Acoustic features of vocalizations in typically developing and autistic infants in the first year.

Background: We describe acoustic patterns across the five most prominent vocal types in typically developing infants (TD) and compare them with patterns in infants who develop autism (ASD) or a developmental disability (DD) not related to autism. Infant-directed speech (IDS) is a potentially important influence on such vocal acoustic patterns. Both acoustic patterns and effects of IDS are important for understanding the earliest origins of communication disorders.

Canonical babbling trajectories across the first year of life in autism and typical development.

Our study examined how babies develop their ability to talk to help identify early signs of autism. We looked at babies' production of babbling with mature syllables across the first year of life. Babies usually start producing mature babbling at 7 months of age before they say their first words.

Foundations of Vocal Category Development in Autistic Infants.

The present study compared the infant's tendency in the first year of life to produce clusters of particular vocal types (squeals, vocants, and growls) in typically developing (TD) and autistic infants. Vocal clustering provides evidence of vocal category formation and may establish a foundation for speech development. Specifically, we compared the extent of vocal clustering across outcome groups and age groups.

Eye-Tracking-Based Measurement of Social Visual Engagement Compared With Expert Clinical Diagnosis of Autism.

Importance: In the US, children with signs of autism often experience more than 1 year of delay before diagnosis and often experience longer delays if they are from racially, ethnically, or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Most diagnoses are also received without use of standardized diagnostic instruments. To aid in early autism diagnosis, eye-tracking measurement of social visual engagement has shown potential as a performance-based biomarker.

Expert Clinician Certainty in Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder in 16-30-Month-Olds: A Multi-site Trial Secondary Analysis.

Differential diagnosis of young children with suspected autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is challenging, and clinician uncertainty about a child's diagnosis may contribute to misdiagnosis and subsequent delays in access to early treatment. The current study was designed to replicate and expand a recent report in this Journal (McDonnell et al. in J Autism Dev Disord 49:1391-1401, https://doi.

Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Profiles of Children Who Are Missed.

Objective: To characterize children presenting with concerns for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) missed by parent-report screeners and to examine benefits of a combined screening approach with the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised (M-CHAT-R) and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3).

Methods: Participants included were 154 children aged 16 to 42 months presenting for an evaluation at an autism center. Caregivers completed the M-CHAT-R, ASQ-3, and a demographic questionnaire.

Sibling Relationships in Adolescence and Early Adulthood With People Who Have Intellectual Disability.

Cross-sectional (N = 106) and longitudinal (N = 35) samples of siblings (ages 11-38) reported on closeness and conflict in their relationships with sisters and brothers with intellectual disability. For closeness, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) distinguished feelings of emotional closeness from reciprocal sharing behaviors for these siblings. Age effects and changes over time indicated increasing emotional closeness and a general reduction in conflict from adolescence to young adulthood, with stable reciprocal sharing.

Efficacy of a new prescription-only medical food supplement in alleviating signs and symptoms of dry eye, with or without concomitant cyclosporine A.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a new, prescription-only medical food supplement containing omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids on dry eye signs and symptoms, with or without concomitant topical cyclosporine.

Methods: A total of 43 subjects were randomized and followed for 6 months. Group 1 (n = 23) was assigned to take two soft geltabs of the medical food supplement by mouth twice daily for 6 months.

Sibling relationship quality and social functioning of children and adolescents with intellectual disability.

We examined sibling relationships for children and adolescents with intellectual disability and assessed implications for their social functioning. Targets (total N = 212) had either intellectual disability, a chronic illness/physical disability, or no disability. Nontarget siblings reported on relationship quality, sibling interactions were observed, and teachers reported on social adjustment.