Clinician Proposed Predictors of Spoken Language Outcomes for Minimally Verbal Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Our aim was to explore insights from clinical practice that may inform efforts to understand and account for factors that predict spoken language outcomes for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder who use minimal verbal language. We used a qualitative design involving three focus groups with 14 speech pathologists to explore their views and experiences. Using the Framework Method of analysis, we identified 9 themes accounting for 183 different participant references to potential factors.

Predictors of Expressive Language Change for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Receiving AAC-Infused Comprehensive Intervention.

Comprehensive interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often incorporate augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); however, variability in outcomes exists even among children who access similar intervention. This study investigated predictors of expressive language change for 48 children with ASD aged 31 to 67 months receiving AAC-infused intervention. The relationships between participants' initial responses to AAC and expressive language change were examined.

Profiles of vocalization change in children with autism receiving early intervention.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly present with comorbid language impairment, negatively impacting their learning and participation across settings. Addressing these needs requires a detailed understanding of their communication trajectories. In this study, we used the language environment and analysis (LENA) system to examine possible changes in children's (a) vocalizations and (b) ratio of speech to nonspeech vocalizations over a 10-month period.

Telehealth and autism: Are telehealth language assessments reliable and feasible for children with autism?

Background: Access to timely and appropriate speech-language pathology (SLP) services is a significant challenge for many families. Telehealth has been used successfully to treat a range of communication disorders in children and adults. Research examining the use of telehealth for children with autism has focused largely on diagnosis, parent-implemented interventions, and behavioural interventions involving interactions between clinicians and parents.

Autism: One or many spectrums?

Our conceptualisation of autism spectrum disorder has changed over time, with recent classifications reflecting a heterogeneous clinical presentation now regularly encountered in routine general paediatric practice. As the prevalence of autism and associated demands for services have increased so has research into understanding the cause and trials aimed at providing best care and intervention. However, the heterogeneity of autism has meant that no single aetiology can account for all differences in presentation, and not all children benefit from broad-based interventions.