24 months later were analyzed. Children were stratified into three groups according to their language abilities at follow-up (MV, one-word, and phrases). Logistic regression was used to determine whether baseline ADOS-2 calibrated severity scores (CSS), non-verbal cognitive abilities, or Joint Attention (JA), derived from six ADOS-2 items, enabled prediction of expressive language abilities at follow-up.
Results:
Children who successfully developed expressive language (one-word/phrases) had significantly lower baseline ADOS-2 social affect CSS and JA scores, but did not differ in their non-verbal cognitive abilities or ADOS-2 restricted and repetitive behaviors CSS. Gains in JA were significantly larger in children who developed expressive language.
Conclusion:
MV preschoolers with better social abilities at diagnosis, specifically JA, were more likely to develop expressive language within 1-2 years. Joint attention scores derived from the ADOS-2 offer an easily accessible and widely available measure with important prognostic value for MV children.
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