Predicting Spoken Language Level in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Thirty-five children who received an autism spectrum diagnosis at the age of 2 years (24 with autism, 11 with PDD-NOS) were re-evaluated 2 years later to examine factors related to the development of spoken language. Child variables (play level, motor imitation ability and joint attention) and envir...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Autism : the international journal of research and practice 2001-12, Vol.5 (4), p.341-361
Main Authors: Stone, Wendy L., Yoder, Paul J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Autism
Autistic children
Autistic Disorder - therapy
Child, Preschool
Children
Developmental Disabilities
Early intervention
Early Intervention (Education)
Female
Humans
Imitation
Joint attention
Language
Language Acquisition
Language Disorders - therapy
Language proficiency
Language Therapy
Male
Medical diagnosis
Motor Development
Pervasive Developmental Disorders
Predictor Variables
Prognosis
Socioeconomic Factors
Socioeconomic status
Speech Therapy
Spoken language
Time Factors
Toddlers
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Summary:Thirty-five children who received an autism spectrum diagnosis at the age of 2 years (24 with autism, 11 with PDD-NOS) were re-evaluated 2 years later to examine factors related to the development of spoken language. Child variables (play level, motor imitation ability and joint attention) and environmental variables (socioeconomic status and hours of speech/language therapy between ages 2 and 3) were used to predict an aggregate measure of language outcome at age 4. After controlling for age 2 language skills, the only significant predictors were motor imitation and number of hours of sther speech/language therapy. Implications of these results for understanding the early developmental course of autism spectrum disorders and the effects of intervention are discussed.
ISSN:1362-3613
1461-7005
DOI:10.1177/1362361301005004002