Predictors of Language Acquisition in Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 37; no. 9; pp. 1721 - 1734
• Main Authors: Thurm, Audrey, Lord, Catherine, Lee, Li-Ching, Newschaffer, Craig
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.10.2007; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Age; Attention Control; Autism; Autistic children; Autistic Disorder - diagnosis; Autistic spectrum disorders; Biological and medical sciences; Child clinical studies; Child Language; Child, Preschool; Cognitive Ability; Communicative Competence; Comparative Analysis; Delayed Speech; Developmental Disabilities; Developmental disorders; Developmental Stages; Expressive Language; Female; Humans; Imitation; Infantile autism; Joint Attention; Language Acquisition; Language Aptitude; Language Skills; Male; Measures (Individuals); Medical sciences; Nonverbal Communication; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Prediction; Predictors; Preschool Children; Prospective Studies; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometric Analysis; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Receptive Language; Skill Development; Socialization; Thinking Skills; Verbal Learning; Human; Preschool age; Autism,Language; Cognitive ability; Non verbal intelligence; Cognition; Developmental disorder; Autism; Language; Preschool· Predictors; Follow up study; Outcome; Language development; Predictive factor; Child; Socialization; Communication
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-006-0300-1

In 118 children followed from age 2 to 5 (59 with autism, 24 with PDD-NOS and 35 with non-spectrum developmental disabilities), age 2 and age 3 scores of non-verbal ability, receptive communication, expressive communication and socialization were compared as predictors of receptive and expressive language at age 5. Non-verbal cognitive ability at age 2 was generally the strongest predictor of age 5 language, while at age 3 communication scores were a stronger predictor of age 5 language for children with autism. Early joint attention as well as vocal and motor imitation skills were more impaired in children who did not develop language by age 5 (but had relatively strong non-verbal cognitive skills) than in children who did develop language by 5.