Vanessa H Bal1, Megan Fok1, Catherine Lord2, Isabel M Smith3, Pat Mirenda4, Peter Szatmari5, Tracy Vaillancourt6, Joanne Volden7, Charlotte Waddell8, Lonnie Zwaigenbaum7, Terry Bennett9, Eric Duku9, Mayada Elsabbagh10, Stelios Georgiades10, Wendy J Ungar11, Anat Zaidman-Zait12. 1. Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ, USA. 2. Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. 3. Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada. 4. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 5. The Hospital for Sick Children, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. 6. University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 7. Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. 8. Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 9. McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. 10. McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. 11. The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. 12. Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies estimate that 30% of individuals with autism are minimally verbal. Understanding what factors predict longer-term expressive development in children with language delays is critical to inform identification and treatment of those at-risk for persistent language impairments. The present study examined predictors of expressive language development in language-delayed preschoolers followed through later school-age and young adulthood. METHODS: Children using single words or less on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) at approximately 3 years old were drawn from the Early Diagnosis (EDX) and Pathways in ASD longitudinal cohorts. Age-3 predictors of Age-19 ADOS language level were identified using Classification and Regression Trees (CART) in the EDX sample. Linear mixed models examined the effects of CART-identified predictors on Vineland expressive communication (VExp) trajectories from Age-3 to Age-19. The same linear mixed models were examined in the Pathways sample, identifying predictors of VExp from ages 3 to 10.5 years. RESULTS: Significantly delayed fine motor skills (T-score < 20) was the strongest CART predictor of Age-19 language. In the linear mixed models, time, Age-3 fine motor skills and initiation of joint attention (IJA) predicted VExp trajectories in the EDX sample, even when controlling for Age-3 visual receptive abilities. In the Pathways sample, time and Age-3 fine motor skills were significant predictors of VExp trajectories; IJA and cognitive skills were not significant predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Marked deficits in fine motor skills may be a salient proxy marker for identifying language-delayed children with ASD who are at risk for persistent language impairments. This finding adds to the literature demonstrating a relation between motor and language development in ASD. Investigating individual skill areas (e.g., fine motor and nonverbal problem-solving skills), rather than broader indices of developmental level (e.g., nonverbal IQ) may provide important cues to understanding longer-term language outcomes that can be targeted in early intervention.
BACKGROUND: Studies estimate that 30% of individuals with autism are minimally verbal. Understanding what factors predict longer-term expressive development in children with language delays is critical to inform identification and treatment of those at-risk for persistent language impairments. The present study examined predictors of expressive language development in language-delayed preschoolers followed through later school-age and young adulthood. METHODS:Children using single words or less on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) at approximately 3 years old were drawn from the Early Diagnosis (EDX) and Pathways in ASD longitudinal cohorts. Age-3 predictors of Age-19 ADOS language level were identified using Classification and Regression Trees (CART) in the EDX sample. Linear mixed models examined the effects of CART-identified predictors on Vineland expressive communication (VExp) trajectories from Age-3 to Age-19. The same linear mixed models were examined in the Pathways sample, identifying predictors of VExp from ages 3 to 10.5 years. RESULTS: Significantly delayed fine motor skills (T-score < 20) was the strongest CART predictor of Age-19 language. In the linear mixed models, time, Age-3 fine motor skills and initiation of joint attention (IJA) predicted VExp trajectories in the EDX sample, even when controlling for Age-3 visual receptive abilities. In the Pathways sample, time and Age-3 fine motor skills were significant predictors of VExp trajectories; IJA and cognitive skills were not significant predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Marked deficits in fine motor skills may be a salient proxy marker for identifying language-delayed children with ASD who are at risk for persistent language impairments. This finding adds to the literature demonstrating a relation between motor and language development in ASD. Investigating individual skill areas (e.g., fine motor and nonverbal problem-solving skills), rather than broader indices of developmental level (e.g., nonverbal IQ) may provide important cues to understanding longer-term language outcomes that can be targeted in early intervention.
Authors: Anne B Arnett; Jennifer S Beighley; Evangeline C Kurtz-Nelson; Kendra Hoekzema; Tianyun Wang; Raphe A Bernier; Evan E Eichler Journal: Autism Res Date: 2020-09-12 Impact factor: 5.216
Authors: Rebecca J Lepping; Walker S McKinney; Grant C Magnon; Sarah K Keedy; Zheng Wang; Stephen A Coombes; David E Vaillancourt; John A Sweeney; Matthew W Mosconi Journal: Hum Brain Mapp Date: 2021-10-30 Impact factor: 5.399
Authors: Rachel Reetzke; Vini Singh; Ji Su Hong; Calliope B Holingue; Luther G Kalb; Natasha N Ludwig; Deepa Menon; Danika L Pfeiffer; Rebecca J Landa Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-09-06