Authors: Susan Ellis Weismer Catherine Lord Amy Esler
Publish Date: 2010/03/02
Volume: 40, Issue: 10, Pages: 1259-1273
Abstract
This study characterized early language abilities in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders n = 257 using multiple measures of language development compared to toddlers with nonspectrum developmental delay DD n = 69 Findings indicated moderate to high degrees of agreement among three assessment measures one parent report and two direct assessment measures Performance on two of the three measures revealed a significant difference in the profile of receptive–expressive language abilities for toddlers with autism compared to the DD group such that toddlers with autism had relatively more severe receptive than expressive language delays Regression analyses examining concurrent predictors of language abilities revealed both similarities in significant predictors nonverbal cognition and differences frequency of vocalization imitation across the diagnostic groupsThese data were collected with support from NIMH R01 MH81873 and Autism Speaks Additionally partial support for preparation of this article was provided by NIDCD R01DC007223 and the NICHD P30 HD03352 We also wish to express our sincere thanks to the children and parents who participated in this research
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