Dyadic interactions in children exhibiting the broader autism phenotype: Is the broader autism phenotype distinguishable from typical development?
A M Kellerman, A J Schwichtenberg, B L Tonnsen and 2 others
PMID 30624017WHAT IT FOUND
Children with the broader autism phenotype showed lower scores on language and social measures by 24 months.
Global play ratings detected these differences earlier than detailed second-by-second coding. These social markers emerged by 15 months, offering potential targets for early intervention.
Key findings
01By 24 months, children with the broader autism phenotype had significantly lower growth in receptive and expressive language compared to typically developing peers.
02Global ratings of joint engagement and child responsiveness identified social differences between the groups, whereas micro-analytic coding did not consistently distinguish them.
03Differences in social competence became evident as early as 15 months of age.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small, with only 22 children in the BAP group, and data was not available for all children at every visit. The study did not include a sufficient number of children with ASD to directly compare BAP, ASD, and typical development. Outcome classifications were made at different ages (24, 30, or 36 months), which may introduce variability. The definition of BAP relied on standardized scores and clinical judgment, which can vary across studies.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that the broader autism phenotype is a stable or distinct diagnosis from typical development or ASD. The study describes a high-risk group where social and language trajectories diverged, but the small sample size and overlapping features mean these differences are not yet definitive diagnostic markers.