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Latrèche K, Godel M, Franchini M, Journal F, Kojovic N, Schaer M. Early trajectories and moderators of autistic language profiles: A longitudinal study in preschoolers. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2024:13623613241253015. [PMID: 38770974 DOI: 10.1177/13623613241253015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Language development can greatly vary among autistic children. Children who struggle with language acquisition often face many challenges and experience lower quality of life. However, little is known about the early language trajectories of autistic preschoolers and their moderators. Autistic language can be stratified into three profiles. Language unimpaired experience little to no language difficulties; language impaired show significant difficulties in language; minimally verbal never develop functional language. In this study, we used a longitudinal sample of preschoolers with autism and with typical development (aged 1.5-5.7 years). We replicated the three language profiles through a data-driven approach. We also found that different factors modulated the language outcome within each group. For instance, non-verbal cognition at age 2.4 moderated the participants' attribution to each language profile. Moreover, early intervention moderated verbal outcome in the language impaired profile. In conclusion, we provided a detailed description of how autistic preschoolers acquire language, and what factors might influence their trajectories. Our findings could inspire more personalized intervention for early autistic language difficulties.
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Green RR, Bigler ED, Froehlich A, Prigge MBD, Zielinski BA, Travers BG, Anderson JS, Alexander A, Lange N, Lainhart JE. Beery VMI and Brain Volumetric Relations in Autism Spectrum Disorder. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC NEUROPSYCHOLOGY 2019; 5:77-84. [PMID: 32953403 PMCID: PMC7497806 DOI: 10.1007/s40817-019-00069-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Although diminished proficiency on tasks that require visual-motor integration (VMI) has been reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), very few studies have examined the association between VMI performance and neuroanatomical regions of interest (ROI) involved in motor and perceptual functioning. To address these issues, the current study included an all-male sample of 41 ASD (ages 3-23 years) and 27 typically developing (TD) participants (ages 5-26 years) who completed the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI) as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. All participants underwent 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with image quantification (FreeSurfer software v5.3). The groups were statistically matched on age, handedness, and intracranial volume (ICV). ASD participants performed significantly lower on VMI and IQ measures compared with the TD group. VMI performance was significantly correlated with FSIQ and PIQ in the TD group only. No pre-defined neuroanatomical ROIs were significantly different between groups. Significant correlations were observed in the TD group between VMI and total precentral gyrus gray matter volume (r = .51, p = .006) and total frontal lobe gray matter volume (r = .46, p = .017). There were no significant ROI correlations with Beery VMI performance in ASD participants. At the group level, despite ASD participants exhibiting reduced visuomotor abilities, no systematic relation with motor or sensory-perceptual ROIs was observed. In the TD group, results were consistent with the putative role of the precentral gyrus in motor control along with frontal involvement in planning, organization, and execution monitoring, all essential for VMI performance. Given that similar associations between VMI and ROIs were not observed in those with ASD, neurodevelopment in ASD group participants may not follow homogenous patterns making correlations in these brain regions unlikely to be observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan R. Green
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, 1001 SWKT, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Erin D. Bigler
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, 1001 SWKT, Provo, UT 84602, USA
- Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Alyson Froehlich
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Brandon A. Zielinski
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Brittany G. Travers
- Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Occupational Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | | | - Andrew Alexander
- Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Nicholas Lange
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biostatistics, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
- Neurostatistics Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Janet E. Lainhart
- Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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