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…

New motor skills can shape how infants communicate with their caregivers. For example, learning to walk allows infants to move faster and farther than they previously could, in turn allowing them to approach their caregivers more frequently to gesture or vocalize. Does the link between walking and communication differ for infants later diagnosed…

Autism is increasingly viewed as an expression of neurodiversity deserving accommodation, rather than merely as a disorder in need of remediation or even prevention. This reconceptualization has inspired calls to broaden the ethical debate on early autism care beyond matters of efficient screenings and effective interventions. We conducted 14…

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are five times more likely to have feeding difficulties than neurotypical peers, although the majority of evidence describes feeding difficulty in children age 2 years and older. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the literature on feeding characteristics of children age 0-24 months…

Internalising problems are common within Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); early intervention to support those with emerging signs may be warranted. One promising signal lies in how individual differences in temperament are shaped by parenting. Our longitudinal study of infants with and without an older sibling with ASD investigated how parenting…

This study investigated the extent to which sensory responsivity in infancy contributes to adaptive behavior development among toddlers at high-familial likelihood for autism. Prospective, longitudinal data were analyzed for 218 children, 58 of whom received an autism diagnosis. Results indicated that sensory profiles at age one year…

A succession of interconnected environmental factors is believed to contribute substantially to the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This exploratory study therefore aims to identify potential risk factors for ASD that are associated with pregnancy, birth and infant feeding. Demographic and health-related data on children aged…

We describe the development of 236 children with Angelman syndrome (AS) using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition. Multilevel linear mixed modeling approaches were used to explore differences between molecular subtypes and over time. Individuals with AS continue to make slow gains in development through at least age…

This study examined whether parent-reported atypical development in their child's first year was associated with age of diagnosis and age when parents first needed to consult a specialist about their child's development. It involved 423 children who participated in the Australian Autism Biobank. Most parents retrospectively identified [greater or…

The goal of the present study was to compare profiles among Black families of autistic youth who were identified Early ([less than or equal to] 2 years of age), Mid (age 3 or 4), and Delayed ([greater than or equal to] 5 years of age) to better identify the characteristics that contribute to early ASD identification and delayed ASD identification.…

Statistical learning refers to the ability to extract the statistical relations embedded in a sequence, and it plays a crucial role in the development of communicative and social skills that are impacted in the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Here, we investigated the relationship between infants' SL ability and autistic traits in their parents.…

Packing involves not swallowing solids or liquids in the mouth. It is a significant mealtime behaviour to treat. Research has shown effectiveness of redistribution, but only two studies in highly specialised hospital settings in the United States have evaluated the use of a chaser. We extended this literature by conducting treatment in the home…

This study examined joint engagement, parent labels, and language development in infants with an elevated (EL) and typical likelihood (TL) for ASD. Parent-child interactions were coded for joint engagement and parent labels at 12 and 18 months, and language skills were assessed later in toddlerhood for 12 EL infants diagnosed with ASD (EL-ASD), 17…

Infants at elevated likelihood of developing autism display differences in sensory reactivity, especially hyporeactivity, as early as 7 months of age, potentially contributing to a developmental cascade of autism symptoms. Caregiver responsiveness, which has been linked to positive social communication outcomes, has not been adequately examined…

We examined maternal prenatal vitamin use or supplemental folic acid intake during month one of pregnancy for association with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation, an enriched-risk pregnancy cohort. Total folic acid intake was calculated from monthly prenatal vitamins, multivitamins, and other…