Altered Brain Structure in Infants with Turner Syndrome.

Turner syndrome (TS) is a genetic disorder affecting approximately 1:2000 live-born females. It results from partial or complete X monosomy and is associated with a range of clinical issues including a unique cognitive profile and increased risk for certain behavioral problems. Structural neuroimaging studies in adolescents, adults, and older children with TS have revealed altered neuroanatomy but are unable to identify when in development differences arise. In addition, older children and adults have often been exposed to years of growth hormone and/or exogenous estrogen therapy with potential implications for neurodevelopment. The study presented here is the first to test whether brain structure is altered in infants with TS. Twenty-six infants with TS received high-resolution structural MRI scans of the brain at 1 year of age and were compared to 47 typically developing female and 39 typically developing male infants. Results indicate that the typical neuroanatomical profile seen in older individuals with TS, characterized by decreased gray matter volumes in premotor, somatosensory, and parietal-occipital cortex, is already present at 1 year of age, suggesting a stable phenotype with origins in the prenatal or early postnatal period.

Expressive Dominant Versus Receptive Dominant Language Patterns in Young Children: Findings from the Study to Explore Early Development.

We examined language profiles of 2571 children, 30-68 months old, with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), other developmental disabilities (DD), and typical development from the general population (POP). Children were categorized as expressive dominant (ED), receptive dominant (RD), or nondominant (ND). Within each group, the ED profile was the least frequent. However, children in the ASD group were more likely to display an ED profile than those in the DD or POP groups, and these children were typically younger, had lower nonverbal cognitive skills, and displayed more severe social-affect symptoms of ASD compared to their peers with RD or ND profiles. These findings have research and clinical implications related to the focus of interventions targeting young children with ASD and other DDs.

Developing assistive technology strategies for infants and toddlers with communication difficulties.

Communication is a process that begins at birth and continues throughout life. For young children with developmental delay or disability, the acquisition of expected communication skills may be compromised. Compromised communication skills, in turn, may lead to additional challenges when participating in daily activities and routines, forming social relationships, and developing independence. Assistive technology (AT) is one means by which a child's current communication skills can be expanded and enhanced within the child's natural environment. Increased awareness by both parents and professionals of the availability of AT has led to the inclusion of AT strategies within routine day-to-day early intervention practices. This article briefly highlights early aspects of communication development in typically developing infants and toddlers, then provides a framework through which AT strategies can be identified and utilized by parents and professionals to improve a child's existing communication skills.