Trajectories of cognitive development in toddlers with language delays.
Laura Henry, Cristan Farmer, Stacy S Manwaring and 2 others
PMID 29699725WHAT IT FOUND
Toddlers with early language delays who stayed on a delayed verbal trajectory were most likely to be diagnosed with autism.
Those who caught up in language often had typical nonverbal skills. This helps distinguish who needs further autism evaluation.
Key findings
01Among toddlers with early language delays, 40% were diagnosed with autism and 37% had non-autism delays at 36 months.
02Membership in the delayed verbal trajectory class was uniquely associated with an autism diagnosis (90%), whereas the catch-up class had only 23% diagnosed.
03Most toddlers (67%) who caught up in language had age-expected nonverbal trajectories, linking nonverbal cognition to language improvement.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Small sample size, particularly in the language delay group, limited the ability to detect subtle differences. Participants were recruited from specialized clinics and pediatric practices, which may not represent the general population. The study ended at 36 months, so it does not show how these children developed beyond toddlerhood. Maternal education levels were high and differed between groups, which may affect generalizability.
Declared interests
None reported.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that all children with language delays will be diagnosed with autism. Only those who remain on a delayed verbal trajectory without catching up had a high likelihood of diagnosis.