Predicting Useful Speech in Children With Autism

描述（由申请人提供）：使用纵向相关设计，将解决九个目标。前三个目的是研究早期词汇发展的独特预测因素，以及父母输入在这一预测模型中可能发挥的潜在中介作用。在目标1中，我们测试了(a)早期儿童有意沟通、注意跟随和物体游戏，(b)早期儿童运动能力和(c)随时间变化的儿童词汇理解在预测交际词汇使用增长率方面是否存在增量（即显著预测）的有效性。在目标2中，我们测试了(a)早期儿童有意沟通、注意跟随和客体游戏，(b)对儿童定向言语的注意，以及(b)父母变量在预测理解增长率方面是否存在增量效度。在目标3中，我们检验了早期父母因素与儿童词汇理解发展之间的关联是否通过儿童词汇理解的发展来中介。接下来的3个目标涉及测试纵向相关性，如果得到证实，则与父母使用推定的促进行为对儿童的影响一致。在目标4中，我们测试了儿童早期有意沟通和注意跟随的频率是否能正向预测父母语言映射的频率。在目标5中，我们测试了儿童早期的物体游戏是否积极预测后来的父母同步非强制性谈话。在目标6中，我们测试了儿童的早期请求是否能积极预测后来父母使用响应策略的倾向。最后3个目标包括针对图1中所示模型的关键预测测试可选模型。在Aim 7中，我们检验了早期父母变量与后期理解之间的关联是否大于早期理解与后期父母变量之间的关联。在Aim 8中，我们检验了早期理解与后期表达之间的关联是否大于早期表达与后期理解之间的关联。在Aim 9中，我们测试了早期注意儿童定向言语与后期理解之间的关联是否大于早期理解与后期注意儿童定向言语之间的关联。混合水平模型、多元回归和改进的Pearson-Filon统计量将被用来检验目标。要求提供五年的经费。公共卫生相关性：目前估计自闭症的发病率为1:150。小学交际词的使用是一个重复预测社会和就业结果的年轻人与成年人。预测习得交际性词汇使用的差异可以识别出作为早期治疗目标的前兆。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Using a longitudinal correlational design, nine aims will be addressed. The first three aims examine the unique predictors of early lexical development and the potential mediating role that parental input may play in this predictive model. In Aim 1, we test whether there is incremental (i.e., significant prediction above and beyond other predictors) validity of (a) early child intentional communication, attention following, and object play, (b) early child motor ability and (c) time-varying child vocabulary comprehension in predicting growth rate of communicative word use. In Aim 2, we test whether there is incremental validity of (a) early child intentional communication, attention following, and object play, (b) attention to child-directed speech, and (b) parental variables in predicting growth rate of comprehension. In Aim 3, we test whether the association between early parental factors and the child's growth of communicative word use is mediated through the child's development of vocabulary comprehension. The next 3 aims involve testing longitudinal correlations that, if confirmed, are consistent with child effects on parental use of putative facilitative behaviors. In Aim 4, we test whether children's early frequency of intentional communication and attention following positively predict later frequency of parental linguistic mapping. In Aim 5, we test whether children's early object play positively predicts later parental synchronous nonobligatory talk. In Aim 6, we test whether children's early requesting positively predicts later parental tendency to use responsive strategies. The final 3 aims involve testing alternative models against key predictions of the model presented in Figure 1. In Aim 7, we test whether the association between early parent variables and later comprehension is greater than the association between early comprehension and later parent variables. In Aim 8, we test whether the association between early comprehension and later expression is greater than the association between early expression and later comprehension. In Aim 9, we test whether the association between early attention to child directed speech and later comprehension is greater than the association between early comprehension and later attention to child-directed speech. Mixed level modeling, multiple regression, and the modified Pearson-Filon statistic will be used to test the aims. Five years of funding are requested. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The incidence of autism is now estimated to be 1:150 births. Communicative word use by elementary school is a replicated predictor of social and employment outcomes in young adults with adults. Predicting variance in acquiring communicative word use may identify precursors that are appropriate early treatment targets.