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Is Early Verbal and Nonverbal Language Gain Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder’ Symptomatology in Infants at Risk?

Oral Presentation
Friday, May 11, 2018: 1:57 PM
Jurriaanse Zaal (de Doelen ICC Rotterdam)
M. Franchini1, E. Duku2, V. Armstrong3, J. A. Brian4, S. E. Bryson5, N. Garon6, W. Roberts7, C. Roncadin8, L. Zwaigenbaum9 and I. M. Smith10, (1)Dalhousie University / IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada, (2)McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, (3)IWK Health Centre / Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada, (4)Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada, (5)Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada, (6)Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, Canada, (7)isand, Toronto, ON, Canada, (8)Autism Spectrum Disorder Service, McMaster Children's Hospital - Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON, Canada, (9)University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, (10)Dalhousie University / IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, CANADA
Background: Early communication impairment represents one of the most-reported early concerns in parents of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Moreover, verbal and nonverbal communication impairments are strongly associated with ASD symptomatology from the first years of life. Trajectory groups were examined in siblings at high risk (HR) for ASD and in children at low risk (LR) during the two first years, a period in which word and gesture learning show substantial gains and considerable intra-individual variability.

Objectives: We first aim to define distinct developmental trajectories for early language and gesture acquisition in siblings at HR for ASD and in LR children using an extensive parent-report questionnaire. Our second purpose is to identify early predictors and clinical and cognitive outcomes related to the derived trajectory groups based on verbal and nonverbal communication gains.

Methods: We used Group Based Trajectory Models (GBTM) to derive early communication trajectory groups. Data for language (expressive and receptive) and gesture acquisition were collected with the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory-Infant Form (M-CDI) at 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months of age. The sample was composed of 660 HR and LR infants (482 HR siblings, 361 males in the total sample). Clinical and cognitive measures were also collected before and after this period (at 6 and 36 months respectively). Predictors and outcomes were further examined according to the trajectory groups derived for each of the three measures. Finally, membership in each trajectory groups was analyzed with regard to the diagnostic outcome at 36 months.

Results: Analysis revealed three distinctive trajectory groups for the receptive language and gesture gain measures, and two groups for the expressive language acquisition measure. Pairwise comparisons between trajectory groups for the estimates of quadratic slope revealed significant differences for all comparisons (all p<.001) except for slopes 1 and 2 for gestures (p=.14). Intercepts for verbal expression and gestures did not differ significantly between trajectories (all p>.17), except for receptive language (all p<0.01). For each measure (expressive language, receptive language, and gestures), assigned trajectory groups were strongly related to clinical and cognitive outcomes. Children with an ASD diagnosis were less likely to be in the trajectory groups with the fastest language/gesture acquisition for all three measures. Clinical and cognitive measures at 6 months predicted trajectory group membership for receptive language and gesture gains. Global motor functioning was the only predictor for expressive language trajectory membership.

Conclusions: Our results confirm substantial variability in communication gains in the early development of both HR and LR infants. The results also suggest that this variability predicts further ASD symptomatology and is related to very early risk factors. Beyond communication-related behavioral features, predictors include motor skills and cognitive functioning. The current study has clinical implications in pointing out relevant language-related targets for early intervention.

See more of: Early Language Development
See more of: Early Development (< 48 months)